PCEngineFans.com - The PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 Community Forum
Non-NEC Console Related Discussion => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: sunteam_paul on September 12, 2009, 07:34:09 PM
-
I've got a friend working on the code for a Space Harrier clone / homebrew sequel / whatever on the PC, and I'm not sure what direction to go with the visuals. The options I have come up with so far are:
1.Completely original enemies and objects.
2.A mix of Space Harrier enemies and objects from SH, SH2 and SH3D, touched up for the higher resolution.
3.Enemies and objects taken from a range of PC Engine games and touched up for higher resolution.
4.A specific theme (like Space Fantasy Zone), e.g. Space Harrier vs Forgotten Worlds.
What do you think is the most appealing? Or if you have any other ideas I'd be glad to hear them. I want to make the gameplay as faithful as possible to the original, given our limitations with perhaps a few little differences here and there.
-
Probably all original unless it is specifically going to be a Space Harrier game. If it tends to be a part of the franchise, bring back old enemies updated for the 00's with many brown and gray polygons. That's what gamers want. That's what they buy. They love brown and gray. Oh, and it needs to be a first person shooter. But it is OK if it has a checkerboard floor.
-
Probably all original unless it is specifically going to be a Space Harrier game. If it tends to be a part of the franchise, bring back old enemies updated for the 00's with many brown and gray polygons. That's what gamers want. That's what they buy. They love brown and gray. Oh, and it needs to be a first person shooter. But it is OK if it has a checkerboard floor.
Ugh, don't make me remember that...I never even played it but the screenshots alone made me feel sick.
To clarify, it will be totally freeware using 2D sprites and will have a checkerboard floor :dance:
-
I love SH as one of my top three games (loderunner, jumpman). I remember it from the arcades. I'd vote for item #1, as original as possible.
Charlie
-
Is it too late for it to be Bonk Harrier?
-
Is it too late for it to be Bonk Harrier?
I have considered it :)
-
Is it too late for it to be Bonk Harrier?
I have considered it :)
I wont lie, having those desert treese with the happy faces come flying at you would be hilarious.
-
That would be funny. Consider all options and do what "feels" right to you.
-
That would be funny. Consider all options and do what "feels" right to you.
Easier said than done :)
On one hand, creating new enemies would be exciting. But it's also the hardest way and will take longest to do - and stands the most chance of ending up looking a bit rubbish if I don't do a good job.
Taking sprites from PC Engine games is the easiest route, even if I touch them up for higher resolution. It also satisfies my desire to link it to the PC Engine. But it's a bit of a cop-out.
Something like Bonk/Zonk-themed could work, it's kind of a middle ground as designs are pre-existing but everything will probably need to be redrawn for the viewpoint. It could also lose the Space Harrier feel of 'fantasy land' being all cartoony, though it would be cool in a Space Fantasy Zone kind of way.
It's very hard to decide!
-
The PCE sprites are squished, if I recall. Much too skinny. Rip them from the arcade.
Make a China Warrior-themed Space Harrier!
-
The PCE sprites are squished, if I recall. Much too skinny. Rip them from the arcade.
When talking about taking PCE sprites, I meant from different PCE games. For example, this enemy is ripped from Gunhed:
(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2444/shgunhed.png)
The main sprite will be ripped and upgraded from the 32x and arcade versions (the 32x because the arcade actually randomly distorts the main sprite as you move around)
Make a China Warrior-themed Space Harrier!
Oddly enough, I already did this as a mock-up concept to see what it looked like.
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7393/shkungfu.png)
-
Instead of settling on a specific theme like Bonk Harrier, just make it "Space Harrier in PC Engine Land" or something. Have enemies from tons of different PCE games!
-
I'd love to see a mock-up of Bomberman lobbing bombs at the little popsicle head buggers.
Instead of settling on a specific theme like Bonk Harrier, just make it "Space Harrier in PC Engine Land" or something. Have enemies from tons of different PCE games!
A sort of "Space Parodier", eh. Sounds cool. 8)
-
Instead of settling on a specific theme like Bonk Harrier, just make it "Space Harrier in PC Engine Land" or something. Have enemies from tons of different PCE games!
Yes, that was my second suggestion in the OP and one I am leaning towards.
-
I'd love to see a mock-up of Bomberman lobbing bombs at the little popsicle head buggers.
Instead of settling on a specific theme like Bonk Harrier, just make it "Space Harrier in PC Engine Land" or something. Have enemies from tons of different PCE games!
A sort of "Space Parodier", eh. Sounds cool. 8)
Space Parrier?
Harrier Engine?
erm
-
Ha ha I like Harrier Engine. Or maybe HarrierGrafx-16.
-
Space Parrier?
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/63/spaceharrier.png)
-
That's actually pretty cool!
-
Make a China Warrior-themed Space Harrier!
Oddly enough, I already did this as a mock-up concept to see what it looked like.
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7393/shkungfu.png)
I friggin' love this! I want to see the bald dude (first boss in CW) spouting fire for Space Harrier in PCE Land.
Space Harrier in PCE Land is the way to go :)
Don't forget to pull stuff from the North American stuff (JJ & Jeff!), even though you love the PCE more :)
(http://archives.tg-16.com/image/thumb-button-nesjunior.gif)
You know... Ness Junior (JJ & Jeff) would be a wonderful sprite to use. Usually you only see his neck/head, but when you kill him, there's a cute little body that you get to see! God, if anybody deserves to be in this game, it's Ness Junior!
-
I've started to plough through a load of screenshots to try and pick out any potential graphics I could use. It's tricky to find things that are the correct angle and won't look completely out of place in a Space Harrier game (unfortunately, most Bonk graphics are a bit too cartoonish, but I could rework some).
Surprisingly Ai Cho Aniki has a lot of potential sprites, this guy in particular could make a great boss.
(http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7425/aichoaniki05.gif)
-
Yeah, with the little guys rotating around him.
-
(http://archives.tg-16.com/image/thumb-button-nesjunior.gif)
You know... Ness Junior (JJ & Jeff) would be a wonderful sprite to use. Usually you only see his neck/head, but when you kill him, there's a cute little body that you get to see! God, if anybody deserves to be in this game, it's Ness Junior!
I think the long necked, little body version could make a good substitute for a pillar...perhaps there could be a herd of them wandering across the screen :)
-
You know... Ness Junior (JJ & Jeff) would be a wonderful sprite to use. Usually you only see his neck/head, but when you kill him, there's a cute little body that you get to see! God, if anybody deserves to be in this game, it's Ness Junior!
Isn't the larger/long neck one just called 'Nes'? I don't remember there being two 's' in there. The joke being a 'dinosaur' named NES(s).
-
I'm having trouble finding any decent equivalents for pillars and towers in PCE games. If anyone comes across anything while playing I'd be glad to know.
-
RANDOM IDEAS:
[ul][li]It would be great to have a SUPERTINYBOSS-- the monkeypit monkeys from Legendary Axe, or something from Dungeon Explorer perhaps, (such as the green slime), or from Neutopia, (such as Seabloon, Anto, Ghostcloth) --that spouts the patented Space Harrier Dragon Flames.[/li][li]The streetlights from JJ & Jeff might work as columns, although they are really skinny.[/li][li]The missiles you dodge from Sidearms--they're too big to be columns, I suppose...[/li][li]Have the hanging snakes (stage 2) from Monster Lair be columns! It would be neat to be able to run underneath them, since they are hangining.[/li][li]Have the exploding fruit from Monster Lair, complete with the sound effects, in the game.[/li][li]The Red and Gold Gates from Samurai Ghost might work as "Mushrooms" or scrubrush groundcover.[/li][/ul]
I think the long necked, little body version could make a good substitute for a pillar...perhaps there could be a herd of them wandering across the screen :)
I TOTALLY AGREE! What a wonderful idea you have there :)
I suppose you don't like the idea I had about the bald boss from China Warrior spouting "bubble" fire... that's OK, I'll learn to live with my shattered dreams.
You know... Ness Junior (JJ & Jeff) would be a wonderful sprite to use. Usually you only see his neck/head, but when you kill him, there's a cute little body that you get to see! God, if anybody deserves to be in this game, it's Ness Junior!
Isn't the larger/long neck one just called 'Nes'? I don't remember there being two 's' in there. The joke being a 'dinosaur' named NES(s).
Probably, but I always pronounce "NES" as "enn eee esss", whereas I always loved the idea of Ness Junior heralding from Loch Ness.
For me, Loch Ness was so much more fun :)
For the record, though, I am too lazy to look at the manual, but it probably is "Nes"...
-
Any game with monkeys is an automatic 10/10.
-
Some great ideas esteban! I can't remember the ones in Side Arms but I've looked at the missiles from Gate of Thunder and they are fairly good for pillars. The hanging snakes are a great idea though.
I'm not sure about the bald boss thing because the angle is all wrong with him facing sideways...maybe there could be some way to make it work, perhaps having one either side of a boss like the dogs you get at Wi Wi Jumbo.
Current progress is: the floor is moving forwards (hoorah) and the horizon up/down is almost done, with a few tweaks needed. The floor won't be going left or right though, that's a sacrifice we had to make. Once things are a bit more solid I'll upload a video of it in action.
Oh yes, I must have monkeys somewhere.
-
I'm not sure about the bald boss thing because the angle is all wrong with him facing sideways...maybe there could be some way to make it work, perhaps having one either side of a boss like the dogs you get at Wi Wi Jumbo.
If anyone can make it work, you can :).
The boss can rise up from behind the horizon, peek out, spit some bubble fire, then ducks back down. Next, he appears at the side of the screen (far left), peeks out, spits some fire, ducks back.
Or... Have a two-headed dragon with the two bald bosses (original + color-swapped) as heads. The heads flip direction when they cross the y-axis at the center of the screen. Or maybe it would be better with two different bosses heads.
Well, maybe it won't work.
Current progress is: the floor is moving forwards (hoorah) and the horizon up/down is almost done, with a few tweaks needed. The floor won't be going left or right though, that's a sacrifice we had to make. Once things are a bit more solid I'll upload a video of it in action.
Oh yes, I must have monkeys somewhere.
Splendid.
Awesome.
Fantastique!
Carry on, carry on.