Topic

This game is not an arcade platformer

I cannot possibly express how badly I ***HATE*** the levels and quests where I cannot accomplish my goal without spending 20 minutes jumping, missing, jumping some more, trying to boost my jumping power only to have it fade just as I'm almost where I need to be, and then just deciding to give up.  This is billed as a creative game, not an arcade game, so don't make me do arcade tasks in order to progress, or even just get from one area of the map to the next.

Posted 17 months ago by KhaKhonsu Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I really enjoy platformers, so I like those parts of the game.
    If you don't, you should probably start a spinach garden, popeye.
    Posted 17 months ago by Chialoo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Mereret, I'm really sucky at jumping too and hated milking butterflies etc. But if you get some practise it gets better, I promise! Now I only suck at some of those races that require coördinated jumping, but higher level players are often very nice and let you win so you can complete your quest ;)

    EDIT: it shouldn't be too hard to get to a next location, did you notice the ladders? Some people miss those. Also, when you're having a hard time reaching a certain higher area try to approach it from the other side, sometimes you can only get on from one side. Look for a slightly higher spot next to the elevated area, it makes the jumping easier. Or ask for help in local chat or the help channel! I'm sure someone will come to your rescue.
    Posted 17 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You do NOT have to do these quests.... The game must appeal to many people. Just ignore the ones you suck at. The game is not just for you.
    Posted 17 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Beth, for some people it's hard to ignore quests. It's frustrating, I know it is for me. I hated it that I couldn't finish the Rook quest for a very long time because of my sucky jumping and/or the lag.
    Posted 17 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Mereret I have trouble too, and I'm not too bad at getting around in most cases. Practice does help, as well as learning the streets/remembering how you got up last time. I guess there isn't much I can help you with as a mere player :p 
    If you have a friend nearby who's better at getting around, you could 'Follow' them :)

    It's not just quests, @napabeth. Jumping and climbing are quite important to getting around, especially in places like Groddle Heights, Ilmenskie, and Chakra Phool.
    And I think it'd be better to leave off that bit about 'Leave the game if you don't like it" that you've been saying to many people who say something that could be construed as a negative statement about Glitch.
    Posted 17 months ago by Millie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I also find Chakra Phool's shingle levels really annoying to get around, but I don't live there or spend all that much time there, and other people like it, so its existence doesn't bother me.

    I guess my thought is that it's not fair to take away optional bonuses for things other people like if you can get equal bonuses by doing other things.
    Posted 17 months ago by Pomegrandy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As someone who's played a lot of platformers, and has a husband who plays even more, the platforming here kind of sucks. I wish they'd drop the races or improve the platforming.

    For getting around, the platforming just needs needs to be fixed.
    Posted 17 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I just avoid Chakra, and always carry spinach (level 38 and never won a race yet)
    Posted 17 months ago by Momo McGlitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • levitation helps too. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Tarod Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I let my 6yo run the races for me. He does much better than I! But I've never gotten past the first two obstacles in the Rook race, and just gave up ages ago. Maybe once I get Piety, I can pray those puppies into oblivion!
    Posted 17 months ago by Lilith Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have my husband do the harder platforming, like the Rook quest, and I play against my husband for the races, and while he hasn't always let me win, it has happened. When I accept races for other people's quests, I tend not to try my very best, so that they can fulfill their quests. It just seems like good form to let them get their quests, you know?
    Posted 17 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really like some of the harder, platformy areas full of jumps and out-of-the-way locations off the ground, but I'm not sure I'd be able to pull any of them off with the keyboard or mouse.  Instead, I've been using a little 3rd party program that maps my keyboard commands to my USB game controller.

    I do occasionally have to put the game controller down in order to click out of a dialog (like when I accidentally request info from a chicken), or on the odd occasion that I actually use chat, but it's been a pretty fluid experience otherwise.

    And, yeah, even with a game controller, I'm STILL awful at that rook quest.  I've been blaming it on my ancient PC and doubly ancient laptop, but I know, deep down inside, it's that even as a kid I never made it past the first world in Super Mario Bros.
    Posted 17 months ago by Kipple Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yesterday I wandered into the center area of Chakra Phool for the first time, and immediately fell to the bottom. I'm terrible at platformers, but I persisted for quite a while until I got back up to the top, and then felt really proud of myself.

    Despite my ineptitude with platformers, I've come to really enjoy the occasional challenge of getting to hard places in this game. Without them, the game becomes pet, water, and harvest.
    Posted 17 months ago by Widdershins Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Please do not water down the platform areas so that it's easy to navigate them. 

    Yes, at first in Chakra Phool, getting around was a ball of frustration for me.  Yes, I fell off numerous platforms until I reached for the spinach.  No, I had no idea I could climb up the ropes until just this test (!).

    But then, I got better at it.  And that gave me a feeling of accomplishment.  

    Please don't take that challenge away; it's one of the few we have in this game.
    Posted 17 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I can't do the Rook. I am too lame. I have to forget this quest. I am too old to jump so much. I simply have to ignore some quests or I would tear all my hair out and there is not much left.
    Posted 17 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really wouldn't mind if there was a sneaky alternative route to the Rook Quest: I had to borrow my mom's computer (newer, not a mac as mine is) to finish the quest. I have varying performance with jumping, although either I'm getting better or the controls are, because getting around seems to be easier in general then when I started.
    Posted 17 months ago by Caesura Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the fact that people are pointing out different quests seem to have the potential to attract different people (with different preferences), and that there is something for everyone.

    Is there an option to remove a quest from our "queue"? That way, if there's a quest no one wants to do, it simply won't show up.
    Posted 17 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ Cerulean... hi there. I think they leave them so you can see what you can't do. I agree.. I would love to delete the ones I can never do.  I try not to feel in adequate but it is so hard.... Fails at Rook quest... oiy vey. 
    Posted 17 months ago by napabeth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am almost hopeless at jumping.  I am often reduced to laughing hysterically as I try for the "millionth" time just to jump on a rock and then another and another to get to my own home in Alakol.  Forget about the races.  I really do love them but have only won them because I had friends who waited patiently for me to finish them.  We did discover that you can "Follow" in a race!  Yippee!  Anyone can win one, all you need is a friend who will let you follow them to the end and then step aside to allow you to cross the line!  You can't use Spinach but "Follow" works (I hope it still does)! 

    I try to avoid places that require a good bit of jumping.  I don't care to go to Chakra Phool.  That is hardest for me because of the difficult jumping to get almost any place in that location.  You can go there with a friend though and, again, use "Follow".  Let your skilled friend do the hard part.

    The Rook Quest is difficult and you must do it alone.  I tried many times and was amazed when I finally won it!  It was totally unexpected.  If you just can't get it, don't like it, you don't have to do it.  I tried it at least once each test.  I was certain that I would never get it but I learned a little bit each time I did it.  Even you might eventually finish it but if you can't just ignore it.
    Posted 17 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • With the rook quest I kept failing. Till I tried what looked like the wrong route through the rocks. Then it was a lot easier than it was the previous frustrating swear inducing times I tried.
    Posted 17 months ago by HarleyQuin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't think I would have continued the playing the game as long as I have if there weren't those platforming areas.I don't know how I'd feel just walking back and forth doing tasks. I feel like having the platforming and quoin collecting really adds to the exploration and wonderment of finding those areas.
    Posted 17 months ago by Muncey Mango Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Even on my HTPC (which is a beast as far as HTPCs go) I don't have any lag in the game except during extended periods. But most of the time, the gameplay is really smooth. I think PC quality must be a barrier of entry for enjoying the platforming in the game. That's too bad since it's a browser based game. 

    As an aside, I know a lot of browser based games exist out there, and I know people would abuse it, but I wonder if it would be possible to maintain browser based... while also giving the option for a downloadable portion of the game to increase performance. Again, I'm sure it would be abused, but there might be a way to do it. I don't know. Maybe just images on the client side to increase performance. Such that if someone modified them, they'd only see the mods on their side. IDK.

    I would hate to see the game lose its platforming. In fact, I want to see the platforming employed more, and in more ways.

    I also dislike this notion that games need to care about usability. Usability is something employed on websites and utility applications. Games care about usability in regards to their menus and such, but even then, it's not that important. A game doesn't need to be easy. It shouldn't be easy. It shouldn't hand-out victories at every quest. Some should be downright impossible (seemingly so, that is). Why is it that instead of rising up to the challenge, that some players see it as a 'frustration.' It should be seen as a challenge. Something to conquer. Sure, frustration will set in, but it should bolster the player to meet the challenge and win. When the player does, he should be glad he won simply because he won. There doesn't need to be any reward beyond that.

    I don't know where the OP read that the game was billed as anything. In fact, if the game has been billed as anything, it's been billed as 'make your own interpretation.' 
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I teamed up with Enola and we tackled all those races in our quest queue! Really fun to do, we sucked almost equally :)
    Posted 17 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Mr. Dawgg, I like platforming. A lot. My number one anticipated game right now is a platformer for the 3DS. I think good feedback of platforming physics from people who like to play platformers is useful.

    Regarding the unimportance of usability, do you work for Bethesda? Was Fallout New Vegas yours? It was, wasn't it!
    Posted 17 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's kind of you to think that, but I'm not even in the gaming industry. Let alone did I have the chance to work on a Fallout game. 

    The thing is about usability... is it's the notion that things are intuitive and easy to figure out. Really though, It's just a fancy way of saying 'idiotproofing.' Essentially. C'mon. A gamer doesn't need idiotproofing. Discovering how to work anything in a game is part of the game. 

    Having said that, I can see menus needing some degree of usability attention. For example, in one game, there is 'yes or no' and the only difference is they changed the text color. Such that, You Have No Clue what you're highlighting... unless you memorized which color is the highlight color. So you basically have to Guess and hope you picked the one you want. That's an egregious usability issue. Games should obviously avoid these types of things. But, far and wide, these are going to be non-existent, and a gamer can figure things out.
    Posted 17 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the points people have made about leaving in the different challenges for those who enjoy them. I really like all the jumping around although at first I found it difficult, too. Even now, Chakra is a bit tricky but I enjoy the challenge. I agree about being able to delete quests you don't like though...many people would love to be able to do this, I'm sure. +1
    Posted 16 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink
  • People always talk about the squeaky wheel and "Where were you when people complained about this?" so I'll just pipe up here and say that I feel the opposite way. I want MORE jumping and platforming, and especially platforming secrets. I've already found some secret areas accessed by hidden or invisible platforms and ladders, but I want MORE MORE MORE! I'd especially like to see some hidden areas you can only find by using Spinach to give you a superjump.
    Posted 16 months ago by Relee Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I found that if I know I'm going to have to do jumping...then I refresh beforehand (and most definitely before I accept any races lol) - it seems to improve the jumping for me (tho I'm still lousy at hitting what I'm aiming for  :P  )
    Posted 16 months ago by sgjo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • When I first started this game I totally hated it.. not use to using a keyboard to get around I kept going back to the mouse then not getting far.  I still stink at the races but some of my friends let me win so I can complete the goal.  I manged to finally beat the one quest to smash the rook egg when I learned how to levitate and I just flew over those blocks till I got to the egg.

    Don't give up Mereret, it truly does get easier.
    Posted 16 months ago by MzMunchken Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't mind platforming in general. It's just that the platforming in Glitch is poorly-implemented. The collision detection and responsiveness of the controls are the worst I've seen in a long time, and I play a LOT of Flash games.

    Improve on that, even without improving the level design, and I think a lot of complaints would disappear.
    Posted 16 months ago by Queen Blork Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Queen Blork!

    The tenor of the conversation here has been that if you don't like the platforming in Glitch, you must want easier platforming, and that isn't it at all! I love platforming, and I love difficult platforming, and I agree with everyone who has said they want more and more challenging platforming. But the platforming has to work!

    My husband made a great point, that because platforming is such a small part of the game in Glitch, it sort of doesn't matter if it works or not. If you can't make a jump because of badly implemented physics, who cares? Unless you're in a race, you'll just try again, and eventually you'll make it. There are no bottomless pits or goombas. So while I don't like having to make the same jump three times (because the edge of the cliff isn't really where it appears to be), that's not what the game is for... It's for mining and milking and nibbling and auctions and... stuff. ;D
    Posted 16 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Love all y'all complaining about the Rook quest. I can't even get to the top of that dang tree!

    But I can get around moderately well in Chakra Phool, so I'm okay with it.
    Posted 16 months ago by Clumdalglitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Elemmire

    Yeah, after this thread, I headed over to Chakra Phool to see what was up. I didn't notice the platforming was any harder there than anywhere else. (In that it wasn't hard, just kind of annoying.)

    What's the deal with Phool, yo?
    Posted 16 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My eye/hand coordination is nil.  That sliding rock thing is never going to happen and it stresses me out to try.  However, as long things like that are never a requirement for moving forward, I'm cool with it.  I'm glad some people enjoy it.  (weirdos  '-)
    Posted 16 months ago by ArtOfHands RoboGirl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • We just need to remind the devs that good quests/games always have more than 1 way to solve a challenge.   They don't have to be equal, aka: one way might be faster/better/etc.. But there should always be an alternative.

    So if platforming isn't your thing, perhaps levetation would work.  But in this hypothetical, running/jumping would get you there faster (maybe larger rewards etc) but you could also levitate slowly to complete the quest.   Then a different quest might reverse the roles, where if you couldn't levitate, you could still run/jump to complete a quest, just not as efficiently.  Etc.
    Posted 16 months ago by Vicereine Linnæa Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I 100% disagree with the OP. If not for the platformer components, I would have stopped playing a long time ago, and as someone else mentioned, those quests are indeed optional.
    Posted 16 months ago by Bashere Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I discovered the same thing as sgjo - it helps tremendously if you reload before starting something that has a lot of jumping, especially where fine precision is required (e.g. The Amazing Race, the shingle areas, etc.).
    Posted 16 months ago by jasbo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Heyoheya: "What's the deal with Phool, yo?"

    This is the deal with Phool: Inari Deeps.
    Expand the panorama & notice the two signposts, both located at the top. Without teleporting or basic jumping coördination this can be a real challenge.
    Posted 16 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you're having trouble with a specific quest, ask for help!  In the case of the rook egg quest, there are (at least) two ways to accomplish it painlessly.  (I won't spoil it for anyone by posting the methods here, but feel free to ask me directly while the game's open, or just ask in a populated chat channel... most people who've played for a while know how to finish this quest.)

    I LOVE the platformer aspects of the game, and if I'm ever unable to jump or move accurately, it's because I need to reload.  I agree: it would be terrific if there were more hidden things to find with spinach jumping or levitation, like magical gem spots at the tops of trees, or more wormholes to other areas.
    Posted 16 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Victoria, my Glitchy senses (really, the little "Visits" info thing) is telling me I was there 3 days ago, so it's somewhere I hit during my exploration of Chakra Phool. Nothing's chasing me or shooting lasers at me, and I'm not gonna fall down an endless pit and lose an extra life. Easy cheese! ;D

    +1 to glum pudding! I do love when I take the time to do some extra exploration and find a little treat!
    Posted 16 months ago by Heyoheya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love the races! Bought some more race tickets cause it's so much fun doing them.
    Posted 16 months ago by Duck Bill Platty Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love the races too, but maybe there should be an option to "Decline" quests if you don't want to do them.  I can COMPLETELY understand it being annoying having a quest that you can't complete, because I am extremely anal about having everything in order, and so leaving a quest sitting there that I never have any intention of completing would drive me mad.

    I didn't read all the comments, but someone mentioned having a hard time jumping and climbing to get around the world.  There has to be some way to maneuver around the world and if the only way around was by pushing the right or left arrow key, the game would be very boring
    Posted 16 months ago by Laurali Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Re Inari Deeps:  see the two ropes dangling on each side of the street?  You can climb up them.  Jump over to them and hit the up key to climb up them.  If the ropes and the stairs are too much of a challenge, you can always use spinach/levitation!

    That said (again, I do like the challenge the platforms out in Chakra Phool provide), I have experienced a few oddities on the platforms themselves beyond just being challenging. The OP's point, I think, is that platforming isn't as smooth as it could be.  I get around mostly fine out in Chakra Phool, having lived out there for a few tests now, and do not want to see that area watered down, but there might be room to smooth a few places out.

    I think I might spend some time out there looking for them and filing bug reports for the ones that seem like they are bugs and not just a good challenge.  Most of the ones I'm thinking of involve walking up the stairs and then somehow falling off of them for no apparent reason.  There are also a couple of small jumps between ledges out there that seem a titch wonky (like you hit an imaginary wall unless you move a few pixels over).  If anyone wants to test these out with me so that it's not just me being lame, just hit me up in game next test.
    Posted 16 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hey, glum, you know there are fabulous quoins hidden way up where only spinach can get you here and there, right? :D
    Posted 16 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink