by skydereign » Fri Mar 09, 2012 5:24 am
Well I'd also recommend making the game run smoother. Here are a few things that might help.
Decrease the size of the fish and ball, or better yet just zoom the game out. The level graphics are really nice, and the experience would benefit if you allowed the player to see more of it. Since the ball can get moving at pretty high speeds, the small amount of screen space makes it harder for the player to get into playing the game (since they could easily run into some trash). Think of playing mario, but having half as much view to the right and left, it's cramped and prevents the player from really getting into it. One of the reasons mario is so great of a game is it allows the feeling that the player is on a role, by giving them more time to react to the new parts of the level. The same principle can be applied here as well.
To the same end, you should also at least provide a different control scheme. I find when playing this that my finger/hand covers up a lot of the screen. This prevents me from seeing around the player, and at times prevents me from seeing in front of me. I would suggest the joystick effect to be lower on the screen. Since the fish never turns around, it would make sense that behind the player is less important than in front of the player. And since the joystick movement is necessary, you should try to move it into a spot that blocks the least amount of the screen. You could also move the fish to be lower on the screen, which helps with both these points.
This one would probably have less of an impact, but make the player move with some acceleration. Currently you move at a constant speed when you are clicking the screen. This kind of movement stands out and makes it seem less professional, whether or not that is true. Having said acceleration would provide more realistic movement, and a slightly higher level of control to the player.
Now in terms of adding content to increase the gameplay, I feel you can do more with the crabs. Currently all they really feel like to me is an annoying barrier. I know they are supposed to hinder me, but since you can't interact with them at all it comes across as a bit weak. It's a similar issue with the trash, and both of these would be improved if you spaced things out a bit (a la my first suggestion). Perhaps just allowing you to nudge them one way or another. Or if you could actually drag them away from the player, though I can't think of why the fish would be able to do this.
Another feature you could add is a current system. Have parts in the water that accelerate things along in a direction. They can help or hinder you, depending on direction and placement. You could also set it up for them to shoot some algae which would create more of a sense of movement in your game. You could even have circular currents, or just allow some of the algae to move around in the water. To reconnect to mario, sort of like moving coins.
I could probably come up with some more if you'd like.
