Gameplay Loop
It's well made with the simple premise and thematics of trying to prevent a blackhole from going critical. That lends nicely into objects (asteroids) falling into it, and blocking them is the main core of the game. It's solid with the steering not being too immediate/fast, but responsive enough to have that control.
The one thing I noticed that struck me on this topic, is... the lack of clicking. I'm not saying its a bad thing and it kind of gave the game an easy onboarding, but its really funny a rhythm / timing game w/o the actual rhythm clicking. Its a really hidden but strong strength the game has. I'm still on the fence if having clicking mechanics is even a good or bad thing the game should have (like: clicking when the asteroid hits gets you bonus score, or certain asteroids require it), since I feel like the constraint is what breeded some creativity, and going further with the constraint would be even more beneficial. (Edit: yeah after going through Last Singularity a couple times, I don't think adding click timing in base would be a good idea, its a bit too hectic).
Overall, solid and has a surprising easy onboarding.
Variety and Level Design
From there its really easy to expand from existing concepts, theres the slightly tricky to track yellows, the avoid to hit reds, and the very tricky to follow greens. Each of the variants is solid in giving the game distinct modes on you should approach them. Greens especially breaks up the pattern of only caring what's closest, and requires the player to be aware both near and far to the blackhole, which is well done. The asteroids themselves have a bit of character as some are big some are small some are fast and some are slow. Some pop out far while others is close and that's enough to make it hard to tell the exact path which is nice.
Random stuff
The main menu music can be... better, its a bit chaotic disoriented for my taste, and the intro sound (the thing you hear every time the game puts you back in the main menu) is jarring.
Yeah the game end screen was triggered to early.
The little text on the bottom is fine, and i like the little shake it does, a better indicator would've have the blackhole change dynamically in some capacity (I expected it to grow and shrink), but its okay and the relief on seeing the green "Core stabilized" put me at ease, while locking in when it does fail.
The asteroid sound was nice.
There is a weird dissonance with the pixel and realistic assets, not a bad thing but the only one I feel like should be realistic is the rotating thingy.
The Covers were okay, can be better.
The effect of the shield is a nice touch.
The deadzone was a good touch actually, it prevented the player from camping at the black hole since less mouse distance = more responsiveness, and you have to physically turn around the blackhole to do it well.
Specific Music and Levels
Neru's Kingdom
Oh My! - the level is not bad, hitting with the reds at the start and a general mix of asteroids is okay. The music, is not bad, not great, and I feel like a call-response structure would make it okay as the first level.
Cytoplasm - Starts of withe oms asteroid - red hits, and then really introduces greens... at the last part lmao as a teaser to the next level. The music funky I like the vibe, its fine and serves its purpose.
Fall Empire - The greens here were tricky but its not bad. The main instrument though was... something lmao, its goofy but a bit off...
Sticky Eyes - This is where I see the game starting to pick up and died a couple here. Its short and sweet with the knowledge and preparation of the greens and with a really nice red section. From here the music starts to pick up and a lot more well spread out for a lack of a better term in "placement".
Purple's Adventure
Tutorial - Not bad in introducing the mechanics, the color coding was clear and got time to at least see the telltales and movements on each one. The music is solid for something basic and what I thought ish the starting levels would be at.
Stellar Ballad - This is when the major colors really shine and while you have your greens and reds, this was when the yellows start really being difficult which was nice to see. For the music, its really nice and probably my favorite in terms of composition, with especially the middle part allows the keys to evolve out. The only thing that was off is in the flute and the main backing not working with each other, but how everything is placed with the musical ideas, its really close to being really good, and only missing in evolving certain "motifs" or proper mixing/layering. Nice.
Spacetime Rift - Really a nice calm before the storm track and it was so nice to finally get a SS then a P, its nice and good, nothing much. The music is my favorite in terms of atmosphere and everything just feels like its building up, and once those keys came in, eargasm. Solid.
Last Singularity - Best one of course I could tell with the effort. DYNAMICALLY CHANGING COLORS FOR EACH SECTION was so nice and really aaa. This is where you are really tested and I only got into A at most. The music is solid and takes well with the music ideas with what it introduces and runs with them, that eguitar and those break like drums really nice. The sections are such an experience and yeah it is the best. Be proud of this one. (EDIT: GOT AN S LETS GOOO).
Specific Sections: The red sections were pure dopamine, you get insane combo and the main danger are the big ones. Grey-Yellow, these are by far the hardest, and really tests your skill in predicting which one is first and tells where you position. Green - These are calm ish but precisely deadly, it acts as a semi break from the hard hitters but its a different kind of difficulty that demand the player to be precise.
Overall well made yall, this is probably the most I spent in a jam comment review, and yeah. I liked the game.
