Time for Round 14 grades!
psb123's grades:
The Foundry by
GolisoPower
Iconic Status: 5/5
Doom is a notable enough one. It has a decent amount of history with Nintendo and a lot of people really like the new game in the series. Which thankfully received a Switch version.
Originality: 9/10
We've seen destructible bridges a few times before and I don't particularly think it was all that needed here. Everything else is pretty good though. That claw dropping items is a neat little touch.
Playability: 8/10
The bridge being destructible is a bit of a problem since there's a danger zone beneath it. Especially given how soon it breaks. I'm also wondering if the Claw would still drop items if items are turned off. Doesn't sound like it does, but if it does then that's not something I can call myself a fan of.
Fortunately there are enough platforms in the lower part of the stage to make recovery possible from where the bridge would be destroyed. So that helps you out here.
Overall Score: 22/25
Cerberus Coup by
Kevandre
Iconic Status: 5/5
Was actually thinking of going with a 4 here due to Mass Effect's limited release on Nintendo systems and the series being past it's time. But I think it's too popular to justify that.
Originality: 8/10
It's a good concept for sure. And one that fits Mass Effect quite well. But there are two executions that I have a couple gripes with. The first is that the shuttle seems to travel in a 2d plane exclusively. Remember Lylat Cruise from Brawl? I feel like the shuttle traveling like that would fit the Mass Effect Theme better than it just going from left to right.
I also think that the idea of having to stay at the top of the stage in the areas where the shuttle drops you off because of the battles going on in the bottom is repeated too much.
Playability: 7/10
That last point of having to stay up top to avoid the crossfire is the main reason for you score here. The Shuttle does offer a break from it. But with how much time you spend in the war zones and the potential of getting knocked down there against your will the stage is a little too restrictive on areas to fight comfortably on.
Overall Score: 20/25
Noatun by
Jubileus57
Iconic Status: 5/5
A very notable location from Bayonetta 2 which stars the winner of the Smash Ballot. This is an example of a stage I can see officially being added to Smash.
Originality: 10/10
A stage going through all 3 Trinities of Reality is a darn good idea for a Bayonetta Stage. Normally I would be concerned about the enemies in Paradiso and Inferno for the reasons of too many enemies = too many hazards. But in this case I actually think the enemies help your originality score here. They have the perfect balance of adding some flare to the stage while being a manageable obstacle. Well, mostly.
Playability: 8/10
Unfortunately I do have to take some points off here because of how early the enemies can deal a KO. But their rare-ish appearance combined with the amount of ease there is in avoiding them prevents it from being too big of a problem.
Overall Score: 23/25
Dance Dance Revolution by
SquashiniKun
Iconic Status: 5/5
People know what DDR is. Even if hardly anyone plays it anymore.
Originality: 9/10
It's a fitting concept for DDR that I can understand for the most part. But one part I don't understand is how the arrows capturing fighters is supposed to work. Based on your description I couldn't figure out how one gets captured.
Have to take a point off for that. But only one since I know what happens when one is captured. And the addition of things like freezing and mines is a very nice touch.
Playability: 5/10
Having to move to a rhythm to escape the arrows is, sorry to say, too difficult. Especially with the rhythm changing depending on the song. Credit where it's due, the arrow's can't carry you off the stage. But they can still freeze you and blow you up which lessens the salvation from that.
Overall Score: 19/25
Gamindustri by
TheMarioaddict
Iconic Status: 1/5
Sorry man. But even as someone who has heard of Hyperdimension Neptunai before this contest I can't deny that it's just too obscure.
Originality: 9/10
The only thing I have to take a point off for is the stage basically being a Neptunia version of Delfino Plaza. Which I only say because they share in common the whole thing of the same travelling method taking you to hazard-free arenas. Everything else works out fine as far as I'm concerned. And the background details do add some appeal.
Playability: 10/10
Not really sure how I can score it anything else since there are no hazards.
Overall Score: 20/25
Isle of Sky by
Verde Coeden Scalesworth
Iconic Status: 1/5
I loved Quest 64 as a kid, so it hurts to give this stage a score this low here. But I can't deny that this series just didn't catch on.
Originality: 10/10
There is a lot of detail in this stage. And it's got a very unique layout to it as well. I also think the idea of using some enemies as small hazards really works out well in this case, given how you run into said enemies in the source game.
Playability: 10/10
The only things that had me concerned were the enemies and the size of the stage. But I think the size is very manageable even though it is technically a bigger stage, and the enemies just aren't enough of a threat for me to consider them a problem.
Overall Score: 21/25
Capital City by
PeridotGX
Iconic Status: 3/5
Scribblenauts is something I'd consider middle ground here. It has it's fanbase. But there are still a fair amount of people who don't pay it much heed.
Originality: 7/10
Personally, I think the adjectives should had done things like spawn platforms and objects from Scribblenauts. Having them essentially perform functions that you can get via the Special Smash mode anyway feels like wasted potential.
Playability: 8/10
Too little footing. That's all I can really say here. The platforms are a little on the small side and the gaps between them are a tad big.
Overall Score: 18/25
Nonary Game by
Sarki Soliloquy
Iconic Status: 2/5
I do think there are just enough fans of this game to prevent a 1. But it is honestly quite obscure.
Originality: 10/10
There are some unique concepts here that mesh well with the source game. And I mean some VERY unique concepts. If properly fleshed out. This could make for a very interesting stage.
Playability: 1/10
Unfortunately. I don't think those concepts were properly fleshed out here. Being exclusive to 8 player smash is the first problem. And a few of the others come in the forms of the boost for Number 9 being permanent once activated, said boost being impossible to get in a standard 2-minute match, the puzzles are too tricky to solve and have punishments that are too strong, and too many KO zones are sealed off.
It's an interesting idea. But it just doesn't function properly.
Overall Score: 13/25
Cosmic77's grades:
"The Foundry" by GolisoPower:
Iconic Status: 5/5
The stage itself looks like a generic factory, but Doom was a notable game that lots of people would likely know about. I think fans would have an idea what this stage is, especially if we got a character from Doom.
Originality: 7/10
The "collapsible bridge" concept is pretty basic, and it's definitely nothing new. Still, I think you did a good job of representing this stage. The claws and the lava pool were nice additions.
I also like the layout of the stage. Very unique.
Playability: 9/10
The only hazard I could find is the lava/torches. Everything else seems OK.
Overall Score: 21/25
"Cerberus Coup" by Kevandre:
Iconic Status: 5/5
On top of being popular, Mass Effect has its own, very distinct setting. I think people would have a good idea what this is.
Originality: 9/10
Feels like this is a concept (fighting on a moving shuttle) that we've seen a lot from F-Zero. Regardless, the fights were unique, and they definitely represent Mass Effect in a way that people who have played the game would appreciate.
Playability: 8/10
Even though the fighters don't do too much damage. There's a lot going on at once. I think battles could get really hectic and confusing, especially in the second scene.
Overall Score: 22/25
"Noatun" by Jublieus57:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Lucky for you, Bayo is already in the game. If it weren't for that, there's no way this would've gotten a perfect score.
Originality: 9/10
Really like the creativity in this stage. The transitions were well-executed, and you managed to do a decent job of representing both Bayonetta 2 and the series as a whole.
(The drawings were wonderful by the way.)
Playability: 6/10
Sorry, but this was your weak point. Those enemies being a part of your stage lower your score enough, but KOing fighters at 60%? That's way too early. Might have been better to make somewhere between 80-100%.
Overall Score: 20/25
"Dance Dance Revolution" by SquashiniKun:
Iconic Status: 5/5
For better or worse, everyone has heard of Dance Dance Revolution.
Originality: 9/10
The concept itself is definitely unique. Avoiding the falling arrows sounds like a very fun yet realistic way DDR would be represented in Smash.
The use of stops and mines was also very creative.
Playability: 5/10
I know this is your first time, but I really would've liked more info on the layout of the stage. I had a hard time picturing what it looked like.
Also, I think you might have gone a little overboard with the hazards. There are so many different things players have to be on the lookout for that I can't imagine a serious battle being able to happen.
Overall Score: 19/25
"Gameindusti" by TheMarioAddict:
Iconic Status: 3/5
Ehhhh... Don't think many people would recognize this stage. Truth be told, a "3" is probably very generous.
Originality: 6/10
Not quite sure how to grade your stage on originality. Seems like a fairly simple transformation stage, and since I haven't played this game before, I don't know how well the areas represent the game.
I'll just grade it on what I see. Looks visually appealing, but there isn't much going on that would make me want to choose this stage if I were playing Smash.
Playability: 10/10
No hazards. Layout seems fine. Aaaaand... That's pretty much it.
Overall Score: 19/25
"Isle of Skye" by Metal Tyrannomon X:
Iconic Status: 2/5
I feel bad for the low score, but hardly anyone is going to recognize this game. It didn't exactly sell well or get enough positive reviews for it to be remembered as a classic, and its old age prevents recency from being a factor to raise its score.
Originality: 10/10
Despite, the lack of iconicness, you put a surprising amount of detail into your stage. The stage looks very different from what we've gotten in Smash, and the enemies offer enough variety to keep people interested.
Kudos to showing us the revival platforms. You're one of the few contestants who actually took the time to make them.
Playability: 9/10
Enemies are present, so I can't give you a perfect score. Still, seems like most of them are pretty tame. I can't see them interfering with a battle too much.
Overall Score: 21/25
"Capital City" by PeridotGX:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Scribblenauts has become a notable franchise. It's artstyle is also pretty easy to spot, so I definitely see people recognizing this stage.
Originality: 7/10
I like where you were headed, but it didn't hit home like it should. Maybe instead of adjectives that effect the players, Maxwell could spawn random items (actual Smash items) and things that could function as additional platforms (If Maxwell writes "gazebo", a gazebo will spawn for players to temporarily fight on).
Playability: 10/10
Had some concerns for Ness players, but as long as that water tower is passable (which I don't think you clarified, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt), I think you're good.
Overall Score: 22/25
"Nonary Game" by Sarki Soliloquy:
Iconic Status: 3/5
Another game that I'm not so sure many people would recognize, especially those in the West.
Originality: 10/10
This is probably one of the most creative stages I've ever seen. I can tell how passionate you are about this stage, and it shows by all the detail you put into it.
Anyway, I really like the gimmick you used. Feels like a weird, warped version of WarioWare, except everyone is working together to avoid getting punished for not solving the puzzle instead of purposely shoving me in front of flying cars, falling arrows, and giant feet.
Playability: 3/10?
Geez, grading your stage on playability is a headache. It's exclusive to 8-player Smash, but it's also so convoluted and complex that there's no way a real Smash battle could take place until the puzzles are solved.
Despite its wonderful creativity, I don't think a stage like this would work very well in Smash. It's just not very practical for having actual fights.
Overall Score: 16/25
Total Scores:
GolisoPower: 43 points
Kevandre: 42 points
Jubileus57: 43 points
Squashinikun: 38 points
TheMarioAddict: 39 points
Metal Tyrannomon X: 42 points
PeridotGX: 40 points
Sarki Soliloquy: 29 points
The Winner is..........
Yellow Team
Red team, Green team, and Sudden Death have already been used and I'm trying to save Blue team in case of a tie on one round in particular. So that leaves Yellow team to be used for this tie. And that tie is of......
The Foundry by GolisoPower
AND
Noatun by Jubileus57
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!