puzzlemaps I'd like some feedback on a puzzle I made.

[TheHarmp 155]

Some NPC (pretty important chap, but haven't decided on a real role for him) build a security system in his mansion,
But by accident he activated it and can't enter his own house now.
You, as the hero, are sent in to flip the switch, so he (and you) can access the house again.

 

You enter at the bottom (note the bridge is out when you first enter, the arrow suggests you jump down)

 

When you get down in the cellar (named Arachnid Cellar for now, not sure on that yet.)
There's a switches puzzle, the colored nodes and the lines to them light up when the switch is activated.
The switches also activate and de-activate the spikes in the floor.

(ps. the 2 switches at the very top are not in the game, theyre just left over from figuring the puzzle out.
and the statues near the facegate are ingame overlapping the gate, instead of how it looks now.)

The doors at the bottom of the cellar lead to other rooms, with more switches and some mobs. (the switch on the right opens the gate in the cellar (top-middle))

When you go through the big facegate in the cellar, you end up in this boss room, with another small puzzle.
There are 6 white crystals, 3 turn green, and 3 turn red and will reset the others, when you get the 3 greens, the gate will open,
Here you will fight the boss, and once defeated, you can walk further, flipping the switch will de-activate the security system, and reveal the bridge in the mansion map.
and the circle will teleport you back to that map.

I hope you like it, or don't, I'd just like your honest opinions, please.
Thanks   





 

Edited January 21, 2014 by TheHarmp

[Drexanz Xikam 2]

I like it, it sounds difficult, but not too difficult. Honestly none of my puzzles are ever that complex, I wish they were, I like complex things. Good job, keep up the good work, I'm sure your game will be awesome.

 

EDIT:

Also I hope you have a reason for that boss being down there, it seems kinda like it's just there for no reason. Other than that though nice idea.

Edited January 21, 2014 by DrexanzMakenshi

[+ Brackev 66]

I wouldn't want a boss attacking me whenever I wanted to turn my alarm system on or off.

Also, it's his system, he should come with you to undo it. How does he turn it off if you aren't there?

Color code everything so people will have a better chance of knowing what they just did whenever they hit a switch or button.

[Drexanz Xikam 2]

Yeah, didn't think of that. Good thing you said something Brackev...

[Tsarmina 2,612]

What a foolish NPC.

 

No, but this looks fun! And very cool, lovely mapping style. However, what's with those big white spaces in the third screenie--or is it just me?

[Heartfeltcurse 195]

What a foolish NPC.

 

No, but this looks fun! And very cool, lovely mapping style. However, what's with those big white spaces in the third screenie--or is it just me?

I have yet to meet a NPC that gives you a quest or task or something that isn't a fool among fools.

 

And it's not just you, i see those too. whats up with those?

[TheHarmp 155]

Thanks for all the replies!

Those white spots are actually just black area's (no tile there) but the map screenshot script turns it white (transparent)
The place ingame is pretty dark, besides the torches that are around, so that area shouldn't be such an eye soar when you're playing.

The NPC is certainly an idiot to have his own security system be such an inconvenience for him,
and though it is not uncommon to have idiotic people as quest givers (real heroes don't need people to do their quests.)
I'll have to think of something that doesn't seem THAT foolish.

And I do agree that there's not a good reason to have a boss down there, 

But this quest is pretty early in the game, and a boss is in this case just a tougher monster.
At first I had this quest in my head without any monsters at all, but then the quest/dungeon seemed empty to me

Thinking about this now, I might have the boss be a female burglar trying to rob the mansion,
but instead getting caught in the security cellar, getting attacked and in a spiderman-esque way be turned into their mutated queen.
The NPC being very rich, he has multiple mansions all over the world, and he hasn't visited this one in a few years
(giving the whole mutation idea time to play out.)
The only thing then would be.. "why is there a bossroom down there?"
Like I said, I'm not quite sure how I want to fit this into my game, but I felt like making a puzzle and here it is haha.

.

It's already all colorcoded, except for the spikes coming out of the ground,
But those are pretty simple to navigate through.

Again, thanks for all the replies and all the suggestions and ideas.
It really means a lot to me.

Edited January 21, 2014 by TheHarmp

[magic2345 252]

I like the puzzle design, but what I really love is how its not a labyrinth/maze. Also, either its my eyesight failing me, or that pink haired boss isn't aligned (her sprite's a bit too the right than usual). Unless, you're using a pixel movement script?

Edited January 22, 2014 by magic2345

[TheHarmp 155]

I like the puzzle design, but what I really love is how its not a labyrinth/maze. Also, either its my eyesight failing me, or that pink haired boss isn't aligned (her sprite's a bit too the right than usual). Unless, you're using a pixel movement script?

I did have the pixel movement script in my game, until a little while back, but that's not what causes this,

and I removed the pixelmovement, because it served no real purpose in my game, and it had too many drawbacks.

It's the sprite itself, because the girl has spiderlegs, it's a little wider than the normal sprite, so it slants off a little to one side.

[magic2345 252]

Oh! Now that I look at it again, she does have spiderlegs. Hmm, you may want to check into that, because even the big monster sprites in the default RTP are still centered when used.

[TheHarmp 155]

Yeah, You're right, It didn't bother me much at first, but I'll see what I can do with my limited skills in spriting.

Edit: well, that fix was easier than expected, the sprite had 6 pixels too many to the right side, I cut those off, and now it looks a lot better.
Thanks for pointing it out and forcing me to deal with it 

Edited January 22, 2014 by TheHarmp

[fathippie 6]

I think the story sounds exactly right! Why wouldn't there be a mutated spider woman in the basement??

 

The dude has a a high tech security system to catch would be burglars and not let them escape. This is the first time anyones attempted to thief him and now that the system is in lock down he's not sure what to do. Sure he could turn it off himself but why would he when he's got the money to pay YOU to do it. And who the hell knows what tripped the alarm!! He sure isn't in the business of finding out!

 

And that spider queen was already a spider queen. There's something down there she was after. "The Golden Web of Arachnid" Haha, everything makes perfect sense.

 

Edit: As for the puzzle, I don't know. I'd have to play it to find out. And I'd love to if you'd send it.

Edited January 24, 2014 by fathippie

[TheHarmp 155]

I think the story sounds exactly right! Why wouldn't there be a mutated spider woman in the basement??

 

The dude has a a high tech security system to catch would be burglars and not let them escape. This is the first time anyones attempted to thief him and now that the system is in lock down he's not sure what to do. Sure he could turn it off himself but why would he when he's got the money to pay YOU to do it. And who the hell knows what tripped the alarm!! He sure isn't in the business of finding out!

 

And that spider queen was already a spider queen. There's something down there she was after. "The Golden Web of Arachnid" Haha, everything makes perfect sense.

 

Edit: As for the puzzle, I don't know. I'd have to play it to find out. And I'd love to if you'd send it.

Thank mate! 

I won't go sending my puzzles to anyone yet, but I understand it will be lots easier to give feedback when you actually play the puzzle and everything.

But I'll try to have a demo together soon, and by soon I mean somewhere in the next few months.

[fathippie 6]

 

But I'll try to have a demo together soon, and by soon I mean somewhere in the next few months.

 

 

Haha, I know exactly what you mean Harmp. SOON!!! Glasses to you, and good luck. Shoot me a message if you post anything else up for critique.

[TheHarmp 155]

Perfectionist problems haha, Thanks, will do!