~Boom Shaka Laka Boom!~ - The Criticque Review Of An EGL Game

Boomerman is a game created by sticki

Hello everybody, Startrek here and for my ninth review, what I�ve brought to the table is a review of Sticki�s most prized possession, Boomerman. Sticki is not a member that is unheard of these days, and with the latest talk going on with this game hitting the charts of The Epic Game Library (EGL), I decided it�s probably worth a shot to check it out and hit home with an honest review. I first played this game the day it came out and also managed to complete it, so I thought it wouldn�t make sense not to leave this running dry. Besides, Sticki has been one of my best friends on Sploder, especially with that recent lifesaver gesture of his, that got me unbanned on the forums after an almost three-year hiatus. So all in all, I owe him one.

Gameplay

Ever played one of those old vintage computer puzzle games where you hide in plain sight, move cautiously to find the key, open the door and leave without a trace? That�s basically how the game opening its doors to you centre-forward. It�s a simple process. Getting to your goal involves pushing a few blocks with the addition of some subtle hazards causing you to make a set number of detours. But ha, thank the heavens for the tutorial. Otherwise, my memory would�ve been muddled up with regards to the characteristics of each type of obstacle. New things introduced steadily in every level set the game in motion which helps open up to new and upcoming challenges ready to confront you at every corner. And boy, am I to say that the smiley face makes me want to pull a fast one! But hey, it�s Sticki. If you�ve taken a gander at his work if not already, his games are always so full of surprises.

Scenery

Visually, the game looks absolutely flawless. The simplicity of graphics used ensures the confusion factor is not at an all time high (Believe me, I�ve played games where graphics couldn�t distinguish between backtiles and blocks). That aside, one can appreciate the subtle easter eggs the game has to offer. Even the main figure, boomerman is wearing a bandana? I haven�t even played Bomberman but knowing how references go, it does add a pretty slick design to the game. Every new object that is introduced, comes with its own unique design that leaves much to be desired. But yeah however, the main thing that I felt was unnecessary was how the NPC�s were designed. I mean, I�m not one for exquisite artistic standards, but they just didn�t stand out to me. You�d always look so domineering in comparison, and the fact your cubic shape expresses better textures than the NPC�s means at times, they can often go unseen. It�s kind of like bumping into a cyclist across the road because he or she didn�t wear a safety jacket. Otherwise, the block textures get more sophistically elegant the further you progress into the game once you start playing with fire with cement. Boy, doesn�t that sound like fun when you say it? It certainly makes up for the tediousness of the first few levels though.

Difficulty

Fingers crossed, the game operates on a fairly sufficient difficulty curve. The first few levels got me hooked into the game, because it allowed me to settle in to the new and unfamiliar dynamics and self-explanatory, I guess it keeps you from going Rambo and losing all your energy before you make it to like level four. It kind of exerts itself by level six though, in which the addition of the time limit gives you as much adrenaline as you can to move forward. The complexity of that level is also what took me time to get used to which made me lose a quite number of times, because it was pretty much the inflexion point of the game. After level six, the game seems to get slightly more underwhelming and I�ve asked myself several times if that was the big moment I�ve been waiting for. Which is why level seven and eight served as smaller filler levels in my opinion. Then by the time you reached the boss battle, you have yourself running in circles waiting for the right time to do your usual thing and you can do that without breaking a sweat. I just didn�t get that much of a satisfaction completing the game as much as I did completing level six or so, because it was like bringing yourself back to square one. If glass blocks and lava were introduced a few levels earlier in the game, then there would be a feeling of a more even difficulty distribution and you�d get that nice bell-shaped curve. Another thing that can be addressed is the further use of time limits. If anything, they certainly give the game more of a pickup boost as you can enjoy frantically running from corner to corner pushing boxes before it�s all done for. And it all makes sense because you�re the guy controlling Boomerman, you�re carrying a finite number of bombs. You�re supposed to explode! The clunky game mechanics and the player�s non-fluidity do have a lot to make for though, but that I will make further reference of, in the next section of this review.

Puzzles

So looking back at the game at a nutshell, you�re pushing all sorts of different boxes and each with their own set of characteristics delivers a sense of interesting challenges to be made. There are multiple methods with dealing with them, and the fact that the bombs are finite (although that�s never caused much of an issue in the game) really reiterates you to consider your chances and give it another thought. While there aren�t much complex puzzles being made as long as I hoped for, there are some subtle traps like pushing a block too far without even realizing or getting yourself trapped in corners very easily. The latter was pretty much the only difficulty I had with the boss battle, which can be quite irritating at times because it really would go a lot easier than expected in the end if it were addressed. Like I�ve mentioned earlier, the time limit really set a whole new level in the game�s intricacy because that really heightening my experience of the game. If mind-boggling challenges were the only thing worth enjoyable in the world, there honestly really wasn�t much of that being employed in the game.

RATINGS

Overall: 4.1/5

Pros

-Really addictive

-Creative characters

-Amazing Visuals

-Simplicity

Cons

-Clunky game mechanics

-Repetitive puzzles

-Unevenly distributed difficulty

-Underwhelming boss battle

-Annoying traps

Conclusion

While there were some infuriating flaws, the game really did cover itself dry far better than I expected. The gameplay was itself overall exhilarating and the fluidity of challenges from one level to the next, offered much to be delivered. How Sticki designed this piece of contraption gave me a whole alternative insight in contemporary PPG�s, as we step into this new era of game-making. More complicated and novel ideas being manufactured in which Boomerman served primarily as its cornerstone. I know we just passed Halloween and it�s probably too late to start playing with firework bombs now that it�s getting so close to winter, I�d honestly advise you to get yourself comfy in your armchair, make a warm cup of cappuccino and pick up this sensational piece of art if you haven�t already. In my opinion, this game shouldn�t go more unnoticed than it already is, and seeing that it just passed EGL voting, maybe that should influence your decision if you still think you can make games just as good. Anyone can make a PPG game, but nobody can make one that Sticki makes.

So the question I have asked myself after beating the game, is this feature worthy? Well, yes it is.

But would I honestly think this is EGL worthy? Well, ever only barely. But if I was playing it safe, you don�t see that much EGL games these days and if it was that strenuous to get in, it might as well be defined as Undeniably Perfect Game Library than Epic Game Library. It did manage itself to get in though, perhaps after a year struggle of proving its worth. Also, seeing how quickly PPG standards have escalated (You can thank Makever for that), you�d expect yourself to be driven off into the cascades of a hot Californian summer hoping for the rain to come. Maybe Boomerman was that rain that God has sent down to us, and it certainly has its wealth of potential to give, especially for the guy who made it. A game maker uplifted from the shadows and out of time. A certain someone who has changed the course of PPGs when all hope was previously lost. Ladies and gentlemen in this day or age, that guy whose marvellous work you see here today is Sticki.