The Curse Beyond Time

There is no download?

Simple game, great graphics. I included it in part 14 of my GameBoy Jam Compilation video series! http://youtu.be/6lhxnkYohbI

I think the concept and visuals of the game are huge, but there were several things which prevent this game from reaching its full potential. We'll start with the positive in noting the huge whitespace which is used effectively to give a desolate and isolated location. The animation is spot on while only using a few frames to bring the player to life.

Now to the issues. The first is the format. Not only is the file a download - which adds an additional step between the player and the game - but they're in a gameboy format which requires further steps and potential complications to a successful run. Fortunately the game was shipped with an emulator which reduces this issue slightly, but it can be intimidating to others new to the format.

The second issue is the repeated pressing of a key to keep the speed up. This gets physically tiring after the first battle with your competitor - not to mention the feeling that I'm damaging my hardware (whether laptop keyboard or 1989 out of production handheld game) with over use. This mechanic could be put to good use if it was paced or strategic instead of button mashing. (Tap on a metronome, perhaps).

In lesser issues, I felt combat was lacking and that there was no real threat from the enemies. Attacking other people didn't really feel justified, and jumping the gap felt a little flat.

I definitely think the game has future potential if applied to new mechanics. Enemies which strike back, a more exaggerated jump style, a wider variety of scenes and a simpler way of speeding up and slowing down could all improve these points.

For now, however, I think this entry shows the amazing talent of an artist using the gameboy format to show the atmosphere that can be created, while the gameplay doesn't do it as much justice as it deserves.

Looks awesome! =] hype!