Pennaz's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Goat in The Cave]

A simple platformer with crazy spikes that seems out of "I Wanna Be The Guy"!
Great for a quick gaming sessions, nothing really new or original, still pretty fun; plus, the goat is too cute!

Things I would improve:
- Level design: waiting for moving platform is pretty tedious, try to avoid levels that force you to do that.
- Some sort of quick intro and ending cutscenes would've been a nice addition!
- This issue may be on my side: sometimes I can see gaps between tiles!

Good job! Hope to see more platformer from you! :)

[Spiderling]

I can't understand why this game has (for now, at least) such an average score...

In my opinion the graphic is absolutely beautiful, rich of small details and a loveable character design, I felt in love with those two little insect-buddies!

Music is very relaxing, and fits very well with the rhythm of the game; sound effects were fine as well!

The gameplay was something new to me and I'll be honest: I've got frustrated two, maybe three times due to the difficulty I had handling the game phisics while using the web; still, the checkpoints are not too far one from the other and you went so creative with this original mechanic (I loved the button puzzles and the dark section), that I just had to keep playing, no matter how irritating some spots were.

Overall, I think this game is incredibly well done, pretty original and creative, yet has some quite difficult spots which may lead to frutration.
Still, WAY more than 3 stars if you ask me.

I really hope you're gonna make a sequel, I really want to know what's going to happen to those two cute things!

[Labyrinth: SoS]

For me this is a REALLY well done game!

- First off the gameplay: controls are simple, responsive and easy to learn and the game keeps itself fresh, level after level, by putting new upgrades and enemies!
While I think that the random-generated levels are fun to explore I also found them a little bit inconsistent in level design. Don't get me wrong: I think it's impressive how you can nuke entire portions of the level, but still be able to complete it without worrying too much!
...But maybe some more defined structures (like the little pyramids you can find here and there, for examples) could make every dungeon a little more "unique"!
One little thing: when you get the map it's blank no matter how much of the level you've already explored. What about taking track of which sections you visited even before getting it?
Also, what about a save feature? I'm not talking about checkpoints, but the possibility to interrupt the game without losing everything!

- Sounds and music are really good, but maybe 1 or 2 more tunes wouldn't have hurt!

- Graphic: while I think that tiles and backgrounds are a little generic I just ADORE the character design of both hero and enemies. I wanted to try this game just for that little red devil! The colors, the animations, the little touches (like when you stand near an edge)... I simply love every single part of it!
What about adding the helmet you're wearing to all the animations (it disappers, for exaple, when I swing the blade)? That would make it perfect!

Bottom line: I really enjoyed this game, and I'll be back for more!

PestoForce responds:

Awesome! Glad you're enjoying it!

A lot of your suggestions are things we'd like to add in a sequel. Thanks for the review!

[King's Ascent]

This was really not what I expected... ...and I love surprises!

Gameplay is well thought: a clever twist to the classic vertical platforming, and I think it would get incredibly addicting if you add a rating system for each section, like scoring how fast you kill the enemy of how many platforms you manage to touch before reaching the top!

Sounds are pretty good! Voice acting may not be really expressive, but it gives some good atmosphere to the still images of the cutscenes!
Really liked the ballad during the credits!

Graphics, in my opinion, are a little uncoherent.
First of all, the hand-drawed ones: cutscenes jump from beatiful and detailed to extremely cartoony and stylised ones. I'm totally fine with the idea that the "historical ones" don't represent the way less heroic, way less fictional truth, but I think they would work even better if the others were a little more realistic or, at least, detailed; they seems two really distant styles to me.
Lastly the CG: those monsters are pretty good models, but honestly I really disliked them mixed with the handrawed art, expetially in every last frame before a level was about to start; you can see a HUGE contrast and that didn't really help me dive into the game's atmosphere.

With all that said: I enjoyed the game itself and didn't dislike the set up; but I really think it could become something terrific with a little more coherent art style and maybe a little better voice acting!
Anyway I think you did a great job! Take it as a 4.75 out of 5!

[Persist]

Sweet story, cute graphic, awesome music and pretty good controls!

A beatiful, simple short, I really liked it!

[SkullFace]

Influences by meatboy and other fast-paced platformer are big here, but this is not a bad thing if the game is done well like this!

Control are smooth and responsive, from the wall-jumping to the jetpack, I expetially love the roll+jump combo!
Awesome game design, no level seems out of place and the learning curve is well calibrated!
Graphic is simple and clear, while I think the tiles for the levels aren't prefectly matching the great hand drawed art (they seems a little too "blocky") nothing is really out of place, it's just something I felt a little while playing, but I'm nitpicking here!
Music is fine too, pretty damn catchy and perfect for the fast-rhythm gameplay!

My only complaits:
-In the final level, the two vertical laser-shooting eyeballs went a little out of sync during some of my attemps to complete it; it was a small difference of milliseconds, but took me out of guard; plus, it fixed itself after some more deaths.
-The boss fight, the last two attacks are way too cheap, if you stay in the corner there is no way you're gonna get killed by the spiked balls!

Over all, this game is amazing! Had a lot of fun with it, keep up your great job!

[Ghost Light Part 1]

I really, really enjoyed this game!

Gameplay is simple and easy to understand; I really liked the fact that you can hit platforms from the corners and still get up them!
Music and sounds were nice, but I found the main theme a little repetitive after the 6th level; I suggest you to add one or two more tracks for the sequel!
Level desing is very good, I love how all levels don't take more than one screen; you really have to plan your next move before proceed!
Graphic was, on all its features, the best thing for me; so "pixel-ish", so small; I think you really did an amazing job with that! I felt like I was playing an old Amiga game (you say you got inspired by NES, but this sounds more like Amiga to me!)!

I'm gonna try out the lost levels right now! Once again, great job!

Comacolors responds:

Thank you so much man, I seriously appreciate it.

I understand where you're coming from with the music. I have to be careful with it on account of how fast music can balloon file size but I will try to address this in part two.

To be honest I have very little experience with Amiga games, but after I read you're comment I did some searching and I totally see where you're coming from. Games like Loom and Barbarian have a lot similar aesthetics. Seems I've been missing out on some really cool games, thank you for steering me in their direction.

Thanks again, I hope you enjoy the lost levels.

[A Bit of Fun]

It was a good, little experience!

It sounds a little like Meat Boy, while it's not as frustrating as that game.
Controls were good for the most part (didn't really like the icy platforms to be honest... you start moving like you're on a crazy conveyor belt!).
Graphic is nice (really liked the little background effects) and the music is pretty catchy!
Last, I really enjoyed the ball trasformation!

With 100 deaths, all 13 coints, I collapsed the window satisfied!
Not the most original game on earth, still a nice, small platformer!

[Spike: A Love Story Too]

Simple yet original, just like the first episode, but with a little more of variety, which is a fundamental feature for a game so repetitive in the concept.

The new "rebound" system and powerups made the gameplay WAY more addictive than before, and the story-mode is a nice addition!

Music is great and loud as it should, the graphic is lovably-junky!

Just a personal opinion: it would be nice to be able to choose the single stages in the story mode, to perfect the ranking in each one.

Another thing: by playing the story mode a second time I've found a little music issue; after completing a stage, in the cutscenes with the boss talking to the spike trap, two music were played togheter.
However, the problem stops when the next stage starts.