Blog 4: Video Game Lab

In last week's video game lab, my partner and I played a variety of games online. Three games stood out to me due to their clever design or simplicity in design and mechanics. Below are the three games that I've chosen to write about.

This Is The Only Level

The first game we played was mandated by our professor. Even though I was forced into it, I can't deny having enjoyed it. It was more akin to a puzzle game, rather than a platformer. I liked the minimalism with its assets and the creativity required to make it a compelling game.

This game was noteworthy due to it's extremely varied gameplay even though the level design was the same throughout the game. Each phase of the level had differing mechanics, allowing you to play tens of phases without getting bored of the same level.

You Have To Burn The Rope

This is a single-level platformer which doubles as a tutorial for it's own short-lived campaign. You're facing a seemingly invulnerable enemy with completely useless weapons, but the game gives you the secret to killing the boss before you even confront him. The appeal in this game isn't challenge, or even the game itself, but in it's self-awareness and fantastic ending musical piece (which is longer than a typical run through of the game).

Don't Shit Your Pants

This game utilized a console-like command entry for an entirely text driven game. There was a graphical visual aid to see your current status, but the only mechanic for player interaction was through typing verbal commands. The wide array of commands and potential outcomes kept the game refreshing and hilarious.

Afterthoughts

One thing that struck me about all three of these games was the simplicity in level design. Each of these three games only had one level, but offered either multiple ways to win, or a comical narrative to add to the experience. "This Is The Only Level" and "You Have To Burn The Rope" were both single-level platformers with very simple mechanics and strategies required to win. However, whereas "This I The Only Level" offered shifting mechanics after each victory, "You Have To Burn The Rope" only had one way to win, but was followed by a self-aware and hilarious musical piece that made the short game worth playing. 

I feel that "Don't Shit Your Pants" is actually more similar to "This Is The Only Level" because of the many different strategies and methods to win. Even though the mechanics are nothing alike (text-based commands vs platformer), the appeal of both of these games is similar enough for me to warrant calling them similar. 

Another fun part of the lab was working with a partner to play these games. While playing by yourself is still an enjoyable experience, watching someone else play is also a great way to see how the games can be approached differently. Some phases in "This Is The Only Level" were at first tricky to figure out for me, but my partner was able to easily figure out how to play. The same was true vice versa as well. Also, in "Don't Shit Your Pants", I would have had a much harder time finding every possible way to not shit my pants without some outside assistance. I never would have imagined that "die" would be a command in the game that could lead me to victory (with the proper preliminary commands, of course).