MFGG - Mario Fan Games Galaxy

Review Information

Game Reviewed	Mario Universal Gravitation, by Ultramario
Review Author	FibS
Created	Jun 30 2008, 3:30 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview

Mario Universal Gravitation is an entry in the gravity-themed Minigame Competition. In fact, it was the winner.

I should have entered that competition since there are a select few nitpicks about this game that could have been improved upon. Maybe I would have gotten silver. :<

Anyways ...

Pros	* Varies gravity, which effects all movable objects, including enemies and blocks * Bonus item collection (Red Coins) * Button to restart level, you'll be using it a lot
Cons	* Possible / easy to become stuck in certain levels (eased by the restart level button) * Hard to tell which blocks set gravity to which (for a while, anyway) * Some Red Coins are just frustrating to figure out how to reach (but they are also optional)

Impressions

Gameplay 9 / 10	Universal Gravitation relies on an otherwise simplistic platform engine with the added benefit of variable gravity, which is used to solve puzzles. Varying the gravity will allow Mario to manipulate its effects on himself and his enemies in order to collect as many Red Coins as possible and then open the path to the Green Pipe, taking him to another level. The lowest gravity -- none at all -- allows Mario to jump directly to the top of a level, but he cannot stop unless he smashes into the ceiling. It also allows him to walk in midair ... and jump in midair from this position. The highest gravity shortens Mario's jump considerably, and somehow bypasses physical laws by also making this jump very powerful (when it should have the same strength, due Mario's shorter leap.) It will allow him to smash brick blocks from above, opening passages. The only notable problem -- each ? Block you see will set gravity differently, which is fine ... but the only hint before striking the block is in the speed that it flashes, which requires comparison to determine and is not entirely reliable. Still, if you see a block that is not flashing at all, you know it is zero gravity, and if you see one that is absolutely spastic, then it is likely the highest gravity. It would have been nice if they were numbered or something. Sorry if I offended you UK dudes.
Graphics 7 / 10	This game uses typical Super Mario Bros. 3 All-Stars sprites, but it uses them well. It feels perfectly amiable and there's no terrible clashing. ... I think there may have been parallax? It doesn't matter terribly.
Sound 7 / 10	To be quite honest, I do not remember any particulars about the sound, making it acceptable. Not irritating, and not marvelous, or I would remember something about it.
Replay 7 / 10	Being a pre-set puzzle game with no random generation, it isn't entirely fair to rate the replay value, since solving a puzzle once likely means you have solved it for good. However, you will not likely get all of the Red Coins in one playthrough, requiring you to eventually give up and finish the levels normally, and return later to try to get them all again. Getting these coins does something according to the documentation, but exactly what is of course left out, to make you get them all and see. That's business, you know.

Final Words

This is entirely playable, but you may be confused for a few moments on some of the particulars. It's definitely worth at least one play.

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