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[Raku]

updated demo has been released.
please check the very first post in this thread to download it.
Please report any bugs you find.

edit: I forgot to mention the new boss ability doesn't do anything yet.
"press x" is just a placeholder for now.
Also, there is a purple stage near the beginning, do not go to it, this was a test and it will only make the game crash.
You can move right past it.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Colon Semicolon]

it wouldn't run past the first level, for me. tried to go to the second level and it crashed. not sure what the deal is with that.

[Raku]

it wouldn't run past the first level, for me. tried to go to the second level and it crashed. not sure what the deal is with that.

was the level you're talking about represented by a purple orb?
If so, I'm sorry, that was a mistake I left in. just move past it on the map screen.

[Raku]

Wow... haven't said anything in a while. I apologize. The game is still being made, but progress is going along slow. Some personal things have been happening, and I haven't been able to concentrate on production that much. Don't worry, I'm still working on it a little bit each day.

[pixhead]

Wow... haven't said anything in a while. I apologize. The game is still being made, but progress is going along slow. Some personal things have been happening, and I haven't been able to concentrate on production that much. Don't worry, I'm still working on it a little bit each day.

As long as it isn't abandoned you can take as long as possible. Just look at Fez.

[Raku]

New little video I made.
Learning to use dodges to solve problems.

[superflat]

Take your time, there's no rush!

  Looking at the trailer, I'm a bit worried how slow the walk speed is.  It reminds me of Mickey in Castle of Illusion, but even slower (loved that game... but I think the amount of action in this game makes it feel like it needs a faster pace.)  Something to consider, anyway.

[Raku]

Looking at the trailer, I'm a bit worried how slow the walk speed is.  It reminds me of Mickey in Castle of Illusion, but even slower (loved that game... but I think the amount of action in this game makes it feel like it needs a faster pace.)  Something to consider, anyway.

You're referring to the official trailer, right?
Since I use CamStudio to record videos, it makes the game run slower.
I did make one video showing the proper speed the game runs at.



I had to record it in a static room with no background in order to have it play at the correct speed.

I know he's still a little slow, but you should try the demo out to see for yourself. Any faster, and people would probably complain that the platforming parts are too hard to navigate.
if worse comes to worst, you can always just keep the speed-up ability in your second slot.

-Aa, I just looked up a video of Castle of Illusion. Jack is definitely faster than that. 

[Raku]

It sure has been quiet around this thread.
I could still use some feedback on the game. Has anyone tried the newest demo yet?

[superflat]

I haven't played it yet just because I'm on Mac and it's pretty rare for me to reboot into Windows these days.  Will do when I get round to it.  I think it looks great though.

One thing I will say about the aesthetics is they don't quite match the great quality of your pencil drawings.  I sorta wish they had outlines, but I'd never suggest you redo all you art!  An easier way to make a big improvement imho would be to spend more time on the palette, because the pixels themselves are nice, as others have suggested.

The images Ichigo Jam posted appear more saturated here, and I do prefer them.  Something to consider anyway...

[oyog]

I consistently get:

___________________________________________
FATAL ERROR in
action number 4
of Key Press Event for X-key Key
for object Secret_TEMPLATE:

Unexisting room number: -1

when I start the second level.

[godsavant]

I consistently get:

___________________________________________
FATAL ERROR in
action number 4
of Key Press Event for X-key Key
for object Secret_TEMPLATE:

Unexisting room number: -1

when I start the second level.

I think we all do. Just skip that one.

I haven't played it yet just because I'm on Mac and it's pretty rare for me to reboot into Windows these days.  Will do when I get round to it.  I think it looks great though.

There seem to be an awful lot of people giving token praise to this game without having played it under the pretense of "getting around to it". How weak.

As I progress further I've grown more and more annoyed with the save system in the game, where dying means trekking back through several previous stages just to have another try. I understand you're going for a less forgiving platforming experience (akin to Super Mario World's system) but at the moment, the inability to get extra lives means rationing them is as much a game as the platforming itself. Please consider giving us plebians a more normal per-level save system, at least earlier on.

The platforming is also a lot harder than necessary, mainly because of Jack's smaller hitbox. Granted, it's always nice to have a smaller area of vulnerability against projectile-spamming opponents, but generally I expect the hitbox to fully encompass a character's feet; too often I've slipped off narrow platforms (thanks to the mechanism for preventing Jack from getting stuck) like they have rounded edges or fallen early, before I could press jump. I recall someone suggested having a brief window after falling from a platform in which Jack can still jump, something I don't know if you've tried yet; in any case, the incongruous hitbox remains the biggest issue.

Finally, a minor complaint is the presence of obstructive foreground objects, particularly during the forest stages. There are several instances of leaves obscuring gaps between platforms or patrolling enemies too small to be seen.

On the other hand, I can't stop myself from being wowed consistently by every new enemy and environment. The designs on display here are truly a cut above most anything normally posted here, particularly since you're also coding and composing; just a shame I can't reach what the later levels have in store.

[Happy Shabby Games]

I'm enjoying this so far, but I found an invincible crab trapped in a block. I'm a little scared.

EDIT- It's on the third level.

[Raku]

     to Oyog:
Yes, as godsavant said, just skip that level. it was accidentally left in from testing.

     to godsavant:
Mm, yes that is a bit disheartening to hear so many people say that...

The save system- Well, I've decided to make difficulty options for the game. Easy and Normal should do. basically, easy will make it so that you save after beating every stage (but you won't get to see the ending, since I'm a jerk)
As for lives- after I finish making the main game stages, I'm going to start work on the bonus stages, which you can find hidden exits to in normal stages. The bonus stages will have extra lives, make the game save when you beat one, and will add an extra bit of health to Jack's life. Pardon me for not having that in the demo yet, as finishing the main game stages is the highest priority for now.

I have just finished making Jack's hitbox wider, and tested it out. Jumps are much easier now.
No, I haven't tried the second jump window thing.
And thank you, I'm working hardest on the graphics with programming coming in a close second. Composing comes in third, mostly because I can compose whenever I feel like it.

     to Seasons:
Oops! must have missed something. It will be fixed in the next release, I apologize.

[McMutton]

Considering the hitbox issues, couldn't you have a larger hitbox for environment interactions, and a smaller one for enemy interactions?

[Raku]

I could do that, but I really don't want to. It would mean having to reprogram a large chunk of the game to fit the new hitbox... As I said already, I fixed the hitbox platforming problem.

[mokesmoe]

Just add a system where you can still jump a couple frames after falling off a ledge. Many games use them and they aren't very hard to make.

[superflat]

I haven't played it yet just because I'm on Mac and it's pretty rare for me to reboot into Windows these days.  Will do when I get round to it.  I think it looks great though.

There seem to be an awful lot of people giving token praise to this game without having played it under the pretense of "getting around to it". How weak.

Was there any need for that dude?  

I decide to show some encouragement to someone whose game I like the look of, when noone else is posting is in his thread, and that's weak?  I have a bunch of Windows games in a folder including this one, some of which I've planned to play for longer than this.  Don't assume things about people you know nothing about.

[Raku]

Just add a system where you can still jump a couple frames after falling off a ledge. Many games use them and they aren't very hard to make.

Oh, I didn't know that. Can you name a few games that have done it? Also, how would I do such a thing, if I decided to?
As I said, I already fixed it so that jumping is easier.

[MaloEspada]

i'm almost sure the grandma engine does that for you... and that's what you should be using if you are making a platformer in GM. it's a pretty good engine.