Popcorn Pack - Discussion

[jbdude55]

Some thoughts and comments on the Popcorn Pack:

#5,#6 (Flick, Crate Packing) - Good levels, but I think a beginner would struggle with these two. At least they're untimed if they were to be included, as lots of thinking and block pushing shouldn't be pressured by time.

#7 (Drill Captain) - Very easy to unlock the wrong door after picking up the blue key. Since you can't see either of these rooms before stepping into the teleport, it's easily cooked with no explanation as to what was done wrong. A hint might make this a bit more beginner accessible. Other than that, it's a pretty good level.

#9 (May the Force Be With You) - Not sure I approve of force floor levels that require such precision in a set aimed at beginners, especially when failure means instant death in a couple of cases. The fire by the exit of the up/down escalator room I can overlook (albeit with a frown), but surrounding the exit by force floors and water is nothing short of criminal, especially considering the level is several minutes long.

#10 (Don't Stop!) - Not sure why there are two yellow keys...

#13 (Hive Mentality) - Terribly frustrating if you're not paying complete attention, but a great level nonetheless which would fit well in CCLP1's latter stages.

#15 (Frog) - Cute design, but not much else going for it in my opinion.

#19 (Is It Possible?) - Not as difficult as I was expecting, pitched at just the right level. Requires some thought but very satisfying to complete.

#22 (Key Points) - Hint is too long to fit in the MS window.

#24 (Hellfire II) - A simple but fun maze level with great aesthetics.

#27 (Bothersome Ball) - Plenty of variety in this expansive itemswapper. High time limit allows for plenty of thinking, which is absolutely necessary considering how easy the level is to cook.

#34 (Changing Lanes) - Just as much fun to play now as it was when I first came across it in its original set. A wonderfully designed pocket-puzzle with plenty of playing options. The blob controlling the tanks is a nifty touch, as it ensures the level is never the same twice. Charging down a lane you thought safe to be confronted with a rampaging fireball creates a real sense of excitement and danger. Brilliant.

#35 (Boat Rider) - I could appreciate this level a good deal more if it wasn't for the tedious block pushing section at the beginning just to get to the actual level. The placement of the yellow key in the NE is annoyingly arbitrary, although somewhat expected.

#36 (Repetitive Wandering) - A good scavenger hunt level that has enough itemswapping elements to keep the level fresh and interesting. My only gripe is how easy it is to get stuck behind the FFs in the NE when attempting to get the red key before collecting the suction boots (the second to last item). Considering how long the level is, it would be nice to know this in advance to avoid the inevitable ragequit death.

#37 (Chip Alone) - Great monster manipulation level with plenty of variety and a good challenge for the later half of the set. Lots of fun to play too. The green key is utterly superfluous in terms of the solution, but allows for exploration outside of the level, which I love.

#39 (The Labyrinth) - The paramecium at (6,19) is attempting to circle a room following the left wall, so just ends up stuck circling in the far corner and is of no threat to the player. A minor niggle on a pretty fun level, although the "waterslide" section was mean. At least it's right at the beginning I suppose...

#40 (Crawler Carrier) - No offence intended, but what is a level like this doing in CCLP1 voting? It's far from intuitive and some of the monster interactions are just ludicrously difficult to time. I like what it's trying to do, but I'd never dream of seeing this in the finished set.

#42 (Flock of Block) - A challenging CITYBLOCK/Warehouse crossover. Did anyone else find the north central room (the one with a six brown buttons, all in a vertical line) really hard, or was I just being useless?

#44 (Security Gates) - Another level I remember from playing it in its original set. Plenty of leniency in the first few stages, but rather more tricky towards the end. A good, challenging itemswapper.

#46 (DodgeMaze) - This level really needs a higher time limit, especially considering the potentially agonizing wait for the walker to get out of the fire maze in the NE.

#48 (Pushover) - Tricky level, the room in the east especially so. I worked out that not all the chips can be collected and all blocks were required early on, but the rest of the level took some serious thinking.

#50 (Habitual Change) - A clever monster manipulation level with a clean, crisp feel to it. Positioning the blocks and getting them off the ice might be difficult for a beginner, but the end goal is relatively clear. A great end to the set.