nonlinear puzzle design

how effective can nonlinear puzzle design be? is it even possible or has it been done before?

wizzrobemaster wrote:how effective can nonlinear puzzle design be? is it even possible or has it been done before?

Yes, nonlinearity is called backtracking. Getting rid of backtracking which no one likes, will result in linear design again, which also no one likes.

one thing I have done with my level design was allow looping structures. i guess another way to minimize backtracking could be to have warp tiles. Puzzledude, did you watch boss keys on youtube?

... did you watch boss keys on youtube?

No.

i guess another way to minimize backtracking could be to have warp tiles.

Or you could just construct anything the way you want, without carrying if someone calls it backtracking or linear. Every design is either one or the other.

Standard Mario level for instance is linear. A ghosthouse is not, and thus it is backtracking. A player not affiliated to criticize will like both. Same with Zelda dungeons.

ghost houses in mario acting as non-linear puzzle levels make sense because of the trolling theme with the boos.