Ok so I have had a kind of, “whenever it gets done” fun project I’ve been messing with for about... 2 months now? It is a game that takes it’s influences from earthbound, pokemon, Pacific Rim, Toho era Godzilla flicks, and even some of the old final fantasy games.
Game Synopsis
You play as a student who has failed to pass the militia entrance exam in a town that is being ravaged by Godzilla style kaiju. After befriending one of them (I mean who tries that “compassion” thing, right?) you are rushed off on an ill-conceived journey to serve as humanity’s ambassador to the kaiju... of course leaving a trail of dead kaiju a mile long in your wake.
Vision
My dream for this game is to have a bunch of giant retro Toho-style monsters stomping around against vintage style, b-stage, mecha with laser gun noises “pew-pewing” around the screen. I want the player to step back after defeating a boss, wipe the sweat from their brow, and say “Seriously? I’m THAT into a game like this?”. Very surreal.
Mechanics
Spoiler
There are two types of characters. The first are humans (like you) who can be directly controlled. The second are the kaiju. They auto-battle but have better stats than humans. You can defeat kaiju and there is a chance their remains will be viable to be resuscitated. If you do so, they will join you. You can only have one of each kind (additional remains can be sold to the lab as your main source of income). Human soldiers can be conscripted by purchasing the individual soldier’s contract from the local Commandant. Contracts are pricy but every soldier is different.
You start out in a hub city and have to work your way outward. As you get farther from the central city, you get harder kaiju to fight. You can always auto-return to the lab (to heal, sell, etc) with the “W” command. This makes it almost a game of attrition where your goal is to hit settlements that you can warp back to after healing up again (otherwise you need to re-battle your way though some of the dungeons).
Critiques
Totally welcome and encouraged. Rip it apart. (Not spelling however, I just had my editor buddy go over it with me and I am still updating a lot of stuff).
Game Genre: RPG
When it is done, it’s going to be a surreal, earthbound-esque, romp though retro-style RPGs. I want it to be punishing (right now the stats are set to be balanced in the players favor).
Game Flavours: Comedy, Dungeon Crawler
The game has some dark moments and some comedy notes. At time it’s almost a light hearted “poke” at a lot of the genre norms while other times it’s sheer old school goodness.
Scripts
At the moment the core system is in place. I played a LOT with the scripts I was using this game. I started off with some custom stuff before moving to:
Hime’s Custom Database, Shop Manager, and Sell-Only Shop Scripts
Yanfly’s: Core Engine, Party System, Battle Engine (+Enemy HP Bar Add-on), Equip Engine, Victory Aftermath script, and Visual Battlers.
Status
Development: About 40%
Playtime: 45 min (Dev. Speedrun)
Notes:
- (Note: All times are like “developer speed run” times)
- So I have the initial intro segment done (about 15 min) which covers you up until the game hits the open world point.
- Branch 1 (forest) is mostly done, but I have a feeling that I’ll be expanding it. This provides about 15 min of gameplay and grants you the party member “Tito” at the end.
- Branch 2 (beach) is about 20% done. It ends up branching out into 10 dungeons/mazes that are still being populated (though all the scripts work and they are laid out). This is about... I don’t know, probably 30 min of playable gameplay?
- I want to add a 3rd and maybe a 4th branch?
- The skill system is done for the “soldier” and “tamer” player class but the scientist option is still being work out. The stat system works on it’s own unique progression formula (very low numbers). Gear is mostly done, though I’ll have to have some new items. The custom damage types, terms, weapon types, skill type, etc are also all done (graphics could use an update).
- The purchasable soldier contracts only have a test version in place.
- There are about a dozen kaiju. They are totally, 100%, blatantly ripped from the talented ZappaZee's deviantart page as placeholders. Their names are from the Godzilla franchise. They are not going to end up like this. They are just placeholders for now.
- The kaiju recruitment system works and I’m happy with it (pain to figure out though- lots of common events).
- I want to add a feature that allows you to weaponize certain kaiju if you are soldier, mutate others if you are a scientists, and ... something if you are a tamer (Breed? Make them into magical girls? Not sure yet).
How Can You Help?
Well, I need some sprites if anyone wants to whip some up. Better yet, play the demo and let me know what you think.
Controls
So, other than normal controls. All commands given on the keyboard’s default settings.
Q: Brings up the field guide (only available after the Lab scene).
W: Returns you to the lab (only available after the Lab scene).
Characters
Spoiler
"Alf" (Renameable): The protagonist. A kid who wanted to join the Goldcoast militia since he was a young lad. He's failed 4 times thus far.
Yon: A dragon like kaiju who "Alf" befriends. Repeats "Yon", thus the name.
Doc: A local kaiju researcher and member of the Goldcost militia. He worked with "Alf's" father before his demise.
Grandma & Grandpa: "Alf's" parents. HIs Grandma is a kind and loving woman while his Grandpa (while loving too) is a bit senile.
Master Tito: A heavy set martial arts master who developed his techniques from watching Shonen anime. He now has a number of students and considered himself something of a sex symbol. His powers were greatly boosted by meditating near a nexus to "Otherworld".
The Commandant: The groovy head of the local military forces (the Goldcost militia). This cat's got a lot of class and doesn't like people to harsh his flow.
Yon: A dragon like kaiju who "Alf" befriends. Repeats "Yon", thus the name.
Doc: A local kaiju researcher and member of the Goldcost militia. He worked with "Alf's" father before his demise.
Grandma & Grandpa: "Alf's" parents. HIs Grandma is a kind and loving woman while his Grandpa (while loving too) is a bit senile.
Master Tito: A heavy set martial arts master who developed his techniques from watching Shonen anime. He now has a number of students and considered himself something of a sex symbol. His powers were greatly boosted by meditating near a nexus to "Otherworld".
The Commandant: The groovy head of the local military forces (the Goldcost militia). This cat's got a lot of class and doesn't like people to harsh his flow.
Demo- Link
Spoiler
When they ask you to select your class, please select the first option (soldier). The other classes are not in there.Talking to the guy who gives you the boat currently gives you enough money to buy it. Please don't exploit this.
If, when you enter a map, the game asks "Yes/No"- please reply no. These are my playtest events that let me drop into an area as if I was leveled/equipped for it. I think I removed them all but... yeah. I don't know if I got ALL of them.
Yeah... I know the emotes are in color still. So are a few faces and the animations. I am aware. I will eventually fix this.
Yes, I know the 2nd teleport pod shows it is active even when it's not.
If, when you enter a map, the game asks "Yes/No"- please reply no. These are my playtest events that let me drop into an area as if I was leveled/equipped for it. I think I removed them all but... yeah. I don't know if I got ALL of them.
Yeah... I know the emotes are in color still. So are a few faces and the animations. I am aware. I will eventually fix this.
Yes, I know the 2nd teleport pod shows it is active even when it's not.
Video
Edit: Sorry the video isn't smooth (it runs fine)
Edit #2: Uploaded a demo.
