Slayin2

Post #3: The Knight Returns

Slayin 2 promises a few returning characters as well as a few new ones.  The tried and true default character is the Knight.  He still can run through enemies but also has a few new tricks.  The main addition is that his shield is no longer just for decoration.  He is able to deflect most projectiles and even convert them to treasure if you time your button press the moment the shield is struck.

All characters now use a 2 button control scheme: Jump and Action.  Jumping is now possible with all characters but behaves a little different for some.  Action refers to special attacks the player can unleash when they have built up their Spark Bar enough.  Actions are more spectacular and release more treasure when they hit enemies.  They also do less damage, so the key to higher scores and more loot is to use Actions whenever possible to milk enemies for their riches.

Post #2: Dual planes

One big addition to Slayin 2 is the dual plane system. The game field is now divided into a foreground and background plane. The player can freely jump back and forth between them, either to dodge an enemy or to reach a closer enemy to continue their combo chain. Since the game resolution has doubled, background art can now be a lot more detailed. But the two planes need to be carefully considered when laying out the background art.

When working out a background, I start with a sketch.  Then I block it out in color to figure out the lighting and the basic color palette.  Finally, the details and adjustments are done.  The whole process takes about a week.

Here is the Dark Forest area sketch and final.

Post #1: New Beginnings

Time to stop putting this blogging thing off and get the word out about my newest game: Slayin 2 (the true sequel to Slayin and not to be confused with Slayin 2.0, which was just an update to Slayin). The hope here is to keep people informed about the progress of the game and the thoughts that go into it. As I get closer to a more polished build, I will upload content so everyone can see the direction the game is going in.

I can say for sure that I want each Slayin game to feel like it would have been released in progressively more modern eras of gaming. Where Slayin 1 might have been informed by the mid 80’s arcade era, Slayin 2 will be born of the early 90’s arcade era, when hardware improved but there was still a thriving 2D scene. I am also working on making the game fun for co-op play, although I haven’t determined what form that experience will take shape as. The primary focus is a single player adventure format, where you work your way across the game world and take on enemies unique to each area. There will be some rpg elements like upgrading weapons and abilities as well as persistent character growth.

There is still a lot to work out, so stay tuned for more info in the coming days.