Amberial: Nebulosa Realms is the latest from OddGoo and sequel to the first Amberial game released last June. The mechanics of the original are put to an olympic workout; rolling a ball around has never felt so fresh. From the terrestrial furnace to the skyways, to outer space and distant nebulae, this game explores both increasingly exotic settings and increasingly clever level design.
The [left] and [right] arrow keys move your ball. Since you lack the ability to jump you must bend the bouncing physics to your will in order to get around. There is an orange swirl somewhere in each level—similar to the one carved on ball that you navigate—and you must get there while avoiding hazards and the ever present bottom-of-the-screen. Each level throws new variations and gadgets at you, demanding adaptation, while several play with gravity, throwing you up and down in rythmic alternations.
Getting to the end of each level within the time limit gets you a bonus medal, and there is also a special exit (marked with a big "A") that represents an achievement as well. Completing all levels with all possible accolades unlocks secret content, available in the uppermost menu tab, including the Tower Of Glory.
Analysis: Amberial is to platformers as Sonny is to RPGs: the zenith of the genre implemented in Flash. There is only a small flaw to mention before I gush on the greatness: I wish the camera would scroll down a bit more so I can see where I am liable to fall and move accordingly. Otherwise, this is purity; the game takes an absolute minimal approach to mechanics. From the basic theme of a ball bouncing, with a glassy audio effect you come to love, a multifaceted gameplay is worked out in 22 finely crafted levels. One level introduces speed boosting and unfolds around that; another is based upon bounce-pads, launching you from asteroid-to-asteroid, then tops it all off with some bumper-based wall-jumping. A few more levels takes the classic maze or obstacle-course approach, but fits them within an interesting combination of impediments. You never feel like things are becoming repetitive. There's even a boss fight at the end of the "official" levels. Once you've completed all the levels you can go back and try to attain mastery of them in an attempt to finally reach the top of the Tower of Glory, which appropriately tops out your mental calibration to the dynamic and consummates it with a happy smile of accomplishment.
Dig into one of the best platform games ever to appear in a browser, Play Amberial: Nebulosa Realms.
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
Audio off: Main Menu > Settings > Music
Posted by: Benabik
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March 30, 2008 5:14 PM
The stages are colossal compared to the first game. I can't even figure out where to go sometimes. I guess I'll have to explore a bit, eh?
Posted by: weirdguy
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March 30, 2008 6:03 PM
Wow, the levels are HUGE! (especially 11) A "free-scrolling" mode would help a lot, although it would take the fun out of finding the Aces... And what's that
Posted by: Donut
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March 30, 2008 6:49 PM
finally someone mentioned turning off music because you are listening to itunes. I podcast whilst i casually game play.
Posted by: scott | March 30, 2008 8:20 PM
The game is fun, and I like the method of exploration, but the only problem is that it doesn't hold my interest; after I die for the third time on a stage that tends to involve waiting for updrafts to blow the ball in the right direction, I tend to want to play something else. Aside from my relatively short attention span, the game plays smoothly and responds the way I want it to.
Posted by: Gar
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March 30, 2008 10:14 PM
That JustMadeSoYouDontFeelThereIsNothingMore Mode is unlockable. More specifically:
Posted by: Oddity
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March 30, 2008 10:48 PM
Wow--cool. Normally I can't stand platformers but this one is amazing. Too time consuming for me to stick with it, but worth a return visit!
Posted by: dsrtrosy
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March 30, 2008 11:26 PM
Thank you guys for featuring my game!
You make game development a very rewarding experience =)
Posted by: OddGoo | March 31, 2008 1:14 AM
If a game keeps me up unreasonably late, it's good.
But this game was just finally enough to force me out of silence...
WHY DO KEYBOARD CONTROLLED GAMES REQUIRE ME TO USE THE MOUSE TO DRIVE THE MENUS?
My plea to game developers:
Please make the interface match the game!
keyboard game = keyboard menus
mouse game = mouse menus
OddGoo, your game is wonderful, just let us press enter to retry a level! (or arrow over to level select)
Posted by: macaaroni
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March 31, 2008 8:40 AM
Sonny is the zenith of Flash Role-Playing Games (RPGs)? Is that a joke?!
I just finished Sonny the other day and, while it's a good casual RPG, it's definitely not the zenith of Flash-implemented RPGs in general. There's no way to argue Sonny even begins to compare to Dofus, for instance. Maybe it's time JIG updates its review of Dofus.
(Warning: Before you go researching, make sure you have a few years of free-time: Dofus is highly addictive.)
macaaroni: In case you missed it, you can press [left] + [right] to retry a level.
Posted by: tdogg
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March 31, 2008 10:57 AM
line 2 coloumn two.
Introduction of the gravity reversers.
where's the A?
Posted by: Ashiel
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March 31, 2008 11:11 AM
tdogg: That doesn't seem to work. I can't find any in-game instructions explaining it either. + doesn't do anything for me.
Posted by: macaaroni
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March 31, 2008 11:11 AM
@ Ashiel:
Posted by: Donut
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March 31, 2008 11:55 AM
YAY! A perfect clear! Now I'm going to replay the game with the JustMadeSoYouDontFeelThereIsNothingMore Mode turned on. And the Ball Tray activated (otherwise it would be imopssible!).
Posted by: Donut
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March 31, 2008 1:36 PM
Epic week for flash games
Posted by: Alex | March 31, 2008 2:45 PM
macaaroni: No, no, no. :)
Just press the left arrow and the right arrow at the same time (only works after you die).
You're right about it not being in any "in-game" instructions, but if you read below the .swf of the game, further down the page, it says so under "Game Instructions" - here's a direct link.
Posted by: tdogg
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March 31, 2008 4:00 PM
you know...
We need a walkthrough, or pictures, of where all the A's are. And row 2, number 3... i've found the A, but can't get it.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ashiel
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March 31, 2008 4:36 PM
Does anyone know where the final Ace is in the Tower of Glory II? I can trigger the switch but, for the life of me, can't seem to uncover the elusive letter.
Posted by: bsc
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March 31, 2008 7:27 PM
GAH. 2...4. I can't get the A. Its right under the lift... and i can't get it. Any tips?
Posted by: Ashiel
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March 31, 2008 7:33 PM
Please help I have no idea how to do level 12. I have been stuck on it for 2 days and I still can't figure it out.
Posted by: josh | March 31, 2008 7:47 PM
Thank you tdogg!
Posted by: macaaroni
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March 31, 2008 8:36 PM
Nevermind, found it.
For the curious:
Posted by: bsc
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March 31, 2008 10:18 PM
A tip for those annoyed by the boss:
Some of the trickier Ace locations that haven't been mentioned yet:
7. Highway
8. Colony
9. Asteroid Hop
11. There was a ship
12. Suspended
13. alternative pink
16. The Duel
Ex1. Past Masters
Ex4. Kongregating
Posted by: Oddity
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April 1, 2008 1:44 AM
Anyone have any tips on getting the speed bolt for Level 13 Alternative Pink - that's all I need and my fingers are going numb trying to get it.
Posted by: AllBadger
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April 1, 2008 9:37 PM
@allbadger:
that was my last one too. it's a b#%&!. i think the time to beat is around :30. no shortcuts that i know of... just run through the level as you would normally, skipping the button to show the Ace.
Posted by: bobdavis | April 2, 2008 3:38 PM
How does the Black and White level work? I can't figure it out.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 2, 2008 5:49 PM
The special platforms in Black and White serve the same function as they did in level 6: gravity switching.
Posted by: Oddity
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April 2, 2008 10:16 PM
You should be able to know your record time for a level. Also, medal times for the Aces.
On another note, any tips on how to do the very first jump on the Tower of Glory? I can get up the Column of Death, but I can't make it to that next teleporter.
Posted by: bacon warrior | April 3, 2008 4:56 PM
bacon warrior,
You have to get really close to those spikes before you try to jump over, touching just the tip of the one pointing down. Sometimes you get too close and blow up.
Now, where is that ace? anyone?
Posted by: SHA
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April 3, 2008 8:01 PM
I dont usually like these games but this was lovely. I've completed all of it except Tower of Gory.
I still don't fully understand the black and white level :) The floating level was lovely, reminded me of electrostatic repulsion back in my college physics class.
Hardest normal level to get a speed run on was Pink Alternative. Oddly, there's no alternative course through it.
7. ??
Posted by: RedTomato | April 4, 2008 11:01 AM
I'm still completely stuck on the speedbolts for 13 and Ex3. Someone said there's no trick to 13, but I can't break 30 seconds running it normally. Also, is there a shortcut or trick to Ex3, because I feel I'm running it perfectly and I still don't get the speedbolt.
Posted by: syntax | April 9, 2008 1:45 AM
RedTomato's guide to "Pink Alternative" is impossible for me. I hit the topmost transparent block on the first bounce and then move back over to the purple bouncer. But the ball doesn't get boosted by the bouncer. It just bounces as if there was no bouncing pad there at all. If I wait for another bounce it works, but by then I've lost valuable time.
Can someone give a complete step-by-step guide for beating Level 13 in under 30 seconds?
Posted by: syntax | April 9, 2008 1:16 PM
Can anyone tell me how to get the ace in Suspended? I've tried everything I can think of.
Posted by: Shayle | April 9, 2008 4:18 PM
Shayle,
Here's what worked for me:
Posted by: Charles
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April 9, 2008 7:32 PM
Syntax:
Posted by: Charles
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April 9, 2008 7:45 PM
Syntax:
On Ex3 (We Need Green), you have to get there in under 27 seconds. There's no shortcut that I can see,
Posted by: Charles
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April 9, 2008 7:57 PM
On Ex3, it actually is possible to catch the bouncing platform off the double green jump, shaving a lot off your time. It's tricky to stop yourself from flying off of it, and I don't know if it's any harder than just improving your time other ways.
I don't find speed at the start to be crucial in Lvl 13 (alternative pink). I take about 5 seconds to get over the bottom spikes. Then make sure to keep going; you'll bounce just barely over the two orange balls and shoot past them to catch the wire.
It is vital to catch the first rising platform; just shoot for it even if you don't expect to make it (though I once got 32 sec. even after missing it.)
Once you ride the platform up, the most important part is to bounce up quickly and head over the top disappearing block. This should be one bounce up, then two bounces on the highest pad on the left side (one to clear the block, one to head over to the upper bounce pad with the wire just above it). Once you're there, it's a pretty straight shot to the top; just make sure to release properly from the wire so that you fall to the bottom bounce pad.
I can't get a speed run on Gravity -1. Is there any good technique for it (and does anyone know the time needed)?
Posted by: Kangra | April 10, 2008 4:51 AM
Charles - thanks for the tips but I'm still completely stuck on PinkAlternative. I've been working at this for a few days and it's really frustrating. Could someone just give a literal step-by-step walkthrough for beating that level in under 30 seconds? Like exactly which bumpers and tiles did you hit at the two key areas: 1) The first shaft with the three transparent tile wall and one bumper, and 2) the second shaft with the one bumper at the bottom and the two tranparant tiles in the left wall.
Thanks!
Posted by: syntax | April 10, 2008 8:49 AM
Any help for Black & White? I can't get past the radiating thing after the second set of fade away yellow things.
Posted by: Rein | April 10, 2008 4:39 PM
Kangra--
On Gravity -1, I just ran it again, and got a speedbolt with a time of 27.06. I can't remember what my original speedbolt score was.
As to techniques:
Not sure what else to tell you . . . I hope this little bit helps somehow, and I wish you luck.
Posted by: Charles
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April 10, 2008 5:11 PM
Thanks, Charles. Actually I figured it out. I hadn't realized there was the down elevator on the other side and had tried to finish by squeezing through the hole before the right side comes up. It works if you get lucky and probably would beat the time if you make it within the first few shots.
I finished all the levels now. Although I had a lot of help with the Tower - some Flash bug is making it run ten times slower than normal.
RedTomato, for the last beam part :
Posted by: Kangra | April 11, 2008 1:19 AM
I'm with Rein. I can't get past that thing that's before the unlocking thing on Black and White. Can anyone help me?
Posted by: Attempt | April 12, 2008 9:24 AM
Free Speedbolt on Any Level.
I spend a week trying to get the Level 13 speedbolt with no luck. I finally resorted to trying to hack a solution.
The game has a minor bug which allows your ball to be destroyed even after you've finished a level. Your ball can be re-destroyed by a moving enemy like the orange balls on Pink Alternative even after completeing the level. This results in two message boxes on the screen - the normal completed level message, and a second level failed message in the upper left corner. Combine this with the fact that dying stops the clock and you have your hack.
Complete Level 13 in any time. Wait for an orange enemy to smash into you. Then click the "Reply" button on the completed level dialouge box. Time freezes at .01 seconds.
I assume this works for any level with moving enemies.
Posted by: syntax | April 13, 2008 2:34 AM
Attempt--
Regarding Black & White . . . I swore never to play that level again once I completed it, but from what I can remember:
I hope that makes sense, and I hope it helps.
Posted by: Charles
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April 14, 2008 10:06 PM
Does anyone else think the spiral on the ball bears a striking resemblance to the JIGmans's head in the JIG logo.
Is that how JIGman entertains himself in his spare time?
Posted by: Zeke
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April 15, 2008 3:04 PM
how do you get regular win, meaning "no ace" on 16 the duel
Posted by: Anonymous | April 21, 2008 3:23 AM
Has anyone come across a list of thunder completion times? It's getting annoying trying to complete levels and not knowing if I'm even close.
Posted by: Tom | April 21, 2008 7:34 AM