donramires's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Arcana Library]

Hello! :)

First of all, your game is lovely - the music's fitting for the ambience, the graphics add a certain mystique charm to the setting, and the overall environment is just sooo enticing! I've played a lot of this 'serve-customers' kind of game, but honestly yours is for me more captivating than the ones I've played before (well, I love RPGs and the setting's perfect for my taste :)

That said, I think there might be a few things that would make it even nicer:

Background vs. sprites
Though both are nicely set at the same theme and setting, I think the contrast between the 8-bit sprites and the smooth background layer make the overall graphics seem a little out of place... perhaps if both were pixelated, or the sprites were a little more smoothed, the final result would blend together better. Also, there's a difference in sizes comparing the standing couples and the same ones when they are sat down. Also, the orders' numbers are also a bit out of the overall graphic setting you conceived for the game - perhaps if the number boxes were like small book covers?

Instructions & Gameplay
As I said, I've played a lot of games that involve guiding people to seats and serving them... so at first I just skipped the instructions and went right into playing. But then, I got a little confused. Clicking on the couple added points, like a clicker game, and well, after escorting them to the table I didn't know what to do next: Are the orders taken automatically? And, after they are at the counter, do I have to go back and forth, counter to tables? Or do I press the numbers in my keyboard and they get delivered to their tables? After resetting and reading the instructions, I still couldn't understand some of these mechanics well. But in the end I managed to have the orders set and the tables, tidied up.

Further gameplay
So, after having some orders done, I felt something amiss - some motivation to keep playing on! Perhaps if there were some upgrades, like a spell to tidy up tables, or some magical books that gave other powers, would add to the gaming experience. Interacting with the cat would also be a nice touch! There could also be more 'levels', perhaps after a while the player could move to another 'floor' of the library (with more tables, or more demanding readers)

As I said before, don't take me wrong - I really loved your game. My suggestions are meant for improvements of something that is already good by itself. Feel free to DM me in case I could be of any assistance (graphics, level system, calculations, all but programming lol that's not my turf), this game's really something I would love to see even better :)

[Are you a republican]

Not today, Satan

[Fake Your Own Re-election]

Nifty! It's clear you did it with great care and attention to detail - not to mention the witty lines :)

Here's a suggestion for making it even better: adjusting the textbox fieldsize! You see, your game's strenght lies in the writing, which creates the environment for immersing the player into the plot and thus adding meaning to the gameplay. But, the way the textbox is (wide and verbose), that may discourage some players to read them and instead skim the text and click at one of the answers. Some possible ways for making it more appealing:

- The text shows up paragraph by paragraph (or word by word, letter by letter, etc), after the player clicks somewhere on the screen;
- The textbox could be narrower, even split into two parallel textboxes
- In screens that have more than one 'sprite' in the background (like the one with three people sitting), perhaps they could 'appear' after clicking on the screen (also appearing another chunk of the text)

That being said, here are some things I really think are so cool and well-chosen:

- The contrast between the colours you chose;
- The music and sound effects;
- The witty story! And the politically aware message!

All in all, Glory to Arstotz- erh I mean, to Krakozhia!

[You are now Possessed]

innovative!

[Apocashop]

It's been four years I first played this fine little gem and still today it's so awesome

[Squid-chinko]

great game (though half the time I had no idea what was going on)

[Pachinko!]

For the newcomer: play using headphones, and don't feel afraid to reset the game a few times