Anyone who has ever played an Atari game should give Don’t Look Back a shot. Anyone who thinks games are capable of evoking feelings should also play it.
It’s a simple platformer with shooting elements. It has older than what we refer to as “old school graphics” today.
It’s one of the best games I have played.
One of the best games you’ve played? Seriously?
I don’t mind the graphics. The outdoors and rain effect are done beautifully, actually. You have to admit the larger enemies suffer because of the 2-bit graphics style, though. It’s like you’re fighting the shadows of a real boss.
The music got annoying, quickly, as well. It started out strong, but once you realize that the 5 second cello loop is all that they’ve got, it really goes down hill.
The platforming puzzles and boss fights were all very well done. +1 for level design. Controls weren’t perfect (the momentum upon landing didn’t seem to be constant), but were good enough (especially for a flash game).
I’m not sure what feelings were evoked by it for you. It did nothing for me. Placing a very complicated theme (death) on top of a very simplistic game seems to be all the rage in indie games. It makes the complicated theme seem all the more complicated. Deemphasize the game, doubly emphasize the theme. People die, right? Deep.
All in all, it’s not a bad game. It’s definitely worth a play through. But, “one of the best games I have played”? Not in my book.
BTW, go check out Knytt Stories:
http://nifflas.ni2.se/index.php?main=02Knytt_Stories
Graphics are very simplistic and the gameplay is similar to this one (although it employs some more advanced platforming techniques). The music is beautiful and does a much better job of evoking feelings in me than this did.
A little hyperbole usually gets people talking.
My oblivious self missed the gravestone at the beginning of the game, somehow, and at the end when I realized what was going on it just kinda hit me. It also helped that I found the action and platforming quite fun. Being able to continue quickly after dying made it a lot less frustrating when I couldn’t get something at first.
Maybe I’m just a silly romantic.