Review: Timpoline
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:07 pm
Original Source: HamsterSpeak, issue 25
If you haven't heard by now, Timpoline is Moogle1's latest charmingly troublesome side-scrolling adventure.
"Timpoline!"
Should you choose to play the game (you should!), you'll be playing as the reliably tough Government Agent "Guy".
Without much briefing, you'll be given responsibility over Tim's endlessly bouncing self as well as the mission to escort him through 40+ levels to...somewhere.
Timpoline is completely driven through plotscripts and doesn't seem to fit the model of an OHR-game in any way, which is totally cool.
Demonstrated in his SS101 articles, Moogle1's plotscripting expertise has created a fluidly smooth game with wonderful consistency. Tasty!
The essential controls seem rather simple (Move, Jump, Run) and they would be, if the player only had to take care of [Guy].
However, the inclusion of Tim completely adds a completely new dimension to the side-scrolling experience.
Hitting Tim with differing parts of the trampoline results in varying results:
Bumping him on the edge sends Tim off with a quick speed at a sharp angle while hitting him in the dead center of the trampoline will slow him down and guide him straight up.
It is generally pretty intuitive and the player will definitely want to develop some competence in guiding Tim before reaching the more difficult stages emerge.
"Young Man, you get yourself over here this instant!"
In addition to Tim's presence, the game also tosses a bunch of other interesting quirks, including items and special terrains.
Items in this game activate upon contact with either of the two characters and range in effects from warping-time to recovering lost health.
There are also numerous terrain types that affect each of the characters differently, such as the lava which hurts both characters but hurts Tim less, the grass which only hurts Tim, or the Void that destroys both characters.
While the basic concept of each level's goal is about the same, Timpoline provides a myriad of different stages and quirks using warped physics and even nostalgic homages to some of its side-scrolling predecessors.
Combinations of these aids and obstacles can make for incredibly annoying levels, but making use of the aids to overcome the obstacles provides a satisfying feeling of relief.
"Oh God, how did this happen?!"
As seen from the screenshots above, the graphics of Timpoline are simple and sufficient.
The backgrounds are just subtle enough to clearly differentiate themselves from objects on the stage.
(If you're able to make it through the game's 40 levels, you'll also be treated to a wonderfully bizarre show of ending credits!)
"Haha. Oh, Tim. We are so dead!"
The game's music, while ripped from various sources, is usually fitting and sets the moods of each level rather nicely.
"Guy"is also given a voice so that Tim can be yelled at whenever he dies.
Hearing Guy cry out numerous times can get annoying, so Moogle1 was nice enough to provide multiple renditions of Guy's shouts! Thanks, Moogle1!
"NO, TIM. DO NOT GET YOUR HEAD SQUISHED! "
The difficulty may inspire frustration at times, but that can be easily supressed by the sigh from finishing a stage.
Well, maybe just until you have to face the next level.
"Believe it or not, this is a Victory."
Plotscripting Expertise and Charming Wit collide to spawn an OHR Masterpiece.
While I can't guarantee that you won't feel the occasional urge of smashing your keyboard into the oblivions, I am able to say that you'll definitely have some fun.
If you haven't heard by now, Timpoline is Moogle1's latest charmingly troublesome side-scrolling adventure.
"Timpoline!"
Should you choose to play the game (you should!), you'll be playing as the reliably tough Government Agent "Guy".
Without much briefing, you'll be given responsibility over Tim's endlessly bouncing self as well as the mission to escort him through 40+ levels to...somewhere.
Timpoline is completely driven through plotscripts and doesn't seem to fit the model of an OHR-game in any way, which is totally cool.
Demonstrated in his SS101 articles, Moogle1's plotscripting expertise has created a fluidly smooth game with wonderful consistency. Tasty!
The essential controls seem rather simple (Move, Jump, Run) and they would be, if the player only had to take care of [Guy].
However, the inclusion of Tim completely adds a completely new dimension to the side-scrolling experience.
Hitting Tim with differing parts of the trampoline results in varying results:
Bumping him on the edge sends Tim off with a quick speed at a sharp angle while hitting him in the dead center of the trampoline will slow him down and guide him straight up.
It is generally pretty intuitive and the player will definitely want to develop some competence in guiding Tim before reaching the more difficult stages emerge.
"Young Man, you get yourself over here this instant!"
In addition to Tim's presence, the game also tosses a bunch of other interesting quirks, including items and special terrains.
Items in this game activate upon contact with either of the two characters and range in effects from warping-time to recovering lost health.
There are also numerous terrain types that affect each of the characters differently, such as the lava which hurts both characters but hurts Tim less, the grass which only hurts Tim, or the Void that destroys both characters.
While the basic concept of each level's goal is about the same, Timpoline provides a myriad of different stages and quirks using warped physics and even nostalgic homages to some of its side-scrolling predecessors.
Combinations of these aids and obstacles can make for incredibly annoying levels, but making use of the aids to overcome the obstacles provides a satisfying feeling of relief.
"Oh God, how did this happen?!"
As seen from the screenshots above, the graphics of Timpoline are simple and sufficient.
The backgrounds are just subtle enough to clearly differentiate themselves from objects on the stage.
(If you're able to make it through the game's 40 levels, you'll also be treated to a wonderfully bizarre show of ending credits!)
"Haha. Oh, Tim. We are so dead!"
The game's music, while ripped from various sources, is usually fitting and sets the moods of each level rather nicely.
"Guy"is also given a voice so that Tim can be yelled at whenever he dies.
Hearing Guy cry out numerous times can get annoying, so Moogle1 was nice enough to provide multiple renditions of Guy's shouts! Thanks, Moogle1!
"NO, TIM. DO NOT GET YOUR HEAD SQUISHED! "
The difficulty may inspire frustration at times, but that can be easily supressed by the sigh from finishing a stage.
Well, maybe just until you have to face the next level.
"Believe it or not, this is a Victory."
Plotscripting Expertise and Charming Wit collide to spawn an OHR Masterpiece.
While I can't guarantee that you won't feel the occasional urge of smashing your keyboard into the oblivions, I am able to say that you'll definitely have some fun.