Score: 7

"Please read, animator's perspective"

submission: BOOM BOTS

date: December 5, 2009

It kinda breaks my hear now when I have to review CG pieces objectively, because ever since I started my animation studies in the fall I have learned how intensely hard it is to model, animate, texture, and light a computer animation. I have also become convinced that technical skill in animating is probably more important in CG than in flash. Well, I'll start with the basics.

The characters are well designed and rigged to move, and we definitely get a sense of weight here. The camera animation is pretty good, but it feels like we don't get a totally neat pullout at the end, at which point the composition of the face-off is critical.

I do commend the painstakingly made set pieces, only wishing that they were more interestingly textured and lit. I do not think that the stylized "Tankmen" look of abandoned buildings was translated flatteringly into CG.

The trouble with CG is that for the same amount of work as in flash you get a shorter film, so to create a "teaser" you need to generate a lot of interest with an extremely truncated piece--at least compared to what NewGrounds users are used to. With regards to character animation, this is also clearly not what to an animator of thelonelyduck's advancement would be a polished work. Altogether, it would take even more excruciating work to prepare CG for newgrounds big-time.

Score: 9

"Tight, exhilarating, and excellent"

submission: Madness Accelerant

date: September 28, 2009

Madness Accelerant is a fitting title, because the game sucks you in and forces you to fight for your life at a breakneck pace. It is no drawback that this game has no pause button, because it is meant to be played in one fast, intense sitting. After you play it maybe twice, you realize how short it is, and it feels a little too easy, but the first ride--before you have a good handle on how to defeat the boss--is incredible. The art of mindchamber plus great level design based on Krinkels' "Madness Consternation" makes it thoroughly great to play. the combined effect of the artwork, pounding music, and gameplay make it feel fast, even frightening, and most certainly intense.

The best aspect of the game--absolute genius--is making it one long bossfight. Few other games have tried this, and it allows you the novel experience of real interactive madness. It is great to relive Consternation with all its plot progression intact, fighting a giant infernal clown through industrial corridors and elevator shafts. It sucks that there is not a good pick-up/drop weapon system, but the weapons which include flame-throwers and shotguns are great. This game is infinitely better than "regent", and I desperately hope the sequel to be better still.

Score: 6

"Finally, someone built a better gun app!"

submission: Virtual Handgun 1.1

date: August 10, 2009

Usually, I'm very disinclined to like submissions that are short or incomplete. However, this G 18 simulator is so much better than other gun apps. It is refreshing that you make the gun properly interactive with true-life controls and releases. The full-auto mode is breathtaking. If you don't like programming, you are nonetheless good at simple, smooth actions and cues and did the job good. Again, this is just one gun, but I'd pass you on promise alone. I demand that you make more and better versions of this. You have done well.

Score: 6

"Why couldn't it have been special?"

submission: Reasoner- Living Transparent

date: September 7, 2009

Although it's pretty decent, I will focus on the negative because I have urgent criticism.

It is proficient, but I am sick of the same mood in these piano ballads that shows a deep lack of imagination. You know what I mean, the kind of music that supposedly evokes a bittersweet tug at the heart strings, the kind of happiness that makes you cry...except that because it is done to death by every artist it looses its meaning. This is manipulative without being powerful, proficient without being creative or daring. It sounds pretty, but it sounds as if the progression of the chords and the mood are locked in to a stereotyped pattern. There are many devices, such as counterpoint, harmony, key changes, scales other than minor and major, and too many things to name which can be used to make music more unique. If you have not mastered tonal music theory and the techniques of composition, you will not be able to express the subtleties of emotion that you feel.

It does not have to be complicated or technical to express emotion, but if you analyze the truly good music it requires skill to compose the notes, chords, and most importantly the deviations from the cookie-cutter format that make it good. Somehow, I think this is not a question of talent but one of skill. Either you do not have skill at music theory or choose not to use it. Go use it or go learn it. I am being blunt because it saddens me when good intentions misdirected cause a loss of potential.

Score: 6

"Brilliant, but detrimentally choppy"

submission: We Dream to Fly

date: November 19, 2008

Your many melodic themes contain feeling and remarkable depth, but I have to dock four points for your lack of transition and unity between your themes and different combinations of instrumentation and even rhythm and tempo. It is EXTREMELY disjointed and choppy, and from one theme to the next it feels like you have switched to a totally different song and feeling. When you switch too many times and don't use in-between themes to smooth the transition, you dilute the emotional staying power of all of them.

Please read this and respond if you think there's something I'm missing. I'd like to know your side of the story.

Score: 10

"Stunning."

submission: {Hollow Man} [NG Cut]

date: July 1, 2008

Ranges from bold and bombastic to eerie and subtle. Strings and synths practically laser etch the melody into the brain, beat charges forward like a tank. Inspired, vivid, awesome,

OWNAGE: 100%