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Pseudolonewolf — Raider: Episode 1
Published: 2009-06-03 10:27:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 12546; Favourites: 124; Downloads: 223
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Description
My latest game that's actually FINISHED! I don't know how much it'll appeal to the people on this site, but I'm submitting it anyway...Raider: Episode 1 is the first of five parts of a story involving a Cyrian called Arkus Zei, a space pirate, who makes a living by 'raiding' the wrecks of dead spaceships for loot. Sometimes this ends up getting him into more than he expected...
It's an action platformer that's meant to be reminiscent of 'old-school' games.
IT IS DESIGNED TO BE CHALLENGING.
I get the feeling that many people will find it 'too hard', but if you don't play platformers regularly, then PLEASE play on Beginner mode. If you find even that too hard, I am sorry, but this game wasn't designed for casual players in the first place.
The controls are in-game, and can also be customised from the How to Play screen.
Hopefully at least someone here will find some enjoyment from this...
It took about three months to make, and everything in it is mine. Graphics, code, concept, etc.
Notably, I composed the music (as I do, being a composer), and I am particularly proud of it!
I also made the sound effects myself this time, so there is literally nothing in the game that I didn't make myself. Huzzah!
Also, since sometimes I get asked this for some reason: I made it in Flash. Flash games are made in Flash. That's why they're called Flash games. o_O
This game is also nicely sponsored by Kongregate .
If you find any bugs or have suggestions for things that could be changed to make the game more enjoyable (that is, small tweaks, not a change of concept), I'd be glad to hear them because I want to make the following chapters as enjoyable as they can be.
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Comments: 65
It's real funny that Arkus Zel needs oxygen in this episode but he didn't need it in Raider Zero.
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Personally, I don't find it too hard. It gave me a nice challenge, and was pretty much a nostalgia trip for me. I grew up with platformers, myself.
I'd really like to see more from you sometime, if you're still around. ^^
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This is awesome, you really have to play the game, you can't just burn through it.
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NICE'n gorgeous!!
and nice music,
however what can I do after get magic tropie??
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All I can say is wow, this is amazing! Very addictive!
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Since I don't really know what the critique function is exactly for on this site, I'm just going to post this as a comment.
Sorry if I don't respond, I don't know of any notification system on DeviantArt, and I forget to check things easily.
Warning: Lots of parentheses to follow. I'm going to ask my grammar, nazzi (that comma is supposed to be there) buddy how a semi-colon is used.
I'm writing this after playing both chapter 1, and 2 in completion (on easy for both and then medium for chapter 1).
Difficulty
Perfect difficulty (a few deaths, but no major frustration leading to a rage quit) until the boss. Since the game is primarily a platformer, it just doesn't really prepare you for a boss battle like that. I was able to defeat him on easy eventually, but after going back on intermediate (or whatever the middle difficulty is), I couldn't deal more than a third of his life before I was killed each time. It's difficult enough dodging the energy balls and their shockwaves, but to shoot him as well is practically impossible. If the game had some situations similar to the boss fight (serious dodging skills tested, better accuracy checks, etc.) earlier on in the game, it would be much easier while still presenting a good challenge.
I got an E on all three occasions I played, primarily due to the extreme difficulty of the boss battles.
Music/Graphics
I love the music! It has a very Metroid feel (which is what I assume you were kinda going for in gameplay with the quote "seems to be a staple of the genre") without being Metroid. The beepy-style instruments is my favorite style for video games. Playing a small bit of the dragon game (not my genre), and the first bit (still playing) of Mardek, the music you make is one of my favorite parts of your games. The first being the graphics in this game. Old school, extra-pixely is easily my favorite style for anything but an FPS. Considering I didn't really play video games when this was the standard, I can't say why I like it so much. Anyways, I digress. Often... Weither the graphics and beepy music are the best of your capabilities, or an artistic choice (fingers crossed on the latter), the graphics and music for this game are perfect in my eyes.
Controls/Gameplay
First, let me say, the shift+jump is brilliant! Light jumps are difficult to achieve in these type of games and they're necessary. Thank you for making them worlds easier.
There's not really much more to say on the controls. You perfected them, from seperate buttons to jump and climb/activate, to jump strength. Bravo, sir.
Level design is great. I never felt hopelessly lost, but it wasn't always immidiately apparent what I was supposed to do. The only complaint would be that it's all very similar. You've seen one row of ladders, you've seen them all. Though there were some in 2 that tripped up the standard. The ones where you start them off or end them with a full jump are very deceptive.
Story/Characters
Arkus is absolutely perfect. The comments he has with the signs is hilarious. A great, flat-style-cool space pirate.
Not a whole lot's developed in the story yet, so there's not really much to say about it. The plot looks good so far, and I hope the story keeps up with it.
Something I'd like to see in the future is maybe some sort of space battle. Looking at his ship makes me wish I could do awesome things with it. Also, the ability to move and shoot would REALLY help with boss battles and make minion slaying much more enjoyable, rather than feeling like a timed door.
I understand it's not the style of this game, and that you've layed nearly everything out already, but I would really like to see a side-scrolling RPG of a similar universe from you. I haven't gotten very far in Mardek, but the battle graphics are very strange to me, especially when put together with the (gorgeous) pixelated overworld. What I'm getting at is something more with a Raider feel with RPG elements. Gun upgrades, health increases, movement speed, etc.
Other notes
In the "How to play this game", page 5, you typed "Conglaturation!'' which is most definitely not the correct way to spell congratulation, which is usually followed by an s. Then again, it's probably a quote from some game I never got a chance to play.
I noticed a download option on the left menu for DeviantArt. Is there really a way to download this game to my computer for offline play, is it just to present it in that different window?
I'd like to tell you that I didn't play old games except for Metroid, F-Zero, and FFV (though this wasn't challenging at all) in recent years. This series ranks very high on my list of favorites.
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Oh! One more thing. I love the way the sprite keeps pushing upwards after jumping into a ceiling. It's a platformer function that's not seen often, and it's one of my favorites.
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man i love these kinds of 2-d side scrollers. Ive enjoyed fig hunter games since playing cyber ortek flyer on new grounds. I love the music in these.
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This is great, but I had no idea what to do at 1-10, and died. >
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Made it to screen 1-3 before dying on Beginner! =B (I'm not too good at games usually...)
What I've played so far is fun! C: The music and visual style I particularly like.
*downloads to play in the future*
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Hard, but a lot of fun. I really like what you've accomplished here. I love the music, although it irks me a bit when you get beaten by a boss and have to restart the music. Wish I could find a cheap copy of Flash to buy.
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I'm not much of a gamer, but I can say that the music is AWESOME!
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very nice work.
i am learning actionscript, to do platforms games too.
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great game, I can't finish it in one night, but the layout is amazing, very challenging
I tried easy and i can only imagine what the hard setting is like...
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I like it. Nice music and gameplay. The control is pretty good too; I enjoy the old platform feel to it. I also love the protagonist's personality since it's not the same old goodie-good "I'm here to save the day" character; it's quite unique.
Some control suggestions:
Even though it would've only been useful in the boss fight, I felt like I wanted to be able to shoot upward (since the up-arrow is free of being bound to a jump action). I realize it'll affect your options for enemy layouts and boss patterns, but it would've been neat to have that kind of control over aiming. If you consider this, you could see upward aiming as an opportunity to implement new kinds of enemies and challenges.
Also, I'd prefer horizontal movement commands to overwrite holding 'fire weapon'. Either that, or allow shooting and movement to occur simultaneously. I like having that kind of mobility... but I suppose it's different for each person.
Ducking! I love it, though I haven't found a use for it yet. Will you allow ducking + shooting/slashing? That'd be fun too XD.
Despite my suggestions for control, I still liked how it handled. Good game. I gave you a 5 on Kongregate.
PS - I want to make a fictitious cover for the case or cartridge of this game, lol.
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Oh, man, a few more things, sorry. Just trying to offer polishing suggestions:
- It might be nicer to see the Configure [controls] option on the Starting Screen, rather than behind "How To Play"
- Configure screen: since 'Z' assumes the go-back / cancel / skip role, it feels a bit counterintuitive to exit the Configure screen in this way while confirming your changes. It'd be nice to either have only the only option be 'A' to confirm and exit. OR to have 'Z' cancel changes & exit, and 'A' confirm changes & exit.
Very minor, I know. But, I hope you appreciate the micro-suggestions : D
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I agree with everything Gravik said.
I've posted a full comment below, but did not think of these things.
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Your game got 3rd place with 21% on Bytejacker's last Free Indie of the Week.
[link]
Well I voted for it and frankly think it deserved a better place. =/
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I really do think this is great - it has the strong writing and humour that can be found in all your games, but mixed with a very, very strong platformer.
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Well! I finally reached the boss (and died repeatedly), and realised I had only found two of the four treasures. Hmm.
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Found a third relic (yay!) and beat the boss (albeit after switching to beginner difficulty in order to get used to it without all the spikes) I'll bet the fourth is in the "virtues of patience" room. (I've found the magic goblet, Wolf blade, and Ortek head) E rank - not great, but then, it's my first time beating it, and I was using beginner so that I could explore a bit more.
Great game, shall be playing it some more to try and find the fourth relic.
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how did you get past the pit with the spikes right after the first shooting thing.
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What's the room number (in the upper right)? If it's literally the first, just jump onto the moving platform.
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it's the spiked pit before the moving platform, you can see the platform, but there is a brown box ont he other side of the spike pit.
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Oh! Right: Just start moving right, then jump from the right edge of the first platform. Hold down the A key - the longer you hold it down, the higher you jump.
Be warned, though: The jumps get a lot harder later on. You may find it a little tough.
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ok, I'll try it. thanks
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I just saw this game reviewed on Jay is Games. I could tell straight from the art style that it was yours, CONGRATS!
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Thank you!
I am really surprised actually to see someone I recognise from deviantART recognise me from one of my games on some Flash site... Usually the people I know of here and the people who play my games are two entirely distinct groups for some reason.
Also, very interesting to know that my art style is actually recogniseable...! o_O
I'm also surprised that that site reviewed my game at all (they didn't TELL me or anything though), and generally positively too...! HMM...
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The game is really fun, but for some reason, it speeds through the dialog then exits right away so I can't read it. Might just be my comp though...
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That's strange, and not something that I've experienced before...
Are you using an old version of Internet Explorer?
That browser seems to create various problems, so it could be that.
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ar this is fun, but hard, I'm not that good at this.
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This was a pretty cool game. Definitely reminds me of the old days of gaming. It was difficult, but not overly so. I finished with an E rank on intermediate with all four relics, but over an hour of game time and like 40 deaths. I do think there could be more checkpoints and probably another purple one closer to the boss, as he is pretty annoying. Can't wait to see where this goes.
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It suffers from an 8-bit problem of putting challenge in front of fun.
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fun game vey additing and very fun i ike the character u play as. is it the dragon on ur icon?
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Alright. Just finished it. In the end, I had two relics, 9 lost lives, a time of 26:24 and was playing on Beginner.
That gives me -53 points.
Main gripes I had were:
-Z can't be reconfigured
-the boss got pretty repetitive, giving him half the health would've been enough
-the ladders that always go to the roof are not really a good idea either, it gives you the idea there's something there when there usually isn't...
-...except in one place where you then don't expect it anymore at all
-some jumps are obviously designed for harder modes and lead to instant death in Beginner; consider changing the layout of some tough spots for the different modes?
-it was not quite clear where to go after the first blue switch
-the part after the purple checkpoint is too long; I suggest another green checkpoint after the first moving platform part...
-...because the second can hardly be done on first try for you don't know what to do at first, and when you do hurry you will never get the timing right
-the one "mummy" enemy on this 3x3 cube at the one moving platform part is too hard to avoid
-it is never explained what the "experience bar" does (afaik)
-in my opinion, some of the text seemed too forced
-there's one place with moving platforms that have a really big difference in position/time; that was just annoying, unless I missed something
-the part of the tutorial where you learn about the "jumping down through platformers" is nice, but please don't put a one tile big moving platform over a pit of spikes under the place where you learn the move for the first time
That's all I can think of right now. If you consider this the "final" version, then these are obviously not suggestions but criticism of what should have been.
However, the overall feel and play of the game is great, as is the music (though it did feel a little out of place at first) and the graphics. The fact I actually wanted to finish it is good as I usually give up easily. Your style obviously shines through, too, but the influence of the Megaman games can't be denied.
This is a great start. Now you only have to improve.
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Ah, only now I noticed the How to Play has more than one page. These screens (How to Play, Pause) are really bland and easy to miss/overlook. The experience bar is explained there, however, an ingame explanation would still be nice.
The Shift-Jump is a bad idea, though. Any reason why a) it can't be reconfigured, b) is not mentioned in the controls and c) can't be done by holding down and jumping?
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There are German keyboards. On them, Y and Z are swapped. If you let the players reconfigure the controls, it's usually fine. This particular case is great because the one thing you CAN'T reconfigure is Z.
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