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[Arne]

It'sa me, Marne! I started programming a new game.



Dragon Slayer project page - Yeah, it's based on one of them early graphical computer RPGs. Right now the monsters just slide around (tile locked and synced). They can also push walls around, Sokoban style.

Dragon Slayer 1 is a somewhat sandboxy RPG+Puzzle game where you can push walls around and only carry some items one at a time. You may be more familiar with other games in the Dragon Slayer series, such as Xanadu, Faxanadu or Legacy of the Wizard. Since the newer games play differently, Dragon Slayer 1 has a kind of unique charm to it, even though it's 99% frustrating and tedious.


I'm thinking that I should just do graphics first (in my quick Legacy of Hydon style) and convince someone else to code. I know I haven't got stamina to last a complete project. I mostly just want to see how the PC-88 game looks in isometric '3D' with some fancy battle animations. If I post art here tomorrow I might be serious about it.

[PsySal]

I think this looks neat. If I understand right, you're planning to work out the game with simple 2D graphics first and then make an isometric version with nicer graphics but otherwise the same-- seems like a good way to prototype. However I do like the PC88 inspired graphics.

I'm a longtime fan of LotW (I played it originally on NES and couldn't believe how awesomely huge it was, truly awe-inspiring at least for a little kid) and have been interested for quite awhile what the other DS games were like.

[Arne]

LotW is cute, but the map is too big, taking into account the lack of variation.

Quick iso tile test, 64 * 32(31). I started thinking about animations. Some characters can be safely flipped, halving the amount of frames I need to do, but it's still quite a bit if I do 4 walk frames and so.

[Scut Fabulous]

You always have excellent proportions, even on something simple like these tiles.  Looking forward to more!

[Arne]

Thanks. Zelda 1 inspired, perhaps. I made them short because they shouldn't cover up too much, and the bevel helps making them obscure less too.

I've started working on animation roughs. I don't know much about sword fighting, shift of weight, leading foot, etc. I can't really move feet around since I have so few frames, so once I plant them I have to keep them there. I could switch them for offensive/defensive mode, but since you need to twist the torso to make a powerful strike, I don't think my offensive pose makes much sense. It would give a bit more range though (since I can't move the feet). Another option is to alternate the poses, so the feet shift, but it might look confusing with so few frames.


The weapon will be a separate image.

[gunmaggot]

Nice.  Just make sure the opening ditty is skippable!  That drove me crazy on the PC-88 version.

I like Dragon Slayer and I kind of wish that the devs had expanded and improved on the formula instead of taking it is the different direction(s) they did, though I guess that would mean we wouldn't have got the rad games they did make.  I am very happy that someone is stepping up and improving a game that really needed improving but had and still has a ton of potential.