[EGD] Manipulating The Mind

Manipulation is a game created by vpopsiclev

Game: Manipulation

Maker: VpopsicleV

Genre: Platformer

Prethoughts

The annual Epic Game Drop (EGD) contest is an immense contest that truly tests the skills of game makers by giving participants up to one year to create the most prodigious and parameter-breaking game one can create; EGD yields immaculate talent and great undiscovered treats. VpopsicleV is known for his creative puzzle games that introduce new puzzles and concepts that are truly admirable, which yields great expectations for this year's EGD entry: Manipulation. Manipulation is another puzzle game that is supposed to present a new concept as well as mixing in new puzzles; puzzle games are rare to find in EGD entries since they seem to yield less effort, but I expect pure brilliance from VpopsicleV.

Review

A truly successful game must provide the player with adequate and fluent gameplay, otherwise the game will yield a minimal addiction factor and less satisfaction. Manipulation featured an intermediate sense of flow that ascended and receded greatly from the average mark; the flow was seriously halted from sequences that featured an archie shooting sandblocks, and the flow was seriously enhanced in sequences that involved gears and various usage of the powergluv. Manipulation featured a rather impressive difficulty that is unconquerable among puzzle games; this game featured a difficulty that was not painstakingly difficult or too easy. Manipulation featured an interesting concept where the player must rely on enemies to aid in solving puzzles, a concept that yields fantastic new puzzles and exciting potential in spiking the gameplay; VpopsicleV did a moderate job in executing the concept in a fun way, but at least the game was not repetitive.

Placement is an aspect that truly cements excellence, as poor placement yields trippy gameplay and sloppy effort. VpopsicleV executed placement in a rather amateur manner; the placement of puzzles was solid but the placement of traps were lackluster. Manipulation is a pure puzzle game, which yields the need for continuous puzzles; VpopsicleV did a wonderful job in placing various puzzles throughout the game that aided the gameplay greatly. In order to enforce certain puzzles upon the player, VpopsicleV had to place game ending traps so that the player could not skip through the entire game; these traps are viable as long as they were presented with warning, but VpopsicleV did not include hints as to what were traps and what was essential to excelling through the game. My official verdict for placement is average; Manipulation featured a rollercoaster effect of execution that involved a rather large amplitude and a rather large trough, yielding inconsistency.

The most important aspect of a puzzle game is the creativity and execution of puzzles, an obvious statement that appears to be avoided by the mindset of many game makers. VpopsicleV implemented ingenious new puzzles that utilized new ways to use enemies, and he did an excellent job in setting up the puzzles to seem almost obvious to perform in a positive manner. Manipulation featured stunning new puzzles, but older puzzles were also implemented and innovated; the older puzzles that VpopsicleV implemented seemed to feel a bit dry and tedious, such as the starting puzzle. The quality of puzzles VpopsicleV fluctuated quite a bit, as he seemed to have added place fillers throughout the game; this aspect is acceptable as the level of difficulty parallels originality and execution of puzzles, and filling the game with older puzzles gives the sense of accomplishment among the player. The last puzzle was an example of utilizing an enemy in a creative way while displaying the puzzle in a presentable manner that made the player think. An integral aspect of execution is the ability to complete a puzzle every time you perform the correct action, which is exactly what Manipulation presented: puzzles that work without flaw. My official verdict for the execution and creativity of puzzles is above average: Manipulation achieved its goal of being recognized as a proper puzzle game.

The aspect of traps is not a necessity to construct the ideal game, but proper execution and quality of traps help spice up the game and add extra challenge. Manipulation featured traps throughout the game that implemented simple lava techniques, but it also featured grueling cl0ser traps that would end the game for the player; granted, the switches seemed obvious not to hit for veteran players. The most mediocre of traps were the ones implemented to deny the chance of the player to cheat through the game, which would have been aided with the addition of warnings; a professional technique to give warnings is to heed metaphorical language in riddles - nobody wants to see the simplistic "don't step here." The inconsistency of traps emitted an atmosphere that seemed tricky for players: the players feel as if they must be coordinated in their steps or else an incorrect action would obstruct their ability to progress through the game. Unpolished puzzle games are notorious for creating unbalanced atmospheres, a concept that Manipulation has fell victim to as well.

Puzzle games are extremely notorious for creating a rather dull atmosphere, and contrary to popular belief, I feel it is imperative to implement scenery to puzzle games. VpopsicleV did a suitable job in implementing hooking scenery in the beginning of the game, but he did a lackluster job in maintaining the details as the game progressed. Throughout the main course of the game, the scenery was extremely dull with a few sparks of effort; the scenery began to pick up as the game came to a conclusion, but it was not exemplary. An integral aspect to scenery is the use of proper aesthetics; Manipulation displayed an array of aesthetics throughout the game and certainly polished most portions of block placement. VpopsicleV rounded off the corners of rooms and added spices to floors, most precisely near the beginning of the game, but seemed to lack consistency through the middle of the game. My official verdict for scenery is amateur: the game felt rather dull throughout, but it showed sparks of life in a scarce manner.

Pros

The puzzles that were implemented featured fresh content and always worked correctly.

VpopsicleV did not exclude scenery from the game.

Manipulation featured an appropriate puzzle atmosphere.

Neutral

The scenery that was included seemed rather average.

The placement felt inconsistent but effective.

The traps featured moments of success and defeat.

The gameplay was a rather intermediate aspect due to its inconsistency.

Cons

Traps that excluded the player from completing the game were implemented without warning.

Despite the appropriate puzzle atmosphere, Manipulation featured an atmosphere of traps and the player's fear of taking the wrong step.

Ratings

Gameplay: 3.5/5; the gameplay yielded inconsistency, but the positive sparks were excellent.

Placement: 3/5; the placement was effective in most portions of the game, but there was a poor placement of game ending traps.

Puzzles: 4.5/5; the puzzles presented were new and always worked properly, although there were a few older puzzles mixed in.

Traps: 2.5/5; traps are not a necessity unless they are not game ending.

Scenery: 3/5; Manipulation featured acceptable scenery, most exclusively near the beginning and end.

Overall: 3.3/5; impressive puzzle game that felt sloppy in other aspects.

Conclusion

Manipulation achieved its goal of being recognized as a legitimate puzzle game, and I feel that it rightfully deserves a feature due to the originality of a great deal of the puzzles. The game itself is not difficult (I completed it without any aid of the creator) and provided a decent bit of fun. Unfortunately, I do not feel that Manipulation will win EGD, but I feel that it is one of the more impressive entries this year. I wish VpopsicleV great luck in the future, I believe that he has the potential to provide the perfect puzzle game that will be inducted into the Epic Game Library; practice makes perfect.