Crazed Meadow needs some work...

[johnpeat]

Firstly, the switches are near-impossible to spot at-first - I'm not sure forcing players to develop a migraine is good practice?

Secondly, if you're not standing exactly where the game thinks you should be, it's easy to drop yourself into the hole with the switches.  That's just plain shoddy design - I'm not psychic, don't punish me for your game's limitations - I have to stand somewhere - it shouldn't be potluck

Thirdly, the design is just a bit dull - it can take a long time to catch all the enemies given the layout of the traps and if you die and have to start over - well, frankly, I just couldn't be bothered with it.

It's stuff like that which makes the difference between this being an interesting game and a bit of a bodge-job - you find yourself enjoying it and then if kicks you right in the happy sacks...

[Teal_Blue]

This is just one players opinion of your post, so please understand, but you sound more than a bit ticked, which is anyone's right, but to be honest, I played this level, several times in fact and had pretty much the same experience, and had to figure out how to get the guy on the side before he got to the top, because he gets stuck up there. But i figured it was a lot like the old games of yore, where, you know that kind of stuff happened. The over and over stuff also seemed to be a bit of a throwback to those times too, so it was really no big deal to me. I just lather, rinse, repeat until i got through it. I wasn't half or even a tenth as upset as you seem, especially since you said you couldn't be bothered. Honestly in my opinion you are rather harsh, which can be for all sorts of reasons,

Anyway, have a happy day, and maybe a cola, or a beer, or even a less intense level of frustration before gaming would make the whole experience much more amenable?

-Teal

[Winge]

Honestly, I enjoy that level.  Well, ever since the problem Teal_Blue mentioned was fixed.  I guess I just like pulling a switch and watching my enemies fall to their deaths or burn in flames  >D

[FroBodine]

I also think this level is fine.  Sure, I have fallen in a couple times, but the majority of the time just the baddies fall to their doom.   I have never felt like I had no control over whether or not I fell in from where I was standing.

I have no problem finding the switches.  Maybe it's a resolution thing for the OP.  They are very small, but they stand out pretty good for me. 

Anyway, I'm sorry the OP is frustrated.  I have been frustrated with other levels very much, but if the game was too easy it wouldn't be fun.

[x4000]

To me, this level has actually been an ongoing source of frustration as well.  Of all the levels in the game, this one stands out to me as one I've never been completely happy with.  It's a cool level, but it's not my best, and shouldn't be so early in the game.  The same with Switch Maze, honestly.  It gives the wrong early impression, though it is a cool level in general.

So, in for next release:

* The Phoenix Forest has had two of its levels turned into bonus levels: Crazed Meadow and Switch Maze.
** Each of these now requires that you come back with different combination papers sometime in the future.  This lets you get to Stantonsburg and more interesting levels faster, and contributes to an earlier sense of mystery on the overworld.


Thus those levels aren't removed, and aren't altered (I think they are as good as they can be, really), but they aren't in your face as soon as you start the game (and in fact are completely optional if you turn out to hate them, etc).

[johnpeat]

My main problem is the 'it's too easy to drop yourself into the hole' thing - that's just made more frustrating by the fact you could have spend a good while clearly one 'screen' and only be waiting for 1 enemy to walk into the trap and boom - there's your "don't take damage" challenge failed (and you're unlikely to want to repeat the level because it's just a BIT too slow and  BIT too random).

Remember this is early in the game too - it's fine to put levels which require more 'attention' from the player into the game - but perhaps that in the first 20 mins

I like the concept - I'd like it more if I'd not stared myself blind finding the switches too - remember that people play on different sized screens.  I started-off playing this on my laptop (11" screen 1280x800) - I've moved to the desktop now because it's just easier and less migraine-inducing...

[johnpeat]

and then it gets worse

So I kill all the Grey on Crazed Meadows and it says I have to escape - but there's no 'dot' to escape to as with the earlier level and leaving the level leaves me stuck in a room with a door locked by combination - which I don't have

WTF do I do now then?

[x4000]

To escape, you just leave off the north of the level.  To go through the combination door from the side you are on, you should just be able to use the interact button to open it.

[johnpeat]

To escape, you just leave off the north of the level.  To go through the combination door from the side you are on, you should just be able to use the interact button to open it.

"to open this door you need a combination.  Clue: it's written on a piece of paper with the same symbol as the door" - or words to that effect...

So I'm screwed then...

[x4000]

Wow, please calm down.

Coming next version:

* Fixed an issue where combination paper doors could not be properly unlocked by empty-handed actions from the inside of themselves, thus locking players in to the new bonus levels from the prior version if they happened to be in the two levels in question.

[johnpeat]

or I just start again - not exactly a huge distance into the game

or I go back to Guild Wars2 - decisions decisions

Screw it - I'm taking the dogs out for a walk...

[x4000]

New version now out with that fix: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,12766.0.html

[johnpeat]

Well that's the first time I've had a game patched whilst I was walkiing the dogs (and visiting someone in hospital and visiting the whisky store!)

Thx!

[x4000]

You bet!