I spent a while writing this thread; then lost all my progress writing it so this might be concise. I have been working on my main hack or almost 5 years now, so I decided to cram some of my strongest attributes into a much smaller hack to showcase my abilities. This isn't quite a demonstration hack, but kind of an episodic hack. Part of the Mini Hack series. I want to give levels that are both enjoyable & challenging, creative graphics & art, surprises & new ideas. I'm planning on doing about 6 or 7 levels in this hack, or I might continue. I wouldn't call this a "Kaizo" hack as such, but I would call it "difficult". Aimed at experienced gamers; which we're full of anyway. I also have a facebook page to update all my hacking activity. My page "likes" the SMWC page (whether or not it's official; I don't know). Anyway, here's some shots: - Not too many right this second. Level 1-1 Train Level 1 Videos: {v0.05} Conal's Mini Hack - Level 1 (Finished, I think) - Outdated. {v0.04} Conal's Mini Hack - Level 1 is very nearly finished... - Outdated. #025 to #025 ??? - Outdated. {v0.03} Conal's Mini Hack - Working on first level + more graphics & mixing. - Outdated. {v0.02} Conal's Mini Hack - Extra graphics inserted - Semi-outdated. {v0.01} Conal's Mini Hack 1 - Outdated. Levels: LevelxSub-level(.s) - exit(.s) 1x25 - 25 - Cave Level **Name Undecided** 2x26 - 26 - Dangerous Water **Name Undecided** 3x27 - 27 - Robot Base 4x28.29.2A.2B.2C - 28 - Diverse Fortress 5x2D.2E.2F.30.31.32.33 - 2D.2E - **Name Secret** 6 - Yellow Switch Palace Rooms: RoomxFrom(.and) - exit(.s) 25x1 - 1 - Cave Level (Deeper) - Picture. Video 1, Video 2 26x2 - n/a - Dangerous Water (SMB1) 27x3 - 3 - Robot Base (Underground) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28x4 - 29 - Diverse Fortress (**Secret graphics**) 29x28 - 2A - Diverse Fortress (**Secret graphics**, Grey Palette) 2Ax29 - 2B - Diverse Fortress (**Secret graphics**) 2Bx2A - 2C - Diverse Fortress (**Secret graphics** Castle) 2Cx2B - n/a - Diverse Fortress (Boss) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2Dx5 - 5 - **Name Secret** (Underground) 2Ex5 - 2F - **Name Secret** (Floor 2) 2Fx2E - 30 - **Name Secret** (Floor 3, Outside) - BG PALETTE NEEDS MANUALLY EDITTING 30x2F - 31 - **Name Secret** (Floor 4, Elevator) - Manually edit Palette 0, then change BG MAP16 palette accordingly 31x30 - 32 - **Name Secret** (Floor 5) 32x31 - 33 - **Name Secret** (Floor 6) 33x32 - 34 - **Name Secret** (Floor 7) Use ExGFXC6 as SP4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34x33 - n/a - **Name Secret** (Boss) ExGFX: ~ My custom or rips are highlighted in green. "----" means that I haven't inserted it yet. ExGFX80 Steel FG3 ExGFX81 Steel BG1 ExGFX82 Steel FG1 ExGFX83 Steel FG2 ExGFX84 SP2 ExGFX85 Steel SP2 ExGFX86 SP3 ExGFX87 Steel/Marble Zone SP4 ExGFX88 ----- ExGFX89 Nano SP3 ExGFX8A Nano SP4 ExGFX8B Marble Zone BG1 ----- ExGFX8C Marble Zone FG1 ----- ExGFX8D Marble Zone FG2 ----- ExGFX8E Marble Zone FG3 ----- ExGFX8F Marble Zone SP1 ----- ExGFX90 Marble Zone SP2 ----- ExGFX91 Marble Zone SP3 ----- ExGFX92 Marble Zone SP4 ExGFX93 SMB1 FG1 ExGFX94 SMB1 FG3 ExGFX95 SMB1 SP1 ExGFX96 SMB1 SP2 ExGFX97 SMB1 SP3 ExGFX98 SMB1 SP4 ExGFX99 SMB1AS FG1 ExGFX9A SMB1AS FG2 ExGFX9B SMB1AS FG3 ExGFX9C SMB1AS BG1 ExGFX9D SMB1AS BG2 ExGFX9E SMB1AS SP1 ExGFX9F SMB1AS SP2 ExGFXA0 SMB1AS SP3 ExGFXA1 SMB1AS SP4 ExGFXA2 Labyrinth Zone (Lite) FG3 ExGFXA3 Labyrinth Zone (Lite) BG1 ExGFXA4 Labyrinth Zone (Lite) SP4 ExGFXA5 Visconti's Castle FG2 ExGFXA6 Visconti's Castle FG3 ExGFXA7 Visconti's Castle BG1 ExGFXA8 Visconti's Castle BG2 ExGFXA9 Visconti's Castle BG3 ExGFXAA Visconti's Castle AN2 ExGFXAB Chapel FG3 ExGFXAC Chapel BG1 ExGFXAD Chapel BG2 ExGFXAE Chapel BG3 ExGFXAF Castlevania Cave FG3 ExGFXB0 Castlevania Cave BG2 ExGFXB1 (Forest) Cave BG1 ExGFXB2 Metroid Fusion BG1 ExGFXB3 Metroid Fusion FG1 ExGFXB4 Metroid Fusion FG2 ExGFXB5 Metroid Fusion FG3 ExGFXB6 Metroid Fusion SP4 ExGFXB7 Megaman Bomb FG3 ExGFXB8 Starry Night BG1 ExGFXB9 Metroid F Space FG2 ExGFXBA Metroid F Space FG3 ExGFXBB Sonic Blast Lab BG1 ExGFXBC Sonic Adv Final BG1 ExGFXBD Sonic Adv Final FG1 ExGFXBE Sonic Adv Final FG2 ExGFXBF Sonic Adv Final FG3 ExGFXC0 TMNT Lab FG3 ExGFXC1 TMNT Lab AN2 ExGFXC2 TMNT Lab SP1 ExGFXC3 TMNT Lab SP2 ExGFXC4 TMNT Lab SP3 ExGFXC5 TMNT Lab SP4 ExGFXC6 TMNT Lab SP4b ExGFXC7 Labyrinth Zone BG1 ExGFXC8 Labyrinth Zone FG2 ExGFXC9 Labyrinth Zone FG3 ExGFXCA Labyrinth Zone AN2 ExGFXCB Labyrinth Zone SP3 ExGFXCC (Unfinished) ExGFXCD (Unfinished) ExGFXCE YI Lava Cave BG1 ExGFXCF YI Lava Cave FG3 ASM: **Super secret.** Support bar: |
@Nobody in special: Nobody commented on here. Because what? Just because the work here is not really good? Come on - feedback/criticism is what helps people to improve.
@Conal: I know this will sound harsh, but this doesn't look like a 5-year work hack. I don't really have time to watch your videos due to, yes, my job, but by the pics provided I don't really see anything but a messed level design.
In the first screenie, things are very weird. It's possible for me to see that Layer 2 objects are scrolling differently from Layer 1. The translucent effect is very random, and the lava has bad palettes.
On the second screenie, the level starts in a totally flat pattern with no enemies. Then the level progresses through a Creating/Eating Block path which don't really look interesting. Starts in a kinda empty section, then progresses to where a bullet machine is located. The shooter doesn't seem to be a major threat here (correct me if I'm wrong), not to mention that the machine cutoffs with the ground and the shooter sprite is placed one tile above the machine thing. The 1up appears to be floating in there, so it's impossible to get it, as it'll fall into the pit once you reach the screen where it's placed. Then you enter into a castle thing where no enemies are found in the initial sections. From there on, design seems random, with random elements (the weird colored vine plants randomly scattered through the ground), gaps-enemies-gaps-enemies in a not very interesting pattern... and jumping straightforward to the last level screens, the Crystal Cave ground and the pipes have extremely awful colors, and there's also a floating Ball'n'Chain which don't really look good without a center block where the chainlink is connected by default.
Wish I could be more specific and could make better explanations on my points of view, but again, I'm at work and I just don't have the time to do such reviews.
Just summing all up, I need to say that you need to read tutorials, play other hacks and especially pay attention to all details they have. You could also visit the Hack Removal Log to check what you must avoid doing in order to have a good overall quality hack.
Don't feel bad for your work. Take this as a step forward to improve. Do something new from scratch, keep showing your works off so we can lend you a hand on what you can do better.
Cheers up!