Superstar Hero - a Ys-like JRPG set in the Quebec future of 9108

u/p2 March 05, 2017, 07:48:58 PM

I really wonder how you manage to draw such crappy//old graphics...
not that it looks, terrible, it fits perfectl in the game, but for nower standards it is a bit unusual xD
really nice work tho, I like it how u use that script to use larger enemies

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 05, 2017, 09:09:12 PM

It takes a lot of practice and inspiration. This boss was ripped from two chunks of the Angel in the Stars album cover

And yeah I wanted a graphical style from 1990-92

u/p2 March 05, 2017, 09:13:24 PM

yeah it looks really super hard to get graphics done looking like that

awesome job in doing it!

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 05, 2017, 09:32:23 PM

Thanks. To be honest it's easier than HD graphics but it depends of your art style.

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 06, 2017, 07:21:09 AM

An update (not much on the story progress but rather on implementing new enemies and maps):

I made one of the map for the final dungeon with four special enemies ran via a script. Basically, once all four enemies are killed, they respawn from four doors. I'll probably re-use this idea earlier in the game with much easier (and fewer enemies), like in Metroid.

Eventually I'll also try to add enemies that shoot projectiles but the projectiles will probably despawn after traveling about 10 squares away, otherwise they'll just loop forever across the maps.

Oh and since your main character is an enemy robot whose firmware got corrupted (resulting into him becoming friendly), you will actually have to fight similar robots later in the game (probably much harder). I should also add tiles that can cause damage, such as spikes, and switches that can turn them or other things off.

u/Ranman March 06, 2017, 07:25:50 AM

This project is AMAZING.

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 06, 2017, 07:31:31 AM

Lol thanks. Note, however, that this uses RPG Maker 2003, so credits for the engine goes to Enterbrain and ASCII, as well as whoever officially released it outside Japan via Steam recently. But I'm kinda happy about the game because RM2k3 was not designed for action/real-time RPG combat, yet I somehow managed to have some particularly fast-paced battles/gameplay (it starts slower, though, since you need to buy speed upgrades for your attack).

Also the funny thing with this project is that many of its bugs ended up becoming features, such as the double/triple hit bug when you attack an enemy trapped in a dead-end or sometimes when running straight towards him while attacking.

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 08, 2017, 02:47:07 AM

u/p2 March 08, 2017, 09:09:36 AM

I love it how completely random those graphics/artworks look

Also really nice job on those traps xD

u/Yuki March 08, 2017, 09:20:17 AM

Yeah, that's a pretty interesting mechanic.

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 08, 2017, 08:51:30 PM

Thanks. And yeah I tried to picture how the year 9108 AD might look like assuming an human population exists or has recovered by then

Also, while this is the final area of Quebec City, some of the obstacle puzzles in there will also appear earlier in the game, particularly in the Forgotten Ruins.

I also would like block pushing puzzles, but I'm unsure how to do it properly in RPG Maker (for some reasons, if I look at the block then move in parallel, the block moves in the opposite direction even though it should stand still). I need to check in which direction the character is facing, I guess

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 11, 2017, 08:39:31 AM

By the way, the test boss was made much harder after I implemented those electric obstacles. I had forgotten how in 2008 I setup enemy attack speed and now remembered there were two parameters to prevent you from taking 100 hits at once or something. The Tibestian robot clones similar to your character also attacks much faster than most other regular enemies in the game. A mini-boss was also added, which often moves in circle and is protected by two electric things on each side. He is invincible while they appear and he causes a lot of damage (although he doesn't take too long to defeat).

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 13, 2017, 10:56:05 PM

Good news: You can now play the current version of Superstar Hero in your browser at https://codewalr.us/index.php?topic=1901.0

(there is lag and there are glitches with some cliff corners at the beginning and with flashing effects, though, due to EasyRPG not being complete). Ignore the orb in the Montcalm Tower, because it leads to a normally unreachable part of the game with super hard enemies. That's unless you have the patience to max out your stats in the current build, though (max attack level is 10, same for defense. Speed can only be increased to 5, though)

EDIT: There might be issues with saved games. If you save your game in Montcalm Tower then reload, then it might crash.

Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 11:17:22 PM by DJ Omnimaga

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 14, 2017, 03:43:44 AM

Major update, I would say: Bosses and mini-bosses now have energy bars!

Basically, when a boss fight starts, HP divider and multiplier stats are applied to a second HP variable that cannot be higher than a certain amount, just so that the HP bar remains the same size regardless of the boss HP.

u/Dream of Omnimaga March 15, 2017, 12:23:50 AM

I think the North Side and West Side of Quebec City are pretty much complete, at this point. East Side saw some progress but is not fully complete yet. I also added a new boss. Also, like in Star Ocean 5, there's a shop in the final dungeon. Otherwise, it was just next to impossible to backtrack all the way back to the West Side shop in order to buy new potions and upgrades.

Last Edit: March 15, 2017, 01:29:08 AM by DJ Omnimaga