Fail. Spiritual game (WIP)

hi.
i'm trying to achive a spiritual, story telling game. (which is pretty hard.)

so here is my first 2 levels (need lots of improvments ofc.)

most important i wanna learn is,"is this game so hard / boring to play?"

you are allowed to play with arrow keys only! - you can use spacebar to restart.
(a-d keys added for test purposes.)

all sprites are created by me (some free photoshop brushes.)
all music is gathered from freesound.org (producers will be attributed in the final version.)

so what do you think?
http://kontinyu.com/nip
*new*
level 3 added. 31.01.2012
- added more sounds.
- added some effects (only works in chrome)
- gameplay is easier now. (you should be able to move easier.)


more levels coming hopefully!
also your feedback is important to me.

Edited by kontinyu - 31 Jan 2012 at 6:22pm

smitchell wrote: I also am trying to replicate this feel. Its not easy I agree!! Artistically its working for you. The sound does not in my opinion. The ball moves way to slow aswell..

thank you for your quick answer!
i have 2nd thoughts about background musics aswell.
but i kinda liked the 2nd level's background music. i think i'm gonna change only 1st level music.

i've slowed down ball especially (time scaled 0.5)
because i think game it self should be slow (also rhythmic with the bg music.)
anyways i will think about the speed again.

Edited by kontinyu - 30 Jan 2012 at 11:36pm

That was interesting, i like the concept.

Some of the narrative on stage two is really good. paticularly the part when you choose "no" to the "do you need my help" question. Very smart writing.

To me, that music was pretty close to perfect - it really fits the mood! Its a low energy beat, exactly how you feel when your down.

So your feeling down in the dumps.. a helpless wheel.. you sluggishly move forward as you struggle to face the hilly challenges of life. You make your way over a few minor obstacles and there stands before your greatest challenge - the fail hill. You try everything you can think of, slowly crawling up the hill, getting a run up... no? hmmmmm...

Everything to this point is great - then i discovered you could fly? This kind of broke the ambience for me, i dont see the symbolism. Perhaps - as its an 'overcoming negative feelings' type of experience, why not draw off things that people really do to pick themselves up.

Some things i was thinking could draw some gameplay ideas from:

Venting your feelings or getting things off your chest - to become lighter and make the wheel float.

Get help from friends - another wheel comes along?

exercise - make the wheel bigger after a repetitive task?

Great start.

Edited by GenkiGenga - 31 Jan 2012 at 12:22pm

My pleasure Kontinyu,

Sorry i forgot to mention that - I failed on the 'fail hill' lol. Is it really possible to do it without a-d?

Clearly your writing and ability to set the mood are fantastic - I'll wait for the later stages to comment more on the moving mechanics.

Edited by GenkiGenga - 31 Jan 2012 at 2:28pm

added new lvl (lvl 3 )
please give feedback!