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Syoban Action

Q1. What are the goals, obstacles, and rewards of the game?

A1. The goal is to get to the end of each level by jumping over the flagpole (because this is literally just Super Mario Bros 1, but unfair). The obstacles are the enemies that roam around the screen and the untrustworthy scenery/level design that messes with your expectations. The reward of the game is the sigh of relief you have after completing this trainwreck of a game.

Q2. How does the game play with expectations of the platformer video game genre?

A2. It makes the floor fall down in places where it looks like it shouldn’t, makes enemies randomly appear in places they weren’t before, and has things that look like background obstacles actually kill you. In other words, nothing is trustworthy, just like in some of the WORST retro games (i.e. stuff by LJN, etc.)

Q3. What genre would you apply to this game?

A3. I would apply the 2D platformer genre.

Q4. What comment is the game making on video games in general?  Is it making a comment or is it just a joke?

A4. I think maybe the comment this game is trying to make is that games are unfair. But honestly, this game is clearly just a parody made to get on people’s nerves because of how unfair it is. 

The Screenshots:

Dying at the end of the level (Just why?)
Invisible Blocks that prevent escape
Cloud that seems like background scenery at first but is actually something that KILLS you
Enemies that fall out of the sky when you step on or are above any block above the 5th one on this stairwell
Another invisible block that YOU NEED TO USE to get past the invisible block DEATH TRAP
Platform that falls down to CRUSH YOU if you try to walk underneath it

I’m SURE there are MANY more examples, but I couldn’t even beat Level 1, nor do I have the patience to.

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