I assume this is not about file handling, replay-level-association, level-inside-replay-file, ... Instead, this is purely about the replay user interface during regular level solving, as a helper function. And with main focus on discoverability.
I messed something up or just wanted to restart the level, but then by using restart the replay just repeated all my actions, which I actually wanted to redo. I think I soon realized that it cancelled if you assign a skill but sometimes you want to move an assignment forwards and not backwards and that didn't seem to be possible to me.
Form that experience I have still the habit to just completely quit and enter a level if I want to restart it.
The only missing piece seems to be clicking the air to cancel the replay. Airclick is undocumented except for an annotation in the options menu, to (framestepping back cuts replay yes/no). I see how very few would stumble on this helper text. I've always thought everybody would discover airclick by themselves. But the cursor doesn't look like clicking has any effect. Only a sound plays after the click, which doesn't guide towards the click before.
L3D flashed "replaying, click to play" and Windows Lemmings had replay, but Lix should be clear without such prior knowledge, indeed.
First loose ideas:
- Text in the panel like in L3D? Panel is very crowded already with many tooltips, but probably OK.
- Different mouse cursor when hovering over air, shaped like scissors cutting film tape?
- Large box with replay actions, and buttons to erase all, or move/erase single action. Always shown or on demand? This is really the most important data, the game map is merely a visualization of the replay actions.
It's just an experience report from someone who started playing Lix mainly with knowledge of L1 but not of newer engines
This is valuable feedback that few can give unbiased. I haven't ever user-tested the replaying with non-Lemmings-players.
-- Simon