RPG prototype inspired in Wonderboy in Monsterland

I want your opinions on my new project, a plataform RPG inspired in Wonderboy in Monsterland.

It has many features, and in this prototype I wanted to show it's main ones. I want to make a very casual plataformer, and I also want to include most of the features of Wonderboy in Monsterland, that is, buy clothing, equipement, and get stronger, while progressing in the levels.

I want to know your opinions, ideas, critiques, what you would like to see in this kind of game?.

Also I want to know if you would buy this kind of game in an episodic manner, for like 5 dollars or less. Instead of a big game, I plan to make several small episodes of this game, adding new features/enemies in each episode and advancing the story, with more levels of course.

Thanks a lot and let me know what you think.

<img src="http://www.funeffect.com/prototypes/proto1.jpg">

Download: http://www.funeffect.com/prototypes/RPGplataform_1.zip

I like what I played. The player character has the ability of performing some cool things (sword attack, creating platforms). That right there could make the game pretty fun.

"Casual" is right. The game is a bit too casual for me. But don't let that put you down.

Thanks for the Tutorial, but what parts specifically do you think needs more work? (having in mind it's a prototype).

No offense, but why does the original player sprite never change? The weapon and shield change decently (although the shield animation could look smoother or more natural). You even drew simplistic facial expressions over the sprite's face for your animations... It looks like you took a sprite from somewhere and can't do the art for the animations. I'm not saying you did that, but it looks very unusual. (Edit: I thought they might be placeholder, but just in case...)

The topmost three blocks which the boulders are resting against to the right are solid from below rather than platforms.

As for selling the game, don't get too ahead of yourself. Making a game, let alone a series of episodes, is a big project. It isn't wrong to think about selling your game, but ask yourself two things:

1) Am I getting too concerned with the selling of this game that it is detracting from my work on the project?

2) Will anyone actually want to buy this? Is it worth buying? What makes it stand out from free Flash games and similar?

I'd also think deeply about how you want your platform creation to work. Having them spawn right where you are standing might not be the best. I found it awkward to use.

Finally, you said you wanted to show off the main features, but there isn't much to show in the demo. It would be nice to see how you plan to handle items.

/Constructive Criticism

It doesn't run for me. This is the first Construct game to crash upon opening... using Windows 7 64-bit.

It doesn't run for me. This is the first Construct game to crash upon opening... using Windows 7 64-bit.

You could try running it in Compatability Mode.

> It doesn't run for me. This is the first Construct game to crash upon opening... using Windows 7 64-bit.

>

You could try running it in Compatability Mode.

Tried. Still didn't work...

No offense, but why does the original player sprite never change? (Edit: I thought they might be placeholder, but just in case...)

All graphics are placeholders, that's why it looks so weird, it's a prototype after all.

The topmost three blocks which the boulders are resting against to the right are solid from below rather than platforms.

Thanks, I didn't notice that.

As for selling the game, don't get too ahead of yourself. Making a game, let alone a series of episodes, is a big project. It isn't wrong to think about selling your game, but ask yourself two things:

1) Am I getting too concerned with the selling of this game that it is detracting from my work on the project?

I know, I have done games before. The thing I want to know now is if people actually like to play this games and maybe pay for this one in particular, if it has more production values, otherwise I will just stop developing this prototype and move on to something else, because I really do not want to work on something that nobody would pay for.

2) Will anyone actually want to buy this? Is it worth buying? What makes it stand out from free Flash games and similar?

Exactly, see above. But that's a good question, what makes it stand out from similar games is that this one is very casual, and has some unique features.

I'd also think deeply about how you want your platform creation to work. Having them spawn right where you are standing might not be the best. I found it awkward to use.

You mean when you press UP arrow key?, could you elaborate more on this?, I really do not understand why someone would find it awkward.

Finally, you said you wanted to show off the main features, but there isn't much to show in the demo. It would be nice to see how you plan to handle items.

/Constructive Criticism

I know, it is very very basic, I just wanted to know if for now it has acceptable and enjoyable set of features since if It does not work right as it is in this basic level, then it is not going to work if I add more stuff.

It doesn't run for me. This is the first Construct game to crash upon opening... using Windows 7 64-bit.

That's weird, I use only the basic stuff on Construct so I guess this shouldn't happen. I'll see what I can do and I'll post something later. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks everyone, keep the comments and Constructive Criticism comming.

Are you going to replace the graphics for original ones and not freely available ones? Can't really expect people to pay for something that contains 90% freely available stuff.

There's just something "unwieldy," if that's the word, about using a platform then jumping on it. It doesn't flow quickly and smoothly enough from creating one to jumping onto it. Ever consider having them created beneath the player or at least slightly lower down on the player? Then you could jump onto them easier. It could also be using UP for creating platforms. I'd move it to a key for the left hand. I'm not really sure how to get the platforms better, but it felt like I couldn't create one then jump on it immediately and easily. Try changing the key for it first as which hand you give a key to is very important. People's hands (at least mine as a gamer) are "programmed" for certain actions to be done with certain hands (although that will change depending on what input method you are using but in this case it is a computer keyboard). Creating a platform is an ability and not a movement (eg. move left/right), so it should go to the left hand. Note: Jumping is kind of a movement but should be thought of as an ability too so it goes for left hand like in most games (except maybe fighting games).

Are you going to replace the graphics for original ones and not freely available ones? Can't really expect people to pay for something that contains 90% freely available stuff.

(^ This got posted while I was writing mine.)

I agree. It must be original art and look like it.

Also, I know it is a prototype, but you haven't done anything remotely new or put things together in a new or interesting way. You do have creatable platforms, but that isn't extraordinary. Right now the game looks extremely generic.

Edit: I forgot to mention that when he's standing on some things he is floating.

Thanks a lot Mr Wolf, that was extremely clear, I will apply what you said.

And about the graphics, they are just placeholders, for now I'll just concentrate on programming and gameplay, when I have that finished I'll create more art.

Thanks a lot Mr Wolf, that was extremely clear, I will apply what you said.

And about the graphics, they are just placeholders, for now I'll just concentrate on programming and gameplay, when I have that finished I'll create more art.

Ok, cool then

UPDATE!!!!

Here are the most important new changes:

-It saves the progress between rooms, including player equipment and changes in the room.

-You can increase your hearts by picking items.

-You can get different sets of equipment (in this version you can just change swords, but that can be expanded with ease now).

-You can enter doors and access different rooms, allowing gameplay like in Metroid where there are lots of rooms to explore.

-You can mount certain monsters. Possibly to go through dangerous terrain without being harmed.

Please try it and let me know if there are any problems, I'm experiencing some weird behaviour I did not notice in the older version, at times the game changes speed for a few milliseconds and I don't know what's causing it.

Also let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions and things you would like to see in this game. Thanks a lot.

Download: http://www.funeffect.com/prototypes/rpgPlataform2.zip

Instructions: Press X when you are on the door to enter. Press X on the chest to get swords.