How well thought out was the design of all characters involved?
Very. I love how the game starts with a cat swallowing yarn, such a good animation there and I like the little backstory it provides for how the cat becomes a yarn boss. I like the way the boss bounces around the screen damaging the blocks and the different attacks it has, which are telegraphed perfectly when it stops in mid air. The head poking out at the side before dropping the yarn looks very nice. I like the attention to detail on the player’s hair, the white flash it makes when she takes damage and the controls feel smooth.
How much fun was the Boss Fight to play?
It’s fun, especially because I managed to win! The match 3 puzzles were a highlight for me, I loved how the blocks used different yarn patterns and how it adds more types to match as the game progresses. It’s also really good how it keeps track of which matches you made on the side bars as well as in the puzzle area. I also like how the green ones add to the timer. The action phase is fairly good and I appreciated having safe zones to learn the boss's patterns. Having one way platforms would improve the movement and adding smaller yarn balls to dodge could provide an extra challenge. I also think the water should be a hazard that kills the player to raise the stakes.
Rate the Technical Complexity & Execution.
I imagine the most technical aspect was doing the match 3 game, especially with handling the combos and it works flawlessly. The physics for how the yarn boss bounces at different speeds and angles is great and I like how the reflection in the water shows the boss reflection especially when it’s close to the water even as it changes animations.
Did the game include 2 distinct game genres and how well did they mash together?
Definitely. It was crystal clear that the 2 genres were puzzle and action platformer. I really like how in the action segment you have to stay close but not too close to the danger that the yarn boss poses if you want to climb up the loose yarn strings in time. I also like that the action phase has different levels and that it shows the cat trying to get out of the yarn. Then the transition where the player climbs up is super awesome and adds a lot of polish and makes it clear that you are trying to unravel the boss, especially as you go into the puzzle phase.
Was the game well polished?
Absolutely. It's got great cutscenes. Those volume sliders at the start are amazing, labelling them as SFX, Music and Master would make it perfect imo. I like the different texts that pop up when matching 3 or 4. I like how the shadow on the boss stays in place even as the boss rotates. It’s good how the blocks have a little bounce to them when the boss bumps into them too. Finally, the cat winking at the end is a super nice touch ;)