I just wanted to let everyone know that Knytt Stories was rated by the website GameSetWatch as the top freeware game of 2007. Respectively, this news also made it to the front page of the popular gaming blog Joystiq! Congratulations, Nifflas!
Knytt Stories was nothing special in my opinion. No puzzles, no challenge, no gameplay. It's scary to see so many people are entertained by a dot travelling from one end of the screen to the other. Strange, it actually beat out games with good gameplay.
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You present your opinion rather blunt.
I myself am amazed at what nifflas manages to create with his Knytt games.
You are absolutely right about the game lacking puzzles, but to say it lacks gameplay is absurd. It's a game that goes beyond casual gaming opposite most other home-brewes. The atmosphere is extraordinary! The freedom is, in lack of better description, art. It was amazing that nifflas managed to create the original Knytt, and to be able to make a sequel that exceeded it was even more amazing! There is something about those two games that make them the gems they are. They are indeed simple, but brilliant in their simplicity.
And if you are unable to experience them in their fullest, I feel sorry for your lacking that ability.
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DaVince This fool just HAD to have a custom rating
But I do get the feeling that these lists are based more on popularity than actually having played every single freeware game that year. Which is not easy to do but would make things more accurate.
I think Knytt Stories was big because of the level editor. If it was just a few Nifflas levels I'd have gotten bored much quicker than I did.
The fanbase is a bit crap though. I suggested some nice features for Nifflas before he released 1.1 or 1.2 or whatever. And the people on his forum set attitudes to defend! A bad bunch.