Level Editor 3 --- Flash Ryview

Level Editor 3, by Crash-512.

Level Editor 3 is a puzzle platformer where you advance through levels by placing or destroying parts of the environment while dealing with attacking spike balls. The mechanic works well and it keeps levels fresh by essentially allowing the player to alter the landscape each time.

It is a very traditional platformer in the sense that it involves 2D jumping and avoiding enemies. The controls are easy to use and allowing WASD helps allow the user to place blocks while moving, which is necessary in some places. The puzzles take more strategy than finesse, which I definitely appreciate, and while there are a few points that require dexterous movements, they were never unachievable and I never felt like I had to do the same maneuver a dozen times.

Nothing says platformer like "Here's the button you have to press if you want to commit suicide and try again!"

The environment altering mechanic is what is unique in this entry, and it doesn't disappoint. It keeps the puzzles innovative, forcing the player to think outside the box and come up with strategy multiple placements in advance. The limited number of placeable blocks adds a level of complexity. And each puzzle seems to increase in difficulty as you move through the game.

There are also stars in each level that increase replayability. I don't particularly think I would go back through the whole game again to collect, but usually if I didn't find the star on my first playthrough I would go through a second time to find it. And it definitely helped increase my enjoyment of the game.

Lots of explosives and player-seeking spiked death balls? Sign me up!

I think most puzzle platformers suffer from too much repetitiveness, but this game keeps things fresh and exciting, consistently making me happily wonder what was coming next. And, when you get stuck on a level, you can always skip it and move on, provided you haven't done that for 3 levels in a row. That helps balance the difficulty and helps things from getting to frustrating.

I definitely recommend this game. It's quick, it's easy to understand, and it challenges the mind in a satisfying and fulfilling way.

Scorecard:

Category	Score
Time Value	9
Money Value	10
Originality	9
Ryplayability	8
Fulfillment	8
Final Score	8.8

Let me know what you think of Level Editor 3!

Until next time,

Ryan

Pictures courtesy of AGame