Review Information
Game Reviewed N/A, by N/A
Review Author SRGPaladin
Created Oct 1 2015, 3:37 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview
Unless the author would expect it, I usually don't compare individual games on MFGG to other games, much less my own games.

However, when I played Bullet Bill Attack, I couldn't help but think of a part in one of my old games, Super Mario Fury, which for quality reasons, I have yet to post on MFGG.

That particular part was almost identical gameplay-wise to this game; nothing but lots of redundant bullet patterns to weave through. Pretty bland by itself.

However, in Mario Fury, this mechanic was a small part of the greater gameplay experience; the bullets were one of many attacks by a boss, and simply figuring how to dodge the bullets was not enough. You had to beat an evolving boss, making for a more interesting challenge than simply increasing bullet speed.

While Bullet Bill is intuitive and plays correctly, i.e. no noticeable glitches, surviving 100 VERY long seconds is a battle of attrition more than skill.

The gameplay is just too simple, repetitive, and thereby a waste of the player's time.
 
Pros +technically solid
+nice Mario sprite
+well-managed, if minimal, sound
 
Cons -bland gameplay
-slim replay value
 
Impressions
Gameplay
3 / 10
As elaborated upon in the overview, the gameplay is extraordinarily simple.

Wait for ground level bullet. Jump between the other bullets. Wash, rinse, repeat.

While pretty much glitch-free, this simple formula gets old very quickly. To become great, this game needs nothing short of a great dose of innovation.

Also, because a README is not included, please make accessing credits is more intuitive than simply waiting at the title until they appear. Some players may never notice them, and may assume the publisher did all the sprites himself.
 
Graphics
6 / 10
I appreciate the retro theme. Although lacking originality in the scenery, the graphics generally didn't clash, and the minor scenery edits actually make the game look pretty good.

However, a number of things kill the retro theme, which arguably is the strongest point of this game's graphics:

Custom Mario sprites: It's nice to see custom Mario sprites put to good use. However, the player sprite is perceptually lacking the contrast that the Mario head in the upper corner has. This lack of contrast is inconsistent, kinda killing the retro aspect, and it makes it more difficult than needed to distinguish Mario from the background.

Scaling: One of the most overlooked elements of retro-styled games. When you have fuzzy scaling, it ruins the sense of retro-immersion. Examples include the title block, and some of the text. (See below.)

Text: Aside from the title pic, which, aside from scaling issues, isn't bad, I swear you use a different font for each block of text i.e. "Press Enter", "Mario Silva", sprite credits. Not only that, but all except the sprite credits also have visible scaling artifacts. All of this is in contrast to actual retro games, which not only don't have scaling, but generally only have ONE font.

Quit: that exit window e.g. "End the game?" killed the retro.

All in all, the graphics are a typical attempt at retro graphics, and actually are quite passable.
 
Sound
6 / 10
The sfx, while entirely stock, are well placed, considering the small ambition of the game.

Specifically, I applaud the decision to REFRAIN from playing noises when the bullets appear on the screen, as doing so would take a dull gameplay experience, and make it both dull and annoying. After all, most cannon sounds would get repetitive in the context of the game, and the players are much more concerned about WHERE the bullets are fired rather than WHEN.

The music, while not strictly Famicom orthodox, is SMB1, and retro enough. It is not the original arrangement, however, and seeing that no credit was given, I assume Mario Silva arranged it himself.

Nice job.

Also, I especially thought playing the 1-up and brick noises at the "Too Bad" screen was super cute.

The sound was otherwise not innovative nor impressive, however.
 
Replay
1 / 10
There is no reward for playing once the player completes it.

Even completing it the first time is a test of patience, considering the bland gameplay, and the fact that many probably won't get it on their first—or 10th—try.
 
Final Words
3 / 10
Inferior to most "bullet hell" games, but still better than Mario Tails.

Comments
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SRGPaladin
Oct 1 2015, 10:02 PM
Heh, they edited "danmaku" to "bullet hell" in the final words. It's nice to see someone else recognizes that genre well enough to translate it.

Or the mods just did a quick Google search.

Either way, it was a good decision. I'm sure 90% of Mario players wouldn't recognize the Japanese wording anyway.
 
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