Let's Play: Universal Wars

[Spoonweaver]

So this game is about 3 people (kids?) that get attacked by a bull and then start out on an adventure because of it. Through their adventure they come across wacky characters and strange places. The premise of the game is it's most redeeming quality.

Whereas, The graphics are it's worst flaw. Not only do some of them actually hurt to look at, the graphics themselves reek of laziness to an almost humorous degree. The 3 heros look almost exactly the same even though one of them is a girl. So, in order to enjoy this game, the graphics have to basically be ignored.

The gameplay is only kind of ok. During battles characters only have the choice to attack, so holding down space bar is not only common, but it's literally the only thing you can do. There are some battle gimmicks later on, but they're not too complicated. Also, the exploration in the game is very minimal. The forests were basically a joke.

Overall, the game the graphics made this ok game into a kind of bad one.
4/10

Here's the let's play:
<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pfO_gBcbtns?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pfO_gBcbtns?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jLpAcClacps?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jLpAcClacps?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kuA6lPe0OmM?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kuA6lPe0OmM?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/neUjaTdW54A?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/neUjaTdW54A?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aufhPrID-7A?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aufhPrID-7A?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XblZfrUT_cs?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XblZfrUT_cs?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/crycQQOZ9yA?ve ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/crycQQOZ9yA?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[jcenterprises]

I think it should be noted that the reason the text gets cut off in these videos at times is because the given names for the characters are too long, but I did get the lines correct.

[Mogri]

That is the danger of letting the user pick.

You can set a max length to avoid this kind of situation.

[Pepsi Ranger]

This is also why it's better to set the heroes' names at the top of the box and start the dialogue below if you're allowing player-inputted names. Naming the town should definitely have a string limit, though.

Fortunately, there are very few dialogue boxes I've found so far that would need that eighth line, so it would be quick and easy to separate hero names from the dialogue (and cleaner looking, too).

I for one am enjoying this game more than I thought I would. The graphics really are quite bad, and the actual gameplay is on the positive side of boring, but the story is so absurd that I can't help wondering what madness I'm about to walk into next, and it's done the difficult job of keeping me interested, even if I can't explain why. Nice job?

As far as the Let's Play video is concerned, I think Spoonweaver should do more of these (not just for the contest). The banter between him and his co-announcer make these more interesting than the typical monotone you hear in most Let's Play videos. Makes me a little regretful that I didn't submit something for this.