The New Arcade - Week 01

Golden age arcade review of 3 games:

Pacman

The layout of Pacman is based on somewhat of a bird's eye view camera. The stage is build like a maze that acts as a collider, in which the player has to navigate while escaping enemies that are targeting them, in order to collect the maximum amount of point and clear the stage from white dots that are spread throughout the corridors. after clearing the dots the player complete the level. when collecting fruits the player gain an ability to destroy it's enemies and make it easier to clear the stage. The player has a limited amount of health points that can be reduced by colliding enemies. when all hp are lost the game is over.

The player is able to move the character on the x and y axis.

Space Invaders

The layout of the game is divided to a top and bottom. The player is located at the bottom part of the screen behind a line of shielding walls. At the top part there is a block of space invaders advancing slowly towards the player and shooting randomly at them and at the shields.

The goal of the player is to avoid the invaders reaching it's y axis by shooting them vertically thus eliminating the threat and gaining points. When they player shoots they may also damage their shields. The mechanic of the game also works on health points and game over system.

As for player control, the player is limited to the x axis at the bottom of the screen and can also shoot. each shot can eliminate one invader.

Donkey Kong

The DK layout is a side/profile camera view consisting of 6 metal platforms and ladders connecting them, which the player has to use in order to get upwards. the goal of the player is to climb up and save the princess while donkey kong throws barrels at them. The games uses the same mechanic of health points, points gained and game over.

The player can destroy the obstacles with a temporary hammer item and jump over them on the right timing to avoid the obstacles.

The player can move both on the x and y axis and jump.

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Similarities, diffrences - strenths and weaknesses:

All three games are based on a health point game over mechanic, and their common goal is to collect the highest amount of points. The player has to avoid getting hit and has some chance to destroy their enemies.

DK is the only game which is a platformer, it has the most complex player controllers incorporating the x and y axis as well as jump and attack. while in DK the weapon is temporary, the ability to shoot in space invaders is consistent. it's also the hardest in my opinion (which I loved)- I wasn't able to compete the first level (if there are levels?). one disadvantage of DK is that it feels kind of clunky player controller wise.

I've noticed that the enemies mechanic differs from each game. a main aspect was the targeting - it seems that in DK and SI the enemies\obstacles has a route but in Pacman the player is actually targeted, being surrounded from every angle, which along side the maze creates a wonderful sensation of stress and paranoia. (making it the best part about the game).

maybe it would have been interesting to acquire different abilities to fight enemies. (but maybe it happens later on in the game?)

SI was pretty slow which made it a bit boring, though I did like the fact that that you have to pay attention and not just smash the shooting button in order not to hurt your own shield, that was a good constraint.

Game Test week1- code:

player:

enemy: