Kato's Level Review - The Flip Side by Megaextremist

The Flip Side by Megaextremist

I played The Flip Side a while back on the flip side of me playing Dragon's Dogma. So.. about 2,687 years ago? Anyway, it's been a while, but I find that doesn't matter because this level is still freshly ingrained in my long-term memory. And it won't leave. The Flip Side is an exercise in Point of View alteration where the action takes place upside down. From your inverted perspective up becomes down, left becomes right, and hard becomes merciless. And I'm not kidding there.

It's hard for me to offer my opinion to the public at large because from what I gather, it's divided roughly between people who simply want to enjoy calming, easy experiences, and those who want extreme challenges. I've never shirked my contempt, for example, for platformers requiring any sort of ceiling-grab sections. Swinging I express no qualms since it's a basic application of physics, but whenever I reach a ceiling grab I sigh my weary little heart and try again. And again. And again.

The good thing about the Flip Side is that it's memorable. The bad thing is that it's memorable from repetition. Honestly, I hate it when my review basically boil down to me whining about difficulty, but it's not even that on its own. Due to the inverted perspective, you end up having to do some very awkward things with your controller, and human hands were not meant for some of the solutions I came up with. The perspective change is not optional either, and honestly I think I would have preferred the ability to have a right-side-up view at least for a few practice runs. The hardest part apparently is a jetpack portion where a friendly NPC advises you that the level can be completed without it. I didn't even get a chance to read all the things had to say because I'd died before having the opportunity. The gist I gathered was "If you find this next part too hard-" Dead. It was like a sad joke. And the punchline was I didn't even get to try it!

Graphically and musically speaking, it's all very solid. The designs are all AAA stuff with abundant stickers and decor. I liked a lot of the chaos actually with misshapen boxes, odd vertical rises, and everything looking like a Rube-Goldberg machine made out of crayons, paint, cardboard, and the souls of orphan children. I felt the visual theme consistent in its inconsistency for as little as that makes sense. It's the sort of place where the phrase 'Banana Shark on Rollerskates' could be used without irony, though I can't recall if any occurred.

I'd recommend The Flip Side if you enjoy those super-hard types of levels that test your patience at embracing futility. You will enjoy the ride if you can grasp the gimmick. I thought maybe that was my problem overall; not being able to think upside down, or perhaps just on the flip side of the box, but based on several segments I'm sure it would still be challenging without it. However, at my last test I did find a few 'holes' that had me fall through to the backstage area. I wouldn't call it a perfect level, but perfection is subjective. Try it out at least, but don't sweat it if you can't finish. (Though I did finish. Somehow.)

TLDR:

Navigation – Layout intentionally confusing. Several times I thought I was lost, but I wasn't actually.

Visual – Chaotic but not too much so. Visuals were good, being craft-like and appropriate to the spirit of LBP.

Sound – Honestly the music grated on me after a while, but I was playing at this level for over an hour, and dying every few moments, so I may be biased in that respect.

Gadgetry – Gadgetry is tight, but there's one long-launch section midway through that doesn't account well enough for players flailing and thinking they've broken something.

Glitches - A few holes, but they may be patched by now.

Story – N/A

Notes – I could justify the trek if you'd let me drop a nuclear explosive on something afterwards.

Perfect 10 with SpaceMonkey187

I am sitting here , awake far to early as usual on a Saturday morning . Still, this lack of sleep does give me the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for a little while now . A new , and hopefully regular feature here on Hidden Moon.

Perfect 10

The idea is simple : To get creators to produce a list of 10 levels . The theme could be anything . Their favourite levels ever , their top 10 space themed levels , a selection of the best multi-player levels about , The top 10 underplayed hidden gems . Whatever takes their fancy !

To kick things off I'm going to pick a theme that is close to my heart . Silhouette. I can hear you all falling off your chairs as we speak . lol . For me , silhouette levels produce some of the most powerful imagery in all of LBP . Below you will find my perfect 10 Silhouette levels , arranged into some sort of order and featuring some of the biggest names in the community . This is just my top 10 . If you disagree with me that's great . I am hoping this feature will produce debate and give plays to some great levels . So if you think I've got it wrong leave a comment below or contact us on Twitter .

Okay , before we get started I just need to point out that it doesn't seem right to include any of my own work in this list , so you won't find any of it here .

Lets get started !

10 - Silhouette of Elements by JustinArt 

Lets kick things off with a MASSIVE level from JustinArt . Silhouette of Elements features 4 stages ( Earth / Wind / Fire and Water ) . Each stage also features different platforming gameplay . The boss ( Pictured below ) is visually very striking . The shear size of this project guaranties it's place in this top 10 .

9 - The Sun Planet by Unexpector

Next up we have The Sun Planet by Unexpector . Combining two of my favorite things , A space themed silhouette level was always going to be a hit in my book . Slow paced and beautiful , let this wonderful level take you to a far off world .

8 - Inspirations by MuddledMuppet

This is one of my all time favorite projects. not strictly a 100% silhouette film , but it does feature enough elements to make the list . The first time I watched this I was blown away . It showed me that LBP was much more than just platforming . It was expression , and it could be art . Muddled Muppet talks from the heart about his inspirations , his children . I found it very moving . My one great regret is that I was not involved in this group project .

7 - Shady Functions by Luos_83

Shady Functions by Luos_83 coming in at number 7 . Luos_83 was always one of LBP's best visuals creators , seemingly able to turn his hand to many different styles , his silhouette effort was no exception . Shady Functions features top gameplay and visuals , plus a cool little paradox . What's not to like ?

6 - AbstraPhilis 3 by ZedCOcoZza (LBPV)

The first of two entries by the incredible ZedCOcoZza . Zed has been blazing a trail of silhouette levels over on LBPV . It has been a long time since I have been inspired so much by a single creator . AbstraPhilis 3 taught me that there was a different way to creating . Levels could be lighter on gameplay but still keep the players attention . All 3 of the AbstraPhilis series are worth checking out but only one could make the list and I went with part 3. .

5 - The Other Side by CompherMC (LBPV)

Is there a more imitated game on LBP other than Limbo ? Probably not . Hundreds of creators have drawn inspiration from Limbo and tried their hand at a silhouette level ,  me included . Where many have tried , few have succeeded to the same standard as CompherMC . The Other Side is a masterpiece . Where as the visuals have arguably been bettered , the gameplay has not . It is also one of two entries in this list that has a point in the level that has completely surprised me . A moment that cries out for a rewind button . . .

4 - Shadows of Salem by Pirmaut

I was lucky enough to have been given a sneak peek at this level while it was being made . I had joined Pirmaut one Saturday morning and convinced him to give me a little peek at the silhouette level he had been working on . Shortly after entering he got kicked out for some reason , bad internet connection perhaps ? I was suddenly left alone in this creepy landscape full of horrific imagery ! (eek O_O) I remember thinking that the quality of Pirmaut's silhouette work was of the chart and so much better than mine . I realized I had to up my game . I owe this level a lot for giving me the inspiration to do that .

3 - PurgatorY by  ZedCOcoZza (LBPV)

Top 3 time and ZedCOcoZza's second entry . In my humble opinion this is Zed's best work to date . PurgatorY is packed with atmosphere and the level of detail in the visuals is off the chart . This level alone proves why he is my favorite creator and one of LBP's best . PurgatorY can be summed up by two words . . . LEVEL ENVY !

2 - Flint by DaaMonkey (LBPV)

Flint by DaaMonkey narrowly misses out on the number 1 spot . I am a massive fan of this level . It was amazing before it got the professional make over , now it is even better . Everything from the intro to the cunning puzzles scream professional . Flint could easily be a stand alone indi game . In the end that is probably the highest compliment I can give it , because how many LBP levels could you genuinely say that about ?

1 - At World's End by DrunkenFist_Lee

Finally , in at number one I've chosen At Worlds End by DrunkenFist_Lee . No surprise really was it . lol. I've said it before and I'll say it again , At Worlds End is the bench mark that ALL silhouette levels must be measured against . A true masterpiece from start to finish .

Honorable Mentions :

Spot Light (2D) by Necococoron (LBPV)

Swinging Silhouette by Anpostteller (LBP1)

Motif Underworld by Sabre_

So there you have it . Trying to narrow down all the great silhouette levels to just 10 , and then to put that 10 into some sort of order was very tough . I know that there are a load of quality levels that have been missed out . I could have probably picked 50 but Perfect 50 doesn't have the same ring to it does it now . Apologies to anyone left out . it was just a bit of fun .

If you would like to submit your Perfect 10 leave a comment below or make contact on Twitter . 

KATO's Level Reviews - Fantasy Adventure

Fantasy Adventure
by ALPHA-OMEGA81
Link: http://lbp.me/v/ssweyv



For those who don’t know me, I have a very unfortunate mental infection; I play the Sims 3 a lot. A LOT. It’s not a game it’s a disease. A disease where you pay Dr. EA to get even sicker with their ridiculous transactions. And yet despite me knowing it’s a bad thing, a TERIBLE THING, every time they release a new town, or a cow plant, I always find myself plonking around with Sims 3 to test the new kit.

There is a reason I’m starting a review talking about my bad habits. It’s because the best thing about Sims, if you’re a person like me, it’s that it lets you create stories about people’s lives. And I am nothing if not a storyteller. So as I started Fantasy Adventure, I fell victim to creating a story of my own, and vanished from the word processor for longer than I intended. So! Fantasy Adventure then.

I think there are two terms which best describe Fantasy Adventure, and I again want you to know that I prefer reviews to be honest. These two words are ‘Enjoyable’ and ‘Inconsistent’. Out of the seven levels there were parts that were cleverly arranged, fun, and looked very nice, and parts that did not. There were cutscenes with action and clever programming, and scenes where everybody just stood in one place with the camera zoomed way far out so you really didn’t know what was going on. I felt that this trend continued on a downhill slide throughout the level series as by I reached the Final Boss, I felt that you, as a creator, were getting tired of it all. I mean let’s face it, after Level 2 in the forest, there’s really not much beyond that quite as keen.

Don’t mistake my words as harsh though. There is that first word “enjoyable”, and there is quite a lot to enjoy here. You’ve got a pretty funny story that combines both LBP tongue-in-cheek references and fantasy adventures. There are things I think can be improved, yes, but that’s all levels. I do send my appreciation out to you for creating a continuous story I can follow, and for having good navigation.

That said, here are my biggest complaints. One, checkpoints. Double or infinite please. And more of them. One after every big obstacle. Several of the levels towards the end, starting with the desert, the platforming got a little hard and I had to repeat the level every time trying to bypass the obstacles. I’m not saying they were impossible, but as they say practice makes perfect, and unless they’re as easy as LBP1 obstacles (They’re not) you need at least a double at every turn. If there’s one thing I’ve found players not liking it’s re-treading after dying. If there’s not a checkpoint past the slew of electrified ceiling grabs, and they have to repeat the same obstacle again and again, then there’s no sense of forward progress. You lose that momentum, you lose the interest.

My second biggest complaint is the design. Some of the design work is great. (See the forest.) Some of it is disappointing. (See the final boss.) This goes back to that inconsistency though. But I can’t rightly judge this in that though, and I’ll tell you why.

When I play Fantasy Adventure, what I see is potential. Without wanting to toot my own horn, it’s exactly how I feel playing my original Crystal Crisis 1 levels. With Fantasy Adventure you can see there’s been a lot of work involved, a lot of feeling around in the dark, a lot of testing the waters, and a lot of learning how to do things. I don’t think it’s bad. It’s actually quite good! But it’s around the middle point of good, and there’s plenty of room for improvement. My suggestion is to be proud of what you’ve done, consider making a Fantasy Adventure 2, and then after that go back and play FA1 and see for yourself. You’ll find the best way to learn is to try, and by the time you go back later you’ll probably see your own good ideas, bad ideas, and anything else. So don’t be disheartened. I give FA a recommendation.

TLDR:

Navigation – Only a few points where the paths were unclear, but I enjoyed the free roam of the second level the most. A lack of checkpoints, and an unforgiving checkpoint system coupled with some difficult obstacles in the later acts makes it a bit hard on the player.

Visual – Good visual design, but I felt the sets were too big. (I do that too. XD) You can accomplish a lot by tightening up the landscape. Less distance to walk is not going to ruin it.

Sound – Music worked, with some unusual but effective choices.

Gadgetry – Fun but simple gadgetry. Most impressive was the leading sequence of events with cutscenes which was neat.

Glitches - No major glitches I noticed.

Story – Story was good. A little bit ‘generic fantasy’ but the title alone tells you that.

Notes – In Edenia Griever flew away on a box. I was elated to see it return in the next level once, and disappointed it was never seen again. D: Griever X Box = OTP. THEIR LOVE IS PURE!!!!

Kato's Level Reviews - The Happening World

Kalawishis's The Happening World (Funny Film) (By Kalawisis)
by Kalawishis (and Kalawisis who apparently did all the work.)
Link: http://lbp.me/v/me118c



I should've taken pictures, but I didn't. I guess I'm fired. *explodes*. I am no stranger to internet lingo. I know LOL means laugh out loud, ROFL is rolling on floor laughing, and TROLOLOL means there's lol's with trolling involved. I'm not certain of the origin of the Troll, only that I believe it comes from the word CONtrol, or possibly PAtrol. I'm not sure. I do know that the iconic Trollface originated from somebody poorly copying an image from Mighty Mouse. The modern internet age is a time of Lolcats, Roflopes, Memes, and Trollfaces, but then there's the lower key, more intelligent variety with dry wit and classical treatments. It brings back memories of Fawlty Towers, and Black Adder, and other good british comedies.

The Happening World teeters on the edge of both, never quite falling in with either crowd. It's presented as sort of a Monty Python meets Encyclopedia Dramatica crossover, only set in a LBP world. The skits flow nicely into each other, with non-sensical situations being a highlight. Watching this, it's easy to find favorite parts, or select favorite skits. Some I felt were really good and triddle dee dee, while others just sort of meh'd on by. The film had a particularly strong opening, which cut itself short very quickly, and got quite a few laughs out of me. It was the unexpected event which made the scene, as is the case with much of the skits.

Obviously from the description, some scenes are 13+. In fact most of them are. In fact quite a few of them have questionable content, so It's not a film for everyone. I personally am not offended by anything in it, as I'm casual enough to shrug at most things. I take the Avenue Q approach to life; aware that it sucks, but you can still get by. However, not everyone shares that philosophy to that should be kept in mind. In particular the Obama in Venice segment, while hilarious, is most likely going to upset some folks.

There's not much else I can offer. As this is a movie I can't really comment on controls or navigation. The stories are funny, with some fun lines and quirky humor. I would recommend it, but not to everyone.

TLDR:

Navigation – N/A

Visual – Cute designs. Characters were easily distinguishable, as were the different set locations. I didn't get that the lady was in an outhouse at first, but this is due to a trim on the wood material.

Sound – Music worked. It was a bit uncanny for the button to have voice acting out of nowhere. I think it would be best to make it all-or-nothing. Either get voice acting for everyone, or no one. Personally I found no complaint with the default voices. They all seemed to fit. Lol @ Obama in Venice. Oh-bama....

Gadgetry – Good sackbot acting. The movements were nice and fluid and the events were well timed.

Glitches - N/A

Story – The Board of Directors scene was my favorite. The biggest jerks often make the best comedy in my book. WHICH COULD BE WHY YASSEN WAS MY FAVORITE SACDROID CHARACTER. XD

Notes – In the Happening World 2 you need to make of of TV reporters. XD

New Levels

Time for another bunch of awesome levels for you all to check out .

In My Dreams by Hugh-es

SoundIsMe's Sound of Music

Echoes by TheNotorious187

StickBoy ESCAPE by Adel22

Whoa!coder's Music Gallery

If you have played any of these levels why not post a comment in the box below . 

New Levels

Another batch of new and underplayed levels to check out.

Luos the Lion and the Lost Lil Toy ( 2 player ) by  Dott--

You ' ll need a friend to complete this little platformer .

Do you have what it takes to help Luos the Lion ?

ibb and obb by xSLEVENx

Another 2 player co op . This Puzzle / Platformer features to parallel worlds.

Light Speed Trailer by RickRock_777

This atmospheric trailer will leave you wanting to know more , 

just as any good trailer should .

Strange Hidden Solutions by Strawberryheart

This ingenious platformer is full thrills and spills , 

and will keep you on your toes at all times .

The Butterfly Garden by All-West94

Beautiful visuals , relaxing music plus some cool platforming . 

What more could you want .

Rain Drop by Cod_zilla32

A silhouette film with a message . 

Speed Intensity by Remy_46

A fast placed platformer . 

( LBPV ) Silhouette Pack 3 - Limbo by ZedCOcoZza 

Some of the best visuals you will see anywhere in LBP .

( LBPV ) RoBUST - Platformer / Adventure by Craxy1012

( Unfortunately , no images have been uploaded from this level ) 

Don't let that put you off though , This level is definitely worth checking out .

New Levels

It ' s time for another batch of new levels to check out . 

FJ ' s Music Hub by Festerd_Jester

A Musical showcase extraordinaire . This Hub links to all seven of 

Festerd's music galleries . Surely one not to be missed . 

The Forgotten Chambers by Blackbird31468

You find yourself in an old abandoned factory . Hopefully with a little help from a friend you can find your way back out .

Stepping Stones by Evil_Fishy

Use your trusty creatinator to navigate your way through this tricky platformer .

My Companion Bomb by Shookie_Monster

The bomb factory are now recruiting and you need that job. Before it is yours though , You just have one small task to carry out , simple , right ...

Fortress of Fashion by Debonairtoast

A custom costume level inspired by Game of Thrones , Prince of Persia and Ni no Kuni .

KATO ' S Level Reviews - HAUS

Haus
by bonner123
Link: http://lbp.me/v/k0j4we

I’m sure you had no doubts what kind of review I’d give you going in , so most of this is going to be things you already know, just put down in different, longer words . Did I like Haus ? Absolutely. Did I love Haus ? Most definitely. Is it the be all end all for me ? No , but no such level exists for my notebook, excepting a few LBP 1 levels which is a whole different house entirely . ( But the carpet has more dignity than I do , so take that as you will . )

To start I would like to lavish praise on your voice actor . I’m not sure if it’s you or someone else , but whoever it is did a really nice job . I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the German accent , not being German myself , but it was believable enough for me to accept . Somehow you've made the recorded lines less scratchy and low quality than I’d normally expect from a Playstation Microphone , which is a definite plus . I know generally those mics are terrible , so you must have gone through numerous tries to get this right . The dialogue is well written and hilarious , but to me veers a little close on the Portal side . While I commend it , be wary that Portal is sort of a touchy subject with its humor , and it’s hard not to compare HAUS to say , GlaDos or Wheately . Both are talking machines that want to kill you , and say so in funny ways . I would advise leaning more to the house side of things than the computer side of things if that makes any sense . The lines about not moving an Ottoman , or the carpet having more dignity are A+ . Lines about I am going to kill you with my mechanical deathtraps are a step away from the cake being a lie all over again , and then it’s not just flattery , but a fandom appeal .

But we’re not here to criticize ! Any criticisms at all are going to be nitpicks anyway , and if all I can do is nitpick , it means you've got me in a corner and I have little relevant to advise upon . So let’s instead go into something I REALLY like . And that awe-inspiring motif here is the visuals . Yes indeed , yes indeed .

Now everyone can just wave the little flag of “oooh looks pretty” all they want , and it does , but I have a better one for you . The design is not just intricate , it’s smart. It’s not just detailed , it’s outside the box . Wine glasses have wine , computers have keys , and even side facing televisions have moving pictures . I had to do a double take in one room to rotate the camera and observe a painting on a side wall . If I had a complaint in this department, it’s that all the detail is a double edged sword . Those who move along at the level’s good pace are missing out , and those that stop to take a look are never going to finish . In fact , for the amount of detail work you've got going here , the pacing is almost TOO good . I finished the level very quickly , and I know I missed out on a lot of visual surprises .

This is not my photo obviously, but look at that laptop . It’s got a screen , keyboard , DVI port , USB , numberpad …. And everything gets about that nitty gritty with its detail .

Platforming wise the obstacles are very clever , and they aren’t repeated . One of my biggest complaints with a lot of the super popular levels out there , is that they generally have the exact same obstacles all over the board, just slightly re-arranged and with a different look . Here, the environments are very tight , and the camera keeps close to your sackboy which is a HUGE HUGE HUGE plus in my book . Having a camera zoomed too far out can ruin an otherwise good level , so I thank you for keeping it personal , and taking the time to miniaturize the details to accommodate .

The obstacles were simple enough that I personally would not call the level challenging , but perhaps to some it may be . In fact I only had any vague notion of difficulty on one portion where you’re jumping over a swinging bar , and you must use the R stick to move platforms in and out to safety . It was a bit complicated for my uncoordinated fingers , but there was a good feeling of accomplishment after success . This is generally the case with every obstacle in this level . You can feel accomplished getting through difficult ones , and are rewarded by not having to go back through any . That another big complaint I have about a lot of Big Name levels ; there’s no sense of accomplishment in obstacles . Yes , you've got your sackthing bouncing around and you expect them to grab something as they’re changing layers , and if you miss you die , and if you make it , you just keep moving with a sigh . This level is much the opposite , in that it rewards you for going further by way of its varied rooms .

I have one more nitpick here , but this is a stylistic thing on my part . I found the lighting to be a wee bit harsh in this level . It sets the tone nicely , giving it a rusty , broken haze to meet the insane AI’s personality type , but it also made a lot of things look a bit washed out . It didn’t make a lot of sense to me , since several obstacles are in bright blue . I’m not even quite sure how to explain it, since I don’t think there are any filters being used. Just to me , the contrasts seemed a bit difficult to take in .

I think with good fortune and some decent PR this is worthy of an Mm pick , and I feel it’s only a matter of time before it receives one . The whole of the level is really top quality , and you can actually see how much time and effort has been put into this overall . I definitely have this hearted, and I definitely want to see more of the story unfold . I’m eagerly anticipating what new and creative platforming solutions you come up with for your future installments . And for anyone who hasn’t played it yet … why are you still here ? Why are you still reading ? Go get to a TV and play it ! Play it , and laugh . Or be sent to the punishment zone .

TLDR:

Navigation – Easy to understand, and I had a few amusing ‘Ooooooh THAT’S why that barrier’s there’ moments . Fun platforming with a good camera view .

Visual – Insanely detailed with all sorts of décor and props to behold and wonder . Lighting seemed a bit harsh , but was acceptable . I think it might have been keen to disguise your Cross Controller wormholes a bit . They seem quite stock standard when compared to everything else .

Sound – Voice acting was hilarious and well written . I’m not sure I would have picked that music track to be playing for the level , but it worked .

Gadgetry – Good gadgetry with some fun uses of remote control objects . (I will move that ottoman if I darn well want to , you crazy computer!) One of my favorite parts was using a controllable barrier as a shield against in/out moving wall panels on a bridge over a pit of black metal .

Glitches - No major glitches I noticed .

Story – There’s not much setting up going on . You just are there in the house , and then bam the computer’s nuts . I think it might could have used a bit more buildup , or perhaps a slightly more obvious motive .

Kato's Level Reviews

Over at LBPCentral , one creator has been building a name for himself as one of the best level reviewers around . His in depth reviews , all done in his own unique style have proved to be an invaluable source of feedback . Of course I am talking about Kato , and LBPHiddenMoon are very happy to announce that he has agreed to join the team and bring his reviews to this site .

All levels will be judged on the following criteria . as Kato explains ...

1. Navigation - One of my pet peeves is not knowing where to go . Figuring out platforms is fine and all , but only if the destination is obvious . Few things irk me more than being shot off a bounce pad with the level expecting me to grab something as I flail helplessly towards a wall of spikes I didn't see coming . Infinite lives are fine, but I need to be able to navigate the level without NEEDING infinite lives .

2. Visual - Not every level is going to be an incredible work of art , and I don't expect it to be. I still take a look at design to make sure it's more than just cardboard and wood though . ( Unless that's the whole idea of the level . )

3. Sound - I love music but I'm not an expert. I mainly just check that sounds you have are appropriate for the environment etc . Or if its a music gallery , I'll review your tunes here. : )

4. Gadgetry - Everyone can make a circle and put a bolt on it , and half the time that's the extent of my clever platforming in my own levels XD . But now and again I sit back and take stock of the varied logic put into devices . Not every level needs to be a giant machine . Even little things like an elevator that stops on every floor is awesome . The point is , does your level have more interesting things than a few wobble-bolted platforms , or spikes on pistons ?

5. Glitch Abuse - Now I don't claim to know every glitch, but I know some people spend large amounts of time and effort exploiting 3D objects, over sized or undersized checkpoints, invisible spikes, and other things which they really had to monkey around with to get to work . Little Big Planet's story levels don't use these glitches, so a level should never have to RELY upon them . Can they spice up a level ? Yes definitely . But I can't rightly judge a level based on how well you can exploit the system , so I have to take that into account.

6. Story - Not every level is going to have a story . I realize this . Sometimes solidly fun platforming makes up for it. But if you do have a story .... I'd like to understand what's going on .

So , calling all creators . If you would like to have your work reviewed and featured on this site , now is your chance . All you need to do is send us the following .

• Creator Name
• Level Name
• Level Link

Send this info to LBPSneakPeeks@gmail.com , post it to us on Twitter or leave a comment below .

There are only a few caveats .

• All levels must be new levels . This means under one month old .
• All levels must be on the LBP2 format .
• All levels must be finished , This isn't a beta test .
• No levels that have received an MM Pick will be considered . If a level gets picked after being reviewed but before posting , that is okay .
• Submitting a level doesn't guarantee that it will be reviewed or featured .

I just have to say one last thing . Kato's reviews are honest . There is no guarantee that your level will get a positive review . If you are not able to take constructive criticism then you should probably think twice .

Fists of Fury by Micgorbachev

Creator : Micgorbachev
Level : Fists of Fury
Link : http://lbp.me/v/kwy0q9

One of the best new levels I have played recently is undoubtedly Fists of Fury . The visuals and set design are so good I found myself stopping just to take it all in . But , Don't be fooled into thinking this level is nothing but eye candy , oh no , as good as that is , Fists of Fury offers a lot more than that . It features a wide range of moves to get to grips with , double jump , dash attack etc , and trust me , you will need all of them to fight your way through the city .

The only thing I could fault it for is the ridiculously low number of plays ( obviously not the creators fault ) . 207 plays at the time of writing . Come on guys , this level deserves so much more than that .

Why not queue it up now and see if I am right ? What do you have to lose ?

Images :

KATO ' S Level Reviews - Contrast

Contrast
by Ali-Star/alistair26
Link: http://lbp.me/v/de8yfjs

All righty I admit I couldn't make it through this one , but I still feel justified because my friends are all terrible people who would never have gotten as far as I did . XD Contrast is what I like to call a Keanu Reeves level . It's got style , many people think its sexy , and if you don't go 'Whoah' at least once , you're out of the club . Here my 'whoah' moment was when I pressed L1 and proceeded to 'flip' out over what happened .

The idea with contrast is that you have two workable platforming spaces . A white half, and a black half , and you can 'flip' between the two to solve puzzles and find new platforming solutions . The technology for this is great . I wasn't able to figure out how its done . I have my theory , but I'd rather not know for sure . Anyway ...

The goal is to navigate a number of rooms this way , jumping from entrance door to exit , and occasionally using icons to affect the level , such as making blocks vanish , or platforms flip . However , problems arose for me when the difficulty ramped up extremely quickly . After the first three level I was sweating to finish . But then out of nowhere it got uncannily easy again . Then uncannily hard . Then easy . Then hard . Then even harder . It was a jarring 'contrast' if you don't mind me saying .

I had to call it quits in the first 'spike wall room' where you jump from pillar to pillar , wall to wall , and eventually end up on the ceiling . The platforms on the ceiling were very prickly , and rendered me incapable of jumping at their edges , making the jumps up there even harder . I only ever got to the switch once before dying . It grated on my patience because a lot of the jumps are really very hard , and not just in single spots , but everywhere . And if the game won't let you edge jump, then its just not being fair .

I did save a sticker , so perhaps I could beat it later on the first try . We'll see . Overall its a persistent marvel of sparse decor and immense challenge . It put me in mind of portal a fair bit , but with no gun . I think my biggest problem is just my tastes as a player . I didn't really like Contrast , but I really can't tell you why . It had a unique concept , creative solutions , bizarre and imaginative gameplay , and a fun visual style . And I can't rightly blame difficulty as a reason for not liking a level . That's never a valid answer . I guess it is the only answer. It was like having an adorable , bi-polar kitten who loves you , and licks you , and wants pettings , then out of nowhere eats your face off . You have fun playing with it as long as you remember in a moments notice it's going to re-enact a Vin Diesel film on your sense of self-worth .

So I guess my complaint is not the difficulty , but the sine wave of it therein which starts low , then raises high , then low again, and repeats . I was left boggled over one long jump I had to make , and was shocked I made it at all after 20 tries , only to reach the next level and be done in 15 seconds . It's like living with Two-Face !

TLDR:

Navigation – Some great and creative navigation with the color area switching . Some solutions took me a bit to figure out. However , some of the spikes are painfully inconvenient .

Visual – The level theme IS the visual style , and it works well. I like how your sack switches between planes .

Sound – Okay the music grated on my a little . It was all right at first, but after the hundredth repeat it grated my nerves trying to get pits to behave .

Gadgetry – Incredible gadgetry . Very unusual and very fun. Great stuff .

Glitches - No major glitches I noticed, or was aware of .

Story – N/A

Notes – Thank you for the sticker system . D: We need it !

Level Review by Kato