Sorry for the wait guys. It was a long Mother's Day. But now it's time for Round 13 grades!
psb123's grades:
Shy Guy's Toybox by
Kevandre
Iconic Status: 4/5
Part of the reason people love Paper Mario is the unique settings it puts the Mushroom Kingdoms resident hero in. This certainly fits the bill for a unique area. But I don't think it sticks out to people quite as much as some other areas of the game.
Originality: 8/10
I do think it could stand to have a little more flare. Maybe some Shy Guys running about. It also is a bit of shame that this stage focuses solely on the train stations. That being said, I do like the ability to choose what station you wish to go to. That's a nice touch that does reference the source material.
Playability: 8/10
My concerns here lie with the blue station and the train itself. Both suffer from a lack of footing due to their small size. I do like the other 3 stations though and the ability to attempt avoiding the blue station helps a bit here.
Overall Score: 20/25
Shroob Castle by
GolisoPower
Iconic Status: 5/5
It does seem like a very important area to Partners in Time. Being the base of the main antagonists and all. One could debate the iconic status of Partners in time as a whole. But I'd say it's well known enough to not be a problem.
Originality: 10/10
I'm liking those Time Holes! One flaw aside, that's a really creative idea being able to revert to a past state you were in during the match. Meshes great with the source game too.
Playability: 8/10
So what is that one flaw of the Time Holes? Well, the fact that damage can stack from before you entered it. That does admittedly seem like a handicap that really doesn't need to be there. Especially considering how rarely the time holes actually appear.
Overall Score: 23/25
Prisma Fountain by
Jubileus57
Iconic Status: 5/5
It's basically the main hub of Color Splash. A game that should stick out pretty decently in the minds of Paper Mario fans. Though not always for positive reasons.
Originality: 10/10
It may use the same platform layout as Battlefield. But hey, so does Midgar. And that's a pretty creative stage! This one is too. Taking the paint fountain and using the colors that can be added to it to inflict status ailments on a fighter in a way we don't see too often.
Playability: 9/10
A few of those hazards could be a bit irksome. But not by much. Honestly I only really see a problem with this stage's playability from a competitive standpoint. It would totally be banned in tournaments. But most stages are and this doesn't sound like a bad one to have a match on.
Overall Score: 24/25
Creepy Steeple by
TheMarioaddict
Iconic Status: 5/5
For reasons such as Doopliss and the overall haunting atmosphere, Chapter 4 does seem to be one most remembered in Thousand Year Door.
Originality: 10/10
The way the platforms function is quite creative and it fits well for a Ghostly themed stage like this. I also like how Doopliss Functions (mostly).
Playability: 9/10
Normally boss hazards annoy me but I think this one is quite reasonably implemented so that he doesn't hinder the fight too much. So much so that it honestly feels like a waste to only have him appear once per match. Especially with that unique ghost effect he grants the fighter who defeated him.
Overall Score: 24/25
The Glitz Pit by
MegaMarioMan9
Iconic Status: 5/5
Another chapter that is one of TTYD's most memorable. And as a personal favorite of mine, I can totally see why.
Originality: 9/10
I was actually going to give this a lower score at first because it initially struck me as too similar to Boxing Ring. But after reading through your description, I'm actually quite impressed how different you managed to make it! Even without things like the Jet Streams and the Audience (both of which really helped your score here by the way) the layout by itself has just enough differences to separate it well enough from Boxing Ring.
My only real gripes are Rawk Hawk and the Tattle Log. Rawk Hawk I feel is one gimmick too many and the Tattle Log, while a good idea on paper (pun not intended) has a problem going for it by being text based. All the codec related stuff so far has been voice based for a reason. Players won't have time to stop and read the text when fighting a match.
Playability: 7/10
I don't have a problem with the Ice and the Fog out of the Jet Streams. Granted I would have a problem with the Fog normally but having it only cover a specific section of the stage saved you there. My gripes lie with the fire and once again, Rawk Hawk. Being able to ko at those percents makes the fire strike me as too powerful. And since Rawk Hawk can make you get there faster it does seem like more an obstacle than is needed.
Overall Score: 21/25
Plack Beach by
GreenOfRain
Iconic Status: 3/5
I'll give you some credit for the story events in BiS that happen in this area. But I still feel this location is a little too basic to be well enough recognized.
Originality: 9/10
I do like some the of the quirky things you've added to this stage. The platforms are nice and simple despite there unique placement. And the tilting of one of those platforms plus Boggy coming in sometimes for a bonus platform are nice touches too.
Playability: 10/10
I don't see any issues here. I was worried at first that the bottom of the stage consisted of Water instead of a bottomless pit. But your image makes it look like that's not the case so you're fine here.
Overall Score: 22/25
Luiginary Works by
TKOWL
Iconic Status: 5/5
How can it be anything else? It's a perfect representation of what gives Dream Team it's identity.
Originality: 10/10
This stage takes full advantage of all the unique elements the Luiginary Works from Dream Team can bring to a Smash stage. And it does so on a nice and simple, yet still quite creative platform.
Playability: 9/10
Those Luiginary Works certainly can cause some havoc. But not enough to where I could call them a problem. Except for the tree. Considering it's placement, getting thrown by it when you get too close does sound pretty hazardous.
Overall Score: 24/25
Dream World by
PeridotGX
Iconic Status: 5/5
Once again it can't be anything different. It is after all another take on Dreamy Luigi like tkowl's stage.
Originality: 5/10
Credit where it's due, utilizing the Dream World as a stage is a genius idea and even if tkowl beat you to it I can't harp on you for wanting to take advantage of such a great idea. But unfortunately I think tkowl utilized the creative potential of the idea more. The layout here is a little on the bland side and the stage is more limited in it's use of Dreamy Luigi elements.
Playability: 8/10
On the bright side I do think your stage is pretty functional. I can see the stack of Luigi's being annoying to deal with at times but it's not too bad.
Overall Score: 18/25
Cosmic77's Grades:
"Shy Guy's Toybox" by Kevandre:
Iconic Status: 4/5
While it is a fun area, Shy Guy's Toybox looks like more of a Yoshi's Island stage than a Paper Mario stage (which is ironic, because the next world literally is Lavalava Island, a place based off Yoshi's Island). Unless you played Paper Mario, you might not understand what this is supposed to be.
Originality: 7/10
The gimmick itself of choosing where you want to go sounds nice, although I'm sure people will be abusing that power, pushing the buttons as soon as they can just to annoy the heck out of people.
I would like to say that I'm just not sold on this stage being a good way to represent Paper Mario. At the very least, I would've like to have seen Paper Mario, some partners, and a few Shy Guys running around the background of stage.
Playability: 8/10
Have to take off some points for when the toy train is in motion. I'm assuming that players who stay on the ground too long will move past the blast zone and get KO'd.
Overall Score: 19/25
"Shroob Castle" by GolisoPower:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Might be giving you a generous score here since PiT is less known compared to other M&L games. However, Shroob Castle is supposed to be the center focus of this game. It's a pretty notable area.
Originality: 10/10
Figuring out the size scale between the castle and the players left me a little confused. However, the use of the Time Holes was really unique. I feel like that would cause players to get really strategic with the gameplay.
Playability: 7/10
While they don't cause any damage by themselves, I don't think jumping back and forth between high and low damage percentages is a safe practice, especially if all the player gets in return is seven seconds. It's a high-risk, low-reward move.
Overall Score: 22/25
"Prisma Fountain" by Jublieus57:
Iconic Status: 5/5
I doubt many people actually took the time to play this decent game. Regardless, it looks and feels like a Paper Mario game, and Prisma Fountain is an integral part of the game.
Originality: 10/10
Although you did steal the concept from a boss fight, the paint gimmick really suits Color Splash, and I think you did an excellent job of integrating it into your stage.
Playability: 8/10
Without saying too much, the paint (more specifically, the black paint) can brew up some trouble.
Overall Score: 23/25
"Creepy Steeple" by TheMarioAddict:
Iconic Status: 3/5
I know you could probably argue that this is one of the more iconic areas in TTYD, but I genuinely think no one would recognize this stage unless they actually played the game. Aside from Doopliss, nothing about this looks like a Mario game.
Originality: 8/10
The way you handled Doopliss represents what he did in the game very well. However, I don't think you needed to make him a boss character who permanently disappears once you defeat him. Without him, the stage loses its biggest charm. Having him occasionally spawn, copy a character, and attack for a few seconds before repeating the cycle indefinitely would've been a better move IMO.
Playability: 7/10
Boss characters are always a risky gamble. Doopliss chasing poor characters around and attacking them hurts your score a bit.
Overall Score: 18/25
"The Glitz Pit" by MegaMarioMan9:
Iconic Status: 5/5
I kid you not, the Paper Toads in the audience is what saved your score. Even though this part of the game is insanely popular, the stage and arena setting isn't very Paper Mario-ish.
Originality: 10/10
I love the way you integrated the battle mechanics from the game into your stage. Really like the use of Goombella, the fog machines, and the audience throwing items. Rawk Hawk is also a nice touch to the wrestling arena theme.
Playability: 8/10
Can't Rawk the Hawk.
Overall Score: 23/25
"Plack Beach" by GreenOfRain:
Iconic Status: 3/5
Curious as to why you choose this area of all places.
Well regardless, I don't think it's nearly as notable as other areas in the game. Personally, I would've went with an area inside Bowser.
Originality: 8/10
Well, you did a good job of representing Plack Beach. It's just that the gimmicks are kinda all over the place, representing completely different parts of the story in BIS. Chakron, Broggy, the Sea Pipe Statue - might have been better to just stick with one or two.
Playability: 10/10
Aside from the randomness of your stage, there's not really anything here that could pose as an issue for players.
Overall Score: 21/25
"Luiginary Works" by TKOWL:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Definitely an important part of the game. If you haven't played this before, then at the very least, the various floating Luigis should cue you in that this is a Mario game of sorts.
Originality: 10/10
Love how you found a way to incorporate all of the Luiginary Works into this stage. Very creative, and you stayed true to the game.
Playability: 7/10
Those Luiginary Works can really get in the way sometimes. Not sure how I feel about the mustache reaching down to grab players and throw them.
Overall Score: 22/25
"Dream World" by PeridotGX:
Iconic Status: 5/5
(See explanation for TKOWL's stage.)
Originality: 5/10
Even though it wasn't planned, I have to deduct points for another contestant coming up with the concept before you. Your stage is also pretty simple, and the gimmick sounds a little lackluster, especially since I know all the different things you could've done with the Luiginary Works.
Playability: 8/10
Even with the nerfs you gave it, the Luiginary Stack sounds OP as heck
Overall Score: 18/25
Total Scores:
Kevandre: 39 points
GolisoPower: 45 points
Jubileus57: 47 points
TheMarioAddict: 42 points
MegaMarioMan9: 44 points
GreenOfRain: 44 points
TKOWL: 46 points
PeridotGX: 36 points
The Winner is.........
Prisma Fountain by Jubileus57
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
