9

"A mix of dungeons and shooter games?" In the first dungeon of the game, Chuji quickly grasped the type of experience the game offered.

"The characters have a certain personality, even in pixel style, which sets them apart from conventional games." Chuji agreed, showing his approval.

Most independent games in the market today feature attractive characters, especially females, who follow a very similar pattern. To find any distinction, one needs to look beyond just the face; the differences often lie in the hairstyles and clothing.

Just like "The Isaac Combination," which may seem strange and even ugly at first glance, but upon closer examination, it reveals a peculiar and even adorable character style, making it truly unique.

"However, these are just superficial trappings. For independent games, the real test is gameplay," thought Chuji as he skillfully navigated the control room, operating the controls with dexterity.

Although rendering light and shadow, engine effects, and stunning graphics of high-level 3A games are important, they cannot make up for weak gameplay. If a game isn't engaging enough, it will ultimately be defeated.

Furthermore, as an independent game is already at a disadvantage in terms of graphical resources, emphasis on gameplay becomes even more crucial.

From the previous bad impression, Chuji began to experience the game.

"Almost continuous loading between levels? The optimization is incredible!"

This outsourcing company seems quite capable. Chuji felt almost instant surprise in the next game scene in the room.

Although the game isn't perfect, Chuji noticed it when encountering a very sharp black screen a short while ago.

However, it was only a brief interruption. In terms of frames, it lasted only about 4 to 5 frames, which equates to one-third of a second.

What is more fatal in an independent game?

Gameplay? Story? Price?

No, for an independent game, optimization is crucial.

Chuji, who has been in this field for many years and has also released many independent games as an agent, understands that the most fatal deficiency of independent games is optimization.

For independent game creators, it's difficult to test performance on different machines as they usually have limited access to various machines in different development stages. They often rely only on their own development machine for testing. As a result, stability issues may arise after release, causing frustration for players and resulting in refund requests.

Unfortunately, independent game creators often don't have resources to address these issues quickly. Unless the game content is exceptional, players may tolerate these issues for a while. However, if the issues persist, players will likely abandon the game.

After release, many games undergo secondary optimizations by specialized agencies. However, ordinary players are often unaware of this.

In addition to game content, Chuji is also attentive to game optimization and performance, highlighting the importance of this aspect to the success of an independent game.

"The level design is good, the shooting effect isn't bad, and the sound effect is well executed, especially the impact of the bullets."

Manipulating the game character to the boss room, Chuji faced a large spider-like boss. After making a mistake and losing the last of the three hearts, he nodded gently, expressing his approval.

After completing the test of the first level, Chuji opened a new Word document and began recording his observations.

Combining pixels with animations, the character style is peculiar but effective. The level design is solid, providing a clear and engaging experience.

This is a small personal habit of Chuji's: after playing a game, he often makes a detailed evaluation, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages.

However, what surprised Chuji the most was that, if it weren't for the accompanying game that contained the other party's information, along with the game creator providing evidence of employment and corresponding position, he would have doubted that Alex could create such an impressive game.

"Now it seems a bit bigger compared to the previous 'Dungeon of the Monsters'."

This feeling is like a mediocre student who always lagged behind suddenly standing out and topping the class in the final exam, providing an incredible sensation.

However, what makes him a little uncomfortable is the dark tone of the game style itself.

Saving the newly written document, Chuji opens the game again, ready to start from the beginning as part of his professional habit.

When the first experimental evaluation of the game was positive, he plunged into a new round of testing, looking for any flaws that may have escaped his attention.

This meticulous approach is an essential characteristic of a qualified auditor reviewing games for distributing companies.

However, when he starts the game for the second time and enters the first dungeon again, Chuji's expression changes, and a vague suspicion begins to arise in his mind.

"The narrative developing differently? Each entry into the dungeon leads to a unique story?" Chuji pondered as he delved into the new elements that emerged.

The game seemed to hide layers of depth that he hadn't initially noticed. The idea of a unique narrative unfolding with each dungeon choice was fascinating, adding a special touch to the independent game.

"If Alex really conceived this, it's an innovative approach. However, it needs to be well executed to avoid becoming a worn-out element." Chuji pondered the implications of the design while continuing his exploration in the game.

Facing the BOSS again

, he adopted a different approach, delving deeper into the unique narrative unfolding before him.

Upon completing the new round, Chuji found himself intrigued by the possibilities presented. This independent game began to reveal a depth and originality he hadn't expected.

"It seems like this game may have more potential than I initially assessed." Chuji reflected as he noted his observations in the document.

The evaluation process continued, with Chuji exploring every element of the game, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. The emerging complexity in the narrative and the varied dungeon design began to captivate him.

However, there still remained concern about the ongoing execution of this innovative design and whether it would be engaging enough for players.

Upon completing his detailed assessments, Chuji was intrigued by the unexpected turn presented by Alex's game. "The Isaac Combination," an independent game, proved to be a pleasant surprise, leaving Chuji eager to explore further.

"Let's see how this unfolds. Alex may have truly overcome his previous limitations." With these thoughts, Chuji temporarily closed the game, pondering the possibility of collaboration with Alex.

Meanwhile, Alex, unaware of the ongoing evaluations, eagerly awaited Chuji's feedback, hoping that his game could open doors to larger opportunities in the competitive game market.