Thoughts on... AUTO-SCROLLERS

As long as the section is short if the scroll speed is slow, if the way the autoscroll moves changes directions, and if there is adequate checkpointing before and after those sections regardless of scrolling speed and section length, and if the level is designed to keep you on your toes, those would be the good ones.

It is easy to mess up and make the level a chore to play, thats why I hardly use autoscrollers period in my levels.

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Modern Redrawn Mario Bros. 1.5 (last update - February 14, 2023, some new bonus frames, tons of minor touchups to various poses)

On Pixel Art Requests: Depends on what it is and if I have the time for it. If its complex and I don't have the time, don't expect me to accept it.

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[19:43] <StrikeForcer> I also want to say that "because everything on the internet is definitely true!" is a derailment tactic that serves as a shorthand change for "I dont accept the facts"

[19:44] <StrikeForcer> When the information posted clearly is fact-based.

The most important point is to give the player enough action (can be a occasionally bit pointless such as interesting ways to collect coins) as it is very easy to end up with a boring level. Naturally, autoscrollers should be short as well, (using SMW as an example, full autoscroller levels in SMW last for 14 screens while non-autoscrollers are generally 18 screens and the smasher rooms are 3 to 5 five screens long). Furthermore, you can spice them up with gimmicks such as Money for Life and Air Meter where the player is running out of time during the autoscroller and has to take some risks to not die. When done well (such as in Cold Cash Crisis last 24hoSMW, IMO one of the best levels in that contest), that level will be an extremely well made autoscroller level.

I used them a lot for my first hack, even making for half of the rooms. Some of the sprites of the hack were actually designed to work with autoscroll in mind (and I think the autoscroll integrated pretty well in the hack).

Some tips:

-It's a lot easier to use the medium autoscroll in comparison with the others, as it provided a nice rhythm for the player, or at least that's what I found out.

-Using autoscroll makes it easier to "sync" some sprites so that some setups are consistent even if the sprites are not in the same X position. Make sure you take advantage of that.

-As MFG has said, make sure you always provide action to the player. There's nothing more boring that just standing still waiting for the screen to scroll.

I disagree with the fact that there should be a checkpoint after and before the section. It depends on the length and of the hack (although I always add a checkpoint in every section).

I agree with what's been said. I think they're difficult to do well, and most of the time I'd prefer them not to be auto-scrolling, but they can be all right. The most important thing is getting the pacing right so that the player is going around the same speed as the screen rather than having to wait around or rush a lot. Taking the opportunity to use enemies that can normally simply be rushed past is a good idea. It can also be used to force an unconventional path through a level that goes in multiple directions, such as in Butter Bridge 1 or 6-5 in Yoshi's Island. (Though I think the latter is also a good example of how not to do an autoscroller, mainly due to the length and that section right at the end where it's extremely easy to miss red coins and have to start the entire level over.)

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I'm working on a hack! Check it out here. Progress: 64/95 levels.

Autoscrollers are kind of like water levels for me, they can be done well but you need to make sure the player has enough going on that they don't stand in place for too long, or else the level will become rather boring for me. I'd say they're probably even harder to make fun than a water level, but that's just based off of my experience, it may be different for everyone.

I do think that if you're making an autoscroller, I'd prefer it to be not very long, as dying may cause a lot of tedious repetition as you can't really speed through a level when the camera is moving automatically.

I personally don't like them, but it depends on how fast the autoscroller is, if it's slow, you might as well use fast forward, or just don't use an autoscroller at all. If it's fast, one could consider it a bit kaizo-y, or just very hard with powerups being hard to get.

A solution for autoscrollers I've thought of is only the left part of the screen moves to the right (with a ! to let them know), and Mario can walk forward without having to wait.

I would prefer neither to speak nor to use them, they make you suffer in all possible ways in all imaginable factors...

Except in airship levels, there I do love them with my soul

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Practicing level design... with the keyboard malfunctioning

As long as they're followed up by a checkpoint or finish line, I'm ok with them.