AVALANCHE ASCENT
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Final Score: 280

Gameplay: 23/50 
Originality: 20/30 
Sounds, music, and graphics: 17/50
Attention-grabbing: 5/10 
Polish: 4/10 

OVERALL:  69 /150

COMMENTS: I have to conceed that the idea of this was quite original. However, originality doesn't necessarily equate to long term enjoyment. While climbing up a mountain, avoiding icicles and rocks was initially novel, it quickly became repetitive and monotonous. There were a few nice touches though, such as dropping powerups and cracks which, if climbed over, would crumble away and the player would slide back down. Overall though it's not really enough to save this from being slightly below average in my eyes.

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Gameplay: 43/50 
Originality: 22/30
Sounds, music, and graphics: 35/50
Attention-grabbing: 6/10 
Polish: 6/10 

Total: 112/150

I like the variation of obstacles. The lonely wind and little "dink dink dink" noises were perfect... though I was slightly sad to have no music. The gameplay felt a little too random, since I couldn't always avoid everything, but it was still unique. I couldn't help but feel that some different way of handling the movement would make the game more strategic and fun. Maybe turn throwing the pickaxe into throwing a grapplingaxe? Maybe for a non-arcade version. :)

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Gameplay: 30/50
Originality: 25/30
Sounds, music, and graphics: 35/50 (Lumping ok?)
Attention-grabbing: 4/10
Polish: 5/10

Total: 99

Comments:

The Idea for the game is brilliant. How far up the mountain can you climb?? It makes you want to have another go to see if you can get higher up than before.

the game itself though is very limited and too harsh. As the scrolling only starts halfway up the screen you are unable to prepare yourself for the falling objects. This is why i have rated the gameplay 30.

The opening frame with the wind blowing creates a good atmosphere but it is unfortunately let down somewhat by the glassy sound of the "ice pick" as you climb. There is no sound for the breaking objects when you throw your ice picks at them either. The original graphics are good but with a bit more time they could be better (i have taken into account the time frame when judging this category)

As the main menu is very static it does not really grab your attention very much but the wind sound is very nice.

All in all it is a very well designed game but if the few things that i have mentioned are worked on the it would be a hit.