Name: | Darkstar |
Author: | MDBattleFrog |
Added: | |
Version History: | View |
Demo: | No |
Hall of Fame: | No |
Length: | 18 exit(s) |
Type: | Kaizo: Expert |
Description: | DISCLAIMER: A boss does not work with the bsnes core on retroarch, so use a different core or don't play 100%. After a year of off and on work, I'm happy to present you with my first hack, Darkstar! This platforming challenge of 18+2 exits will test the mettle of beginners and seasoned kaizoholics alike. Don't expect any altered physics here- while many custom sprites were used, I prefer to keep the core mechanics of SMW in place, and even the custom sprites are just modified versions of their vanilla counterparts. The only exception are the bosses...no Wendy here. The focus here is on platforming and atmosphere, but you can also expect: -Better Platforms- sprites will interact with platforms and springs -4 bosses and a 5th for the bold -A cape level -A water level -Custom music -Custom palettes -Minimal trolls -A whole lot of dead Marios VERSION 1.1 CHANGELOG -Overall moderate to severe nerf (depending on level) through spike, muncher, and sprite placement...it is still very hard. -Several musical tracks have been changed by request -All kaizo blocks (aside from a select few meant for decheese) have been removed from the hack -Sections in Prickerbush and Sawtree no longer have movement based lag spikes -Ending of Dino Crisis rebuilt, it is no longer free -Flipper's Flight secret exit loosened up to mitigate bad hitbox deaths -Switch Boss can no longer be cheesed by spawning 3 keys off the left wall -At request, Ourang Medan has been nuked from orbit, including the complete removal of the second room. -Fixed spawns in Sweet's Switcharoo as well as empty message box -Items thrown upwards while spin jumping now release from the center of Mario, this is only really relevant for one trick in Sawtree -Added a Midway Save block in the Darkstar portrait room, 100% attempts now no longer require playing the level again -Decheesed 100% real final level -Credits typo -Overall graphical cleanup, including some cutoff, color and portrait art V1.11 CHANGES -Added death blocks in cape, can no longer get above the level -Saw despawn in Sawtree should be fixed, as it is now the original setup brick for brick -Added a wall of on/off blocks in the last room of The Fifth Room This will be the final version. -MDBattleFrog |
Tags: | asm bosses music |
Comments: | 40 (jump to comments) |
Rating: |
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1.48 MiB | 2,699 downloads
Comments (40)
There is a big difficulty spike in the second section of the 15th exit, and then another difficulty spike in the Sawtree level that follows it (from there, the difficulty remains roughly consistent). Sawtree was very cool; a bit too long in the first section and a bit too tight in some parts, but on the whole a fun challenge and a nice innovation on a classic trope. The two levels after that, Skyblazer and Domain, I did not care for. These felt overly precise in a frustrating way, with some parts so finicky I didn't understand how to make them consistent (the cape-dive shell bump in the last section of Skyblazer comes to mind as an example). Overall, these endgame levels leaned a little hard on tightness for the sake of tightness.
Back to positive, the boss of Domain was really cool and thoughtfully designed. I love the way it's set up to allow checkpoint play for practice, but to truly proceed forward, you have to win without the checkpoints. It's a clever choice that makes the fight a fair challenge rather than a soul-crushing grind.
On the whole, I would recommend Darkstar to expert players. It holds up well for a 2019 hack, with creative, mostly fun levels and a high degree of polish.
Without a doubt a proper Expert hack. The setups were so good and just plain fun to play. The levels were not only beautifully designed but also aesthetically pleasing. Everything flowed supremely well and playing the game felt very natural despite the difficulty, which I would place above GPWII. This to me is the ultimate game for SMW enthusiasts.
Chlorophyll was a standout fun level, as was Colina de Fuego. Colina was the start of the big difficulty spike of the final world, and included
Sawtree took me hours upon hours, and beating it was exhilarating.
Just when I thought the most difficult
Domain was absolutely perfect, the absolute pinnacle of this game. I went for the
MDBattleFrog, all I can say is wow. You've created a precision hack that still felt natural and fun to play, was extremely creative, beautiful to look at, and capped it off with fun insane and immensely satisfying boss fights. What an unbelievable game, 5/5 and then some, well done.
great job MDBattleFrog, you knocked it out of the park for your first hack. Looking forward to playing Ultraviolet now!
Aestetics, musical choices, graphics, all are 10/10. Level design is extremely creative and I really love the tightness of the setups. Makes for a hard challenge that's really rewarding. There is so much creativity packed into these levels, it's mind-blowing. Everything flows so well and is so freakin fun to execute. Makes me feel like a god at smw playing and completing these levels. There isn't a better feeling.
Midway through the hack, I was already replaying multiple times the levels I had already beaten because they were so fun.
After 100%ing the hack, there honestly isn't one exit I didn't fully enjoy. I'm not lying when I say Darkstar is perfect to my eyes. Every level's design is just perfect to me.
You get nothing but praises from me, MD. You're a genius creator in my book.
The original version you downloaded had Mario starting in the final world. The version up now has that fixed, the bridge is triggered by beating one of the two switch palaces.
FUCK sorry lol Reuploading the patch with the correct starting level on the OW
Am I supposed to escape that previous area where the blue koopa kicks the shell and prevent the kicked shell from toggling the switch?
Have you ever wondered what a terrible level looks like? Have you ever thought about it?
So do yourself a favor and play this hack until you reach a level called 'Ourang Medan'..
Just a small checklist:
Long level: CHECK
Janky custom sprites: CHECK
Terrible hitboxes: CHECK
Precision item swimming: CHECK
Boo rings: CHECK
Fishing Boo: CHECK
Autoscroller: CHECK
Custom death blocks that doesnt check for x speed (vurgarly know as 1 pixel bigger): CHECK
Sprites spitting fire at players direction: CHECK
Stupid tight janky hitbox trick at the very end of the autoscroller so if you miss you have to play the section all over again: CHECK
Whatever other stupid stuff you can think of: CHECK
That, my dudes, is a true ragequit masterpiece.
This might be my favorite Kaizo hack of all time. [2]
Waiting for the 1.1 update.
Funny reply: I.HATE.KAIZO.BLOCKS
This might be my favorite Kaizo hack of all time. I've asked a few streamers if they'd be playing it, but unfortunately most of them have a sour taste by the question, because they think it will be frustratingly hard. Let me say this, yes, this is a very hard kaizo hack. But so is Grand Poo World 2, and I've mostly only asked people who are playing Grand Poo World 2 if they'd be willing to play this as well. Let me say that at this point, I've completed exactly 14 exits in Grand Poo World 2 and in Darkstar. Darkstar levels are only taking me slightly longer than Grand Poo World 2 levels did. If you can do GPW2, this is only a slight step up.
Enough about difficulty though, onto another big reason you should play this if you're a good kaizo player that's been around awhile and has enough skill to take on non-beginner like Kaizos. This game is BEAUTIFUL, and the soundtrack fits each level amazingly. This game has a large overworld, and three smaller worlds. They look amazing. World 2 is easily my most favorite overworld that I have ever seen. It's so fantasy like and just a dream to see how artful SMW hacks are becoming. The levels are all also beautiful. Palettes and custom graphics are implemented with a lot of thought and care. The two bosses I have beat so far, humorous, creative, and custom. One of them reminded me a lot of the Chuck boss in GPW2, but in a different way. This is a beautiful masterpiece. Just as GPW2 was.
Overall, I feel this is a slight step up in difficulty from GPW2, but the beauty of it, is about as comparable. Why not enter this fantasy Kaizo and try it out? That way I won't be the ONLY person speedrunning it. I want someone to compete with me in this beautiful hack.
This Hack is super hard but super cool at the same time. You almost have no time to think in any situation but everything lines up pretty well.
Every Level is super creative and has its own unique gimmick.
Besides from some graphic mistakes, I sometimes wished that there are more hints, what to do in some situations.
Besides that, you did a great job. I can see that you spent dozens of hours in playtesting and I can say it was worth it!
5 Stars from me.
Edit:
I did a little TAW which can be enjoyed here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_v0ZZF2m13ipgi5zPWiTTxdP0vzmlTz6
Thanks, somekaizoguy.
Serious reply: As someone who watched a top SMW player test this on twitch for hours upon hours, it looks to be quite above my skill set, but also like an incredibly fun and well-made hack. Looking forward to playing this after I've gotten a few more hacks under my belt.
"Asshole is you!"
I'm dead.