PSP Minis

1. 

   volcane
   Member

   Coconut Dodge: Initial impressions

   I picked up Coconut Dodge on Weds when it appeared on PSN and I put down Freekscape temporarily just to have a quick spin through Coconut Dodge to see how it looked. Needless to say I haven't stopped playing Coconut Dodge since! :-)

   I've so far only gotten to level 5-ish out of about 26 (with a score of about 59000) which has unlocked the first maze (on level 3), but my initial impressions are that the game is very addictive and great fun!

   It starts out a little tough, as you only have a single life, but you soon get the hang of it. There is a reasonable learning curve - while the game is challenging, you do find that practice makes perfect and each time you replay you are able to progress further and further. The Maze Master game mode allows you to replay the maze sections that you have unlocked, honing your skills and practicing the mazes that you most enjoy (or need to get better at). This is important because you start from the very beginning of the game each time you die (you only get one life, which you lose if you hit a single coconut) and so you'll end up playing through the same sections many times over.

   It would be nice if there was a checkpoint or savegame feature so that you didn't have to start right back from the beginning of level 1 each time you get hit by a coconut, but I've only just started so maybe there are checkpoints later on (but I haven't come across any as yet).

   The game is very easy to pick up and play, with a nice logical design. The graphics are bright, clean & pleasing to look at. The music is light and enjoyable. It's a cute repetitive tune, appropriate for the type of game this is. The music is as addictive as the game itself - I keep finding myself whistling the tune throughout the day! :-)

   There is a simple tutorial that leads directly into playing the game and teaches you the keys and main gameplay aspects (which are straightforward).

   Overall, Coconut Dodge is a very polished and nicely designed fun game. You can tell that a lot of love went into the development and creation of this title. I definitely recommend this game. For £1.99, this is great value and highly recommended!

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   pspgamer01
   Member

   hmmm, so it's very frustrating.... :S

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   James @ FuturLab
   Member

   Hi Volcane,

   Very happy that you like the game enough to recommend it!

   Having played it for a few days now, would you appreciate a '3 hits' limit before it's game over? We're considering doing an update soon to add this feature and would welcome your feedback.

   Thanks!

   James

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   Carson
   Member

   well said Volcane, just about my thoughts exactly.

   and hey James, it's me, Prince Caro 19, only Ive started to write here now, so I decided not to use the pseudonym here anymore. I actually just finished my review of Coconut Dodge, hopefully it'll be up soon, good job on the design btw.

   yeah, I really do hope you decide to do an update, although i believe that you would need to get the updated version re-rated. there's just some little things i thought could have been expanded on, for example including a restart and return to title screen option on the pause menu, or the ability to use non-capitalized letters when you enter your name, as you guy have non-capitalized letters on your names on the score board.
   as for a '3 hits' limit, doing so would compromise the players current scores, so I'd say it might not be a good idea, but I'd definitely love to see another mode, perhaps even titled "3 hits" where the player has three lives, in this case, you can simply title the other mode "classic" or "original".

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   volcane
   Member

   I've currently finding it tricky to break my 59K score barrier (level 5-ish), which may turn out to be my personal skill limit. The good news is that as a consequence I'm becoming quite good at the maze on level 3! ;-)

   I think it would be a really useful refinement to have an additional game mode that provides 3 lives for people like me who need the additional assistance! I think it would be great to retain the existing 1 hit/life game mode as a 'hardcore' mode. That way, people could develop their skills on the (easier) 3 life mode and then transition to the (harder) 1 life mode when they felt they were ready, which would give you a great replayability option.

   An additional thought that occurs to me is that you could maybe include an extra life bonus that falls periodically. Perhaps you could modify the red ruby (800 points) to also give you an extra life? Alternatively, how about a new beach ball (red?) that you need to bounce 3 times in order to win an extra life? Or maybe extra lifes could be awarded when certain score levels are reached?

   An extra life bonus provided in this way would work on both the 'normal' (3 life) and 'hardcore' (1 life) game modes as it would still require some skill to obtain.

   BTW: My wife has now bought the game as well and is playing it as we speak! :-)
   

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   volcane
   Member

   Update: After playing for several days I'm still at a score of 59000. In contrast, having played the game just 10 times over an hour this morning, my wife has now surpassed my score with 67000! My wife is clearly a more skilled player than me! lol :-)

   Marie (my wife) agrees that a 3 life game mode would be good. I think she may be being kind for my benefit lol ;-)

   Posted 2 years ago #
7. 

   James @ FuturLab
   Member

   Hiya,

   This is all good feedback, thanks folks.

   @volcane - We're considering all of these options, and will let you know asap.

   @Carson - I'd like to implement the quit and restart too. We'll see what we can do.

   @pspgamer01 - it's a challenging game, for sure. But I wouldn't say frustrating was the right word. Frustration sets in when a game forces you to sit through cut-scenes or game play sections that are the same every time. Coconut Dodge is largely different every time you play, because the coconuts and balls are random. This randomness is punctuated with mazes that you recognise, and can negotiate successfully, which is satisfying. We've all played the game thousands of times here, and we're not bored of it for this reason (and we have very short attention spans, generally).

   So, frustrating I'd disagree with - challenging and a total b*****d sometimes - yes, but that is surmountable by becoming more skilled at the game.

   However, we also recognise that we need to balance the game for as many people as possible, and are therefore looking into the best way to do this - either with '3 hit' limits, extra lives that fall, or something similar.

   Rest assured we will listen to all the feedback you give us, and do what we can to improve the experience for you.

   Thanks,

   James

   Posted 2 years ago #
8. 

   Carson
   Member

   Update: After playing for several days I'm still at a score of 59000. In contrast, having played the game just 10 times over an hour this morning, my wife has now surpassed my score with 67000! My wife is clearly a more skilled player than me! lol :-)

   
   wow, you do need that mode :) my highest score is 227111.
   

   Perhaps you could modify the red ruby (800 points) to also give you an extra life? Alternatively, how about a new beach ball (red?) that you need to bounce 3 times in order to win an extra life? Or maybe extra lifes could be awarded when certain score levels are reached?

   
   all of those sound too easy imo, I was thinking something like every hundred thousand points you get, you also get another life. maybe a red beach ball that requires at least ten hits would be neat, but not three.

   @Carson - I'd like to implement the quit and restart too. We'll see what we can do.

   
   yeah, the maze master mode really needs it, i constantly find myself missing some gold, then pausing the game thinking i can just restart it, then i realize there isnt any options on the pause menu, so i have to unpause and die.

   I think if you do include a lives mode, then it shouldn't be able to unlock all the maze master mazes, to keep incentive to play the original way.
   I mention in my review (which still isn't up yet, but hopefully will be soon) my disappointment that maze master barely has any of the first mazes, i don't think that is very fair, perhaps you could have them unlocked via "lives"/"beginner" mode?
   and I also mention on my review that i was disappointed by the game having no beach ball keep up type mode, that would be focused on keeping a beachball up for as long as you can. the reason for my disappointment being that you guys have taken the time to implement the very cool beach ball, but it doesn't really feel like you have really done anything with it,
   so if you are feeling like you need to add another mode, that might be something to look into.

   Posted 1 year ago #
9. 

   James @ FuturLab
   Member

   Hi Carson,

   Thanks for the review. As I mentioned, we are working on responding to some early feedback on the game, and your review will be taken into account for sure.

   I must say however I thought you might mention the bargain £1.99 price point! :p

   Cheers,

   James

   Posted 1 year ago #
10. 

    Chris
    Key Master

    Sorry it took so long to the review up guys. Somehow I missed an email that notified me that Carson had finished the review.

    Great review.

    Congrats to you and your team James for producing a game that clearly people are enjoying and can happily recommend others to buy.

    Posted 1 year ago #
11. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Thank you Chris - we're working to get an update out very soon, and then fingers crossed the sales will be good, and we can finish our Music Puzzle game! :D

    By the way, the game is being released in Australia and New Zealand this Wednesday, so you can grab it too :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
12. 

    Carson
    Member

    I must say however I thought you might mention the bargain £1.99 price point! :p

    
    sorry, I didn't think to mention the price, though i did rate it partially with the price in mind (well, living in Canada, I was thinking $3 rather than £1.99).
    in comparison to games on things like the Iphone app store and such, where a game in that genre would be $1 and would score maybe a 6.5/10 you did exceptionally well to get a 7.5/10 from me. I actually felt like some people might think I overrated it until people started saying it was one of their favorite minis. if you do good with an update, then ill definitely boost it up to an 8.

    Posted 1 year ago #
13. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Nice, watch this space :p

    Posted 1 year ago #
14. 

    volcane
    Member

    wow, you do need that mode :)

    lol! Nice, thanks! ;-)

    my highest score is 227111

    Awesome score dude! :-)

    I was inspired by your score and it was motivational to know that it was possible! I've been playing like a mad man over the past 24hrs and I'm delighted to say that I've managed to break the invisible skill-wall that was limiting me to 59K and I've reached 149K! :-D

    Not as great as your score of course, but pretty darn good for me! :-) The maze in level 9 is completely mad! I started to get two beach balls at the same time at around 140K or so, which was tricky but quite good fun!

    My wife is now determined to reach 150K by nightfall... ;-)

    Posted 1 year ago #
15. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Brilliant! :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
16. 

    volcane
    Member

    @CARSON: I meant to say, great first review dude! :-)

    This is definitely the favourite mini in my household at present!

    disappointment that maze master barely has any of the first mazes

    I agree with this - it would be nice to have all the mazes available to help with balancing the game for first time players. It's less of an issue for me personally now that I've progressed a little further and enhanced my skills in the early stages, but in the beginning when my scores were <60K it would have been nice to have the ability to practice the early mazes in Maze Master to help develop my skills and thus aid my progression.

    Having to learn the mazes in-game was a little hard going at first, especially with the one-hit insta-kill ;-)

    beach ball keep up type mode, that would be focused on keeping a beachball up for as long as you can

    That's a brilliant idea - that would make a great additional mini-game and/or game mode!

    Posted 1 year ago #
17. 

    volcane
    Member

    @FuturLab: James - you mentioned in one of your previous blog postings that you invited some school/college students to playtest the game and you rewarded them by including some of the mazes they designed into the final game.

    Would you be able to list which mazes they created? I'm just curious! :-)

    Posted 1 year ago #
18. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Actually we didn't use their mazes as they created them - I took two very good ideas they had, and built mazes around them. They are mazes 28 and 29, and... a real challenge - I mean serious dodge perfection :p

    Posted 1 year ago #
19. 

    Carson
    Member

    @CARSON: I meant to say, great first review dude! :-)

    
    thanks, its not my first review here though, if you recall, I reviewed 3 of the *shudders* sony minis that were released a few weeks back.
    anyway, thanks for the praise.

    Posted 1 year ago #
20. 

    pspgamer01
    Member

    so how will the update work? just release a appart update in the psn store or just release it on the internet?

    Posted 1 year ago #
21. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    I believe the update will replace the current version on the PlayStation Store. Anyone that has already purchased the game will be able to re-download it for free. New buyers won't know any different.

    We're almost ready to submit and will list the features here before we do.

    Posted 1 year ago #
22. 

    pspgamer01
    Member

    ah ok, I am thinking of buying it but I am not sure.

    Posted 1 year ago #
23. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Ok, well if you do decide to get it, let us know what you think! :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
24. 

    pspgamer01
    Member

    I will tell you. But if I buy it, I will find it probably good because I think before I buy! ;)

    Posted 1 year ago #
25. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    Of course. Here's another recent review of the game for another opinion:

    http://www.startgame.org/2010/05/26/review-coconut-dodge/

    Thanks,

    James

    Posted 1 year ago #
26. 

    volcane
    Member

    Actually we didn't use their mazes as they created them - I took two very good ideas they had, and built mazes around them. They are mazes 28 and 29, and... a real challenge - I mean serious dodge perfection :p

    Cool - I look forward to playing them! :-)

    Posted 1 year ago #
27. 

    Giskard
    Member

    Dear FuturLab, I love your game and I play it everyday, but I think I will never reach levels above 12 and see the others mazes you created. Could you put a save/checkpoint system in the game, like every 5 levels? Thanks.

    Posted 1 year ago #
28. 

    Lord_Rushton
    Member

    This is story of the love that is coconut dodge and myself.
    I awoke one fine day to a birthday gift of mystery, I opened and upon my glee was a PSP. I then bought a playstation network card and wondered what to get, I thought hard about it and came to a decision. I was never one for minis on the ps3 and for that matter they did not have my approval but there was something about Coconut Dodge that screamed at me, "BUY ME" and so the first game I downloaded on my PSP was indeed, Coconut Dodge. I couldn't put the PSP down, not because of Wipeout, Patapon or Savage Moon but because of Coconut Dodge. I could pick my PSP up anytime and get in the mood for some good old Coconut Dodge, it was perfect and I felt perfect. It is by far my favourite game on the PSP and the best £1.99 I'd spent in all my short lived life. Coconut Dodge is without a doubt, addictive, extremely fun and damn straight awesome!
    Thank you FuturLab!

    Posted 1 year ago #
29. 

    James @ FuturLab
    Member

    @Lord_Rushton

    Thank you for writing that! It sounds like we did our job well for you :)

    Did you know Coconut Dodge is now rated 25th highest rated PSP game ever on Metacritic? Unfortunately many people are still turned off by minis and the colourful simplicity of Coconut Dodge :(

    If you love the game this much, please tell your friends, write about it some more. Every little helps!

    Thank you again for telling us how much you like it!

    James

    Posted 1 year ago #
30. 

    pspgamer01
    Member

    Well you're mini is in my top 3. in no order:
    dracula undead awakening (almost never play anymore)
    monster probably stole my princess(almost never play anymore)
    coconut dodge(play the most of all my minis)

    Posted 1 year ago #

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