Part 13: Level 13
Miracles can happen...Level 13
quote:
I realize that I normally do not yell or curse very much but I think there should be an exception for this level. This is perhaps the most difficult level ever designed for Ballance, and few people probably ever complete it. Some of the bonus points I do not get because if I did I probably wouldn't be able to complete the level. If you want a 100% playthrough of this level, find another player. My goal here is to survive. Will I make it? How much torture will I endure? How far can I possibly get? Find out today!
What's next/Review of Ballance:
Now a caveat... I stepped on a few toes in the sandcastle in poorly choosing my next game. I thought about doing a Mario game but that's frowned upon here. So, as a result of a bit of backlash, someone even suggested that my videos are 'hated' in the SA forums. I don't think that's the case, but whatever. I felt kind of defeated after hearing that.
Who knows how the sandcastle will treat my next test video. At any rate, I'd like to do my next ball-related game on the SA forums.
The next game will probably be Switchball. It's similar, but I don't think it'll be as difficult. I also plan on doing Spectraball as well. It might be fun to compare/contrast the games. I've already done some gameplay tests with Switchball and recording that isn't a problem. I'm also planning on doing Katamari Forever in the near future. I think that would be a crowning point to the ball rolling games. Kororinpa looks fun as well, but I am not sure if I'm going to spend money investing in a Wii at this time. Maybe later.
Honestly, I don't think any puzzles in those two games will remotely compare to the difficulty of levels 12 and 13 of Ballance - and those final levels may have killed the popularity of a great game. If I didn't have a lot of practice built up from levels 1 through 12 over the years I wouldn't have finished level 13.
All in all, I'd say Ballance is a terrific game with great replay value. It takes a very simple design and does wonders with it. It offers a ridiculous amount of challenge as well. It's a great example of how minimalism in a game can work. I wish there would be a sequel, or more bonus levels to the game, but unfortunately development on the game pretty much ended around 2006.
My hats are off to the developers of this game. They did a fine job.