Hop! 2D, a different platformer with only 2 control keys

Asthalis

Level 0

Re: Hop!2D, a different platformer with only 2 control keys (WIP)

« Reply #40 on: December 26, 2022, 09:07:09 PM »

Quote from: DarkGran on December 26, 2022, 05:35:06 PM

Hi,

cute game, kinda grew on me over the little while that I played, even though some of the graphics are a bit rough, and I wouldn't mind exploring the rest of the worlds if only I did not get frustrated out of the game, which is what usually what happens to me with such platformers. Embarrassed

And I say "such platformers", even though you "advertise" the game as something different. But let's be honest now, the essence is exactly the same, and even the thing that the character is forced to constantly jump "was done already", so that's not what makes it different. In the future, I would focus on what _is_ different about it, whatever it is. Wink

I think "people in the genre" will enjoy it, especially if you keep adding things like the first boss (really cool), there are only a few notes I have:
- The Options sideways... sorry I know it's meant to be fun, but I hated it. xD
- The resolution seems a bit strange, like for a mobile, but not really. It would be nice to have the game resolution/viewport/camera adjust to the screen resolution, so I could see the entire level on my widescreen monitor (I mean, why not).
- The sound of "time running" out was the main reason why I got frustrated, not sure why but I hated it. Tongue

- Thinking about what may have been frustrating me, the bounce off walls might be too strong, especially when I'm at high speeds. Also avatars acceleration may have been making some things too difficult (I do realize that the quick raise in speed may be needed in higher levels).
- I'm not sure about some of the pieces of graphics. I like most of the game, but some objects, avatars included, are made in a different resolution. Not really sure how I feel about it. .)

No technical notes because it ran very smoothly. Overall well done.

Good luck! Beer!

Well, first of all, thanks for such a thorough feedback ! Grin

It's totally fine if you're not a platformer player, it's always interesting to have all points of view and I will gladly add your name in the game credits for your contribution. I will try to answer as well as I can Wink

First, you're right, it seems the "continuously jumping character" was used before but I was totally unaware of it until somebody sent me a link to another game using the same principle. No big deal, I did not pretend to re-invent the wheel but simply stick to my goal : create an interesting platformer with the most basic controls (left and right directions). A kind of tribute to the oldest arcade games, I guess (my everlasting nostalgia). My decision to display menus "sideways", though unusual, was made to keep controls consistent (2 more keys were necessary to confirm or cancel a choice, of course) and bring something original to the game interface.

Graphically speaking, many things are explainable from my original choices. For example, every elementary block is contained in a 32x32 pixel grid (typical old-style Window icon) and so are main character and most scenery elements. The final resolution of the game is simply doubled using 2:1 scaling. I did not want to use any anti-aliasing or filter to stick with pixel art style and old-fashionned arcade look. That way, the game's native resolution is only 360x360 pixels (but remember Donkey Kong's one was only 224x256 pixels !) but, in window mode, it shows like 720x720 (everything being scaled up in fullscreen mode). I chose a square resolution for 2 reasons. First, I thought the main character should have the same sight range in X and Y directions to anticipate his moves and I did not want the game to depend on different screen height-to-width ratios. Secondly, I intend to make a mobile version of the game once the laptop one is done and I had to keep some room for big tactile controls.

As you noticed, each level is not entirely displayed on screen. That is intentional because I wanted to have complete freedom with the level size without changing the main character's scale. But the main reason is that I did not want to show too much of a level so that the player learns first how to be careful and anticipate its jumps and progression. That's also why I chose to bring Hop closer to the border of the screen when hurrying : the more the player rushes, the less he can anticipate hazards. Time (rather energy, here) is limited but, at least in first worlds, there is no need to hurry, the game is more about precision and anticipation than pure speed, another choice I made from the start. From the first comments I had, I decided to add a training mode where time is not limited but the game ends after the 9th level, right before the first boss, without any enemy encountered. That way, the player can handle Hop's behaviour before starting a "real" game.

As the game universe grew (it might take more than 2 hours to complete all working levels so far), it became clear I needed a way to save the player's progress. From the start, I divided the game into 10-level worlds the player could unlock and possibly restart form once all its lives were lost. But that obviously was not enough to some players who wrote me it felt too punishing to restart a whole world after losing in its last levels. After massive testing, I agreed they were right, especially in difficult worlds ! I eventually added an 8-slot save system at the end of each level. I'm glad you enjoyed the first boss but believe me, you have just scratched the surface of the game if you stopped there !

About Hop's jumping/bouncing abilities, I won't change anything today because I spent quite a while to get the right setting and the level design is directly linked to this (maximum reachable height, maximum momentum, etc.). Changing one single parameter (or moving a single elementary block) would make some levels impossible to complete. There are some places where Hop must keep close to walls after running fast and you can do it by keeping direction key pressed after the shock (which does not cost any energy, same for high falls as described in the HELP menu).

I heard your complaint about the energy warning sound. To be honest, I don't know is there's a "suitable" sound for this feature. I did not mean to make it unpleasant or stressful but it had to be clear even with other nearby sounds (enemies, bosses, mechanisms) and match the visual lifebar blinking. Anything to suggest ?

Hope these comments were useful to you and might help if you keep on playing the game.

Thanks again !


« Last Edit: December 26, 2022, 09:51:48 PM by Asthalis »	Logged