Within a Deep Forest

Last updated
Within a Deep Forest
Developer(s) Nifflas
Publisher(s) Nifflas
Platform(s) Windows
Release2006
Genre(s) Platformer
Mode(s)Single-player

Within a Deep Forest is a platformer developed and published by Nifflas. It was released as freeware in 2006 for Windows, and is a spiritual sequel to his previous games, #Modarchive Story and #Modarchive Story 2. The main character is an intelligent ball that is trying to stop the mad scientist Dr. Cliché from destroying the world. The game was praised by critics for its gameplay, as well as its minimalist graphics and sound.

Contents

Gameplay

The player takes control of a bouncing ball known as the "Blue Ball" that can transform into various different ball types, which are obtained throughout the game. This includes the Glass Ball, which is immune to lasers but can break if impacting a surface too quickly, and the Pathetic Ball, which has diminished abilities. [1]

Plot

The evil Dr. Cliché created two bombs in order to permanently freeze the world, though the first failed and created a ball-like being, that endeavors to stop the second from being detonated. [1]

Reception

Retro Gamer criticized the game's story as "schlock", but described its gameplay as "fun", calling the game in general "atmospheric, eerie, and sometimes very challenging". The publication noted the high amount of effort put into the game, comparing it to retro games such as Cauldron II (1986). [2] Retro Maniac called the game one of Nifflas' best works, praising the game's controls. [3] James Murff of Big Download called it a rare art game that also contained engaging gameplay, and a "classic that manages to be both incredibly hard and very affecting at the same time". Commenting on the game's high difficulty, he noted that the game was proof that "you don't need to mangle games to create art: great, emotion-invoking games were there all along". [1] Jan Tomášik of IDNES.cz rated the game highly, describing the difficulty as challenging but perfectly balanced. He also noted that the game had "great" graphics and music that established an "indescribable" atmosphere. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Maniac Mansion</i> 1987 video game

Maniac Mansion is a 1987 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It follows teenage protagonist Dave Miller as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend Sandy Pantz from a mad scientist, whose mind has been enslaved by a sentient meteor. The player uses a point-and-click interface to guide Dave and two of his six playable friends through the scientist's mansion while solving puzzles and avoiding dangers. Gameplay is non-linear, and the game must be completed in different ways based on the player's choice of characters. Initially released for the Commodore 64 and Apple II, Maniac Mansion was Lucasfilm Games' first self-published product.

<i>The Secret of Monkey Island</i> 1990 video game

The Secret of Monkey Island is a 1990 point-and-click graphic adventure game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It takes place in a fictional version of the Caribbean during the age of piracy. The player assumes the role of Guybrush Threepwood, a young man who dreams of becoming a pirate, and explores fictional islands while solving puzzles.

<i>Solar Jetman</i> 1990 NES game

Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship is a multidirectional shooter video game developed by Zippo Games and Rare and published by Tradewest for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in September 1990 and in Europe by Nintendo on 26 September 1991. The game is the third installment of the Jetman series and was later re-released by Nintendo for their NES-based PlayChoice-10 arcade system in the United States in 1990.

<i>Wizards & Warriors</i> 1987 video game

Wizards & Warriors, titled Densetsu no Kishi Elrond in Japan, is an action platform video game developed by Rare and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in December 1987, and in Europe on January 7, 1990. The player controls Kuros, "Knight Warrior of the Books of Excalibur", as he sets out in the Kingdom of Elrond to defeat the evil wizard Malkil. Malkil holds the princess of Elrond captive in Castle IronSpire, deep within the forests of Elrond. The player fights through forests, tunnels, and caves, while collecting keys, treasure, weapons, and magic items.

Super DX-Ball is a shareware game by BlitWise Productions, released on November 10, 2004. It is an enhanced remake to the classic brick-buster hit DX-Ball. Among new features since previous games, Super DX-Ball introduces refined, classic-style graphics and a new dimension of bricks with various shapes and sizes, adding a unique gameplay experience in a Breakout-style game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABA Games</span> Japanese video game developer

ABA Games is a Japanese video game developer, composed solely of game designer Kenta Cho. ABA Games' works, available as open source, are predominantly shoot 'em up games often inspired by classic games in the genre. Its games feature stylised retro graphics, innovative gameplay features and modes and feature random rather than scripted events. These creations have been acclaimed as some of the best independent games available, though some commentators, including Cho himself, feel they are too simple for commercial release.

<i>Cauldron</i> (video game) 1985 video game

Cauldron is a video game developed and published by British developer Palace Software in 1985 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC home computers. It contains both platform game and horizontally scrolling shooter sections. Players control a witch who aims to become the "Witch Queen" by defeating an enemy called the "Pumpking".

<i>Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back</i> 1986 video game

Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back is a video game developed and published by British developer Palace Software as a sequel to their 1985 game Cauldron. The 2D platform game was released in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC home computers. Players control a bouncing pumpkin that is on a quest of vengeance against the "Witch Queen". The roles of the two were reversed from the first game, in which the witch defeated a monstrous pumpkin.

Nicklas Nygren, better known as Nifflas, is an independent Swedish video game developer. He is known for his freeware Knytt series along with another freeware game, Within a Deep Forest. He has lived in Umeå, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

<i>Batman</i> (Sega Genesis video game) 1990 video game

Batman is a video game developed by Sunsoft and released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1990. It was inspired by the 1989 Tim Burton-directed Batman film. The game is more faithful to the film's plot than the NES game of the same name and includes levels in which the player controls Batman's vehicles.

<i>Clean Asia!</i> 2007 video game

Clean Asia! is a freeware vertically scrolling shooter video game. It was developed by Jonatan "Cactus" Söderström and released for Windows on February 1, 2007.

Gang Garrison 2 is an open-source indie video game "demake" of Valve's Team Fortress 2. Inspired by the 3D graphics of Team Fortress 2, it takes place in a 2D, 8-bit environment, while retaining its online multiplayer gameplay. The game was started by TIGSource users "mrfredman" and "MedO", with other users contributing to development. It was conceived as an entry into the 2008 TIGSource "Bootleg Demake" competition.

<i>Sturmwind</i> 2013 video game

Sturmwind is a scrolling shooter video game initially released in 2013 for the Dreamcast by German developer Duranik, with publishing handled by RedSpotGames. Despite being launched late in the Dreamcast.'s lifecycle, it became a notable independent commercial release, catering to fans of retro gaming. The game received re-releases in 2016 and 2017, which omitted the original RedSpotGames branding, ensuring its availability to a broader audience. A remastered version, titled Sturmwind EX, was later released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, modernizing the experience for contemporary platforms.

<i>Ghost in the Sheet</i> 2007 video game

Ghost in the Sheet is a 2007 first-person point-and-click adventure game developed by Cardboard Box Entertainment and released in Germany as S.C.A.R.E.

<i>Cho Ren Sha 68K</i> 1995 video game

Cho Ren Sha 68K is a 1995 vertically scrolling dōjin shoot 'em up video game developed and originally published by Koichi "Famibe No Yosshin" Yoshida at Comiket for the X68000. Taking place in a ring structure, players take control of a space fighter craft to fight against an assortment of enemies and bosses.

<i>Tajemství Oslího ostrova</i> 1994 video game

Tajemství Oslího ostrova, known in English as The Secret of Donkey Island, is a 1994 Czech point-and-click adventure video game. Distributed by Petr Vochozka through his company Vochozka Trading in June 1994, it was the first nationally distributed PC game in the country and one of the first Czech games commercially available. A parody of the successful Monkey Island series, the story plays out as if it were a direct sequel to The Secret of Monkey Island, ignoring the continuity of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge.

<i>Mysterious Song</i> 2000 video game

Mysterious Song is a 2000 freeware role-playing video game originally developed and distributed by Darkness Ethereal for MS-DOS. Taking place in the land of Toren, the player assume the role of Spear, a young trainee knight who is tasked by King Algameth IX to investigate the insurgence of monsters that are appearing in the kingdom.

<i>Assault Suit Leynos</i> (2015 video game) 2015 video game

Assault Suit Leynos is a side-scrolling run and gun video game and a remake of the eponymous 1990 game, formerly called Target Earth in North America. It is part of the Assault Suit series. Developed by Dracue, it was published by EXTREME Co., Ltd in Japan and Rising Star Games elsewhere. It was released on December 23, 2015, in Japan and July 14, 2016, in North America and Europe for PlayStation 4, with its Steam release being on August 30, 2016. As with the original, the plot revolves around humanity being attacked by an unknown force and retaliating with the Assault Suit Squadron.

<i>Rayxanber II</i> 1991 video game

Rayxanber II is a 1991 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Data West for the PC Engine CD-ROM². It is the sequel to Rayxanber, which was released earlier in 1990 for the FM Towns. In the game, the player assumes the role of a fighter pilot controlling the Eliminate Scanner AD space craft to protect Earth against an alien invasion led by the returning Zoul Empire. The title was created by Team 50, a group within Data West that previously worked on the first entry for FM Towns. The music was scored by Yasuhito Saito, who composed for the original entry and also worked on titles such as Layla and The 4th Unit series.

Dere Evil Exe is a platform horror video game developed by Darius Immanuel Guerrero and published by AppSir Games. It was released on May 29, 2018, on iOS, where it is adware with the option for an ad-free purchase, July 2, 2018, for Android and on July 3, 2018, for Windows as a paid game. A standalone sequel to previous indie games Sorority Rites and The Last Yandere, and a remake of the freeware game DERE EXE, the game is based on creepypasta stories about retro games, and has a self-aware story that breaks the fourth wall. Nominally a masocore fantasy platformer in which the player controls a knight character, Knightly, on a quest to save a princess, the game's rules are skewed, and the player is soon warned not to trust the game's developer messages or its assistant AI, AIDE. The game received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the story, but were split on whether the gameplay was of high quality.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Murff, James (2009-10-06). "Freeware Friday: Within A Deep Forest". Big Download. Archived from the original on 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  2. ↑ "Retro Rated: Within a Deep Forest". Retro Gamer : 84 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ "Zona Indie: Within a Deep Forest". Retro Maniac (3): 104. April 2011 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ↑ Tomášik, Jan (2006-06-14). "Within a Deep Forest - dokonalý tvar". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-06-07.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.