Give my new album a look! You can find it in a separate spoiler below, labeled "Gifts!"
Hey all!
We're getting closer and closer!
All that is left is:
- Dracula and the Curse of Man
- Level decorating
- Ending with castle crumbling
- Expert mode
- Whatever else I feel like adding if there's room...
As always...
Pardon our dust...
Controls:
Press ⬅️ and ➡️ to move left and
right
Press ⬇️ to duck
Press ⬆️ or ⬇️ in front of a stair
railing to ascend or descend stairs
as appropriate
Press ❎ to jump
Press 🅾️ to use your whip
Hold ⬆️ and press 🅾️ to throw a
sub weapon
Instructions:
-
Whip candles to collect sub weapons,
hearts and money bags -
Hearts supply you with ammo for your
sub weapon -
Money bags award points
- Collect a porkchop to gain 6 health, up to a maximum of 16
- Collect the Multi stone for Multi Shot, which allows you to have more sub weapons on-screen
at once!- Multi Shot can be upgraded twice, but if you collect a different sub weapon or die you will lose it
I will update this post to keep everyone up to speed when I upload a new cart. Check out the spoiler
below if you're interested!
Change Log:
Gifts!
I've shifted my focus a bit to mitigate burnout, and been working on this for awhile.
I hope you like it! I've also included a bonus!
Happy whipping, Hunters!
Happy to do more sprites now that the sprite cap is lifted! We could make it really gorgeous!
(Huge, over dramatic gasp)
@HeyNetters?! Oh my gosh! I was actually thinking of your work when I picked this project back up, musing about how cool it would be to collaborate. I would be honored to have you!
I'd like to stick with the 8x8 aesthetic for now, as well as pico 8's palette. If you have discord, or some other preferred method of communication, please let me know.
Top billing, man. That is what you'll get. On the title screen, front and center! Your work deserves no less.
@Turbochop,
Hmm, I haven't thought of that. I'm sure a version of it could, but I don't know how much work would be involved in adapting it. Also, because the cartridges can store 8x as much, and some map compression seems to be baked in, I don't know if it would be necessary for a lot of projects. I think the world map for Castlevania could actually fit fine in one Pico-8 cart using PX9 instead of PicoMap, as it's only about 100 screens.
The trickier thing is the token limit. I have a basically complete version of Super Mario Bros. for Pico-8, and I figured out some good token-saving strategies, but it's right at the token limit, and I'll need to optimize things some more for any big future Pico projects. A lot is possible with Pico-8, but stretching its limits can be tough, Picotron does seem more friendly for bigger projects.
@JadeLombax I understand. I'm sniffing around for a nice map chunk loading solution before I break down and write my own. Thanks for replying!
Hey, @maleficmax, I'm glad you like it! Stay tuned, as I'm really moving along. This will be a full game if it kills me. Speaking of... There's a gift up there for you!
Cool port. A few things:
-
Make it easier to get the shot multipliers from destroying enemies and candles.
(In the original game, the required number of objects destroyed was 10.) - Please nerf this darn bat. Dracula would be proud of him!
I tried to stun him with holy water for SO long and couldn't do it. This bat is super tough!
It's also not fair that I take 4 damage so early. (In the original game, Simon starts taking 4 damage at Stage 12--he takes 2 damage in stages 1 to 6.)
(Simon staring in confusion at the castle construction during the opening was a nice touch.)
All in all, awesome port. As a Castlevania fan, have a star and heart.
(EDIT: Finally beat this bat. Love the little quips in Stage 4.)
@Retro_Pup_Pico_8 Hey, man. Glad you enjoyed it. Please pardon my dust, as this game is still VERY early.
-
Currently I have no conditional item drops, so the 2 shot from the boss secret is what you get for now. Thanks for that tidbit, though! I need to do research on the drop system.
-
Yeah, I programmed my bat to be a son of a gun, and more interesting than the original! A few tips:
-
My bat telegraphs his swoop.
-
He doesn't have any hitstun right now, so you can't cheese him with holy water.
- Stop watch and axe are best. If you throw just right, the axe can hit twice! Maybe a bug, but I like it! You even get a small score bonus if you kill him this way!
-
You take 4 damage because I only have one level. Gotta make it challenging! I'll definitely tune it down once the game is built.
Thank you so much for playing, and don't forget your gift up there. Stay tuned, as I'm always updating the game!
Trivia: There are about 536 unique messages for the stairs, just for fun until I build the rest of the level.
Awesome! Sorry if I sounded weird (in the negative sense) in any way, just had a lot of trouble with that bat, and really wanted to see the end of the demo.
Will the next boss be Medusa; and if you’re giving her the same treatment as the Phantom Bat (harder than original bosses), will she have telegraphed stone gazes?
Sorry if it sounds like I’m demanding stuff from you—I’m not, I swear.
(I’m autistic and tone is hard to convey over text—I also really love Castlevania 1.)
I love the little green lines on tiles where the secrets are!
Thanks for the gift, and awesome game. Keep it up!
@Retro_Pup_Pico_8 No worries at all! Truth be told I was just making excuses because I couldn't quite get hit stun to work... until now! Holy water is now more effective, but still isn't completely disabling.
Medusa will indeed be the level 2 boss. It's funny you mention stone gaze as it was already in my list. I intend to implement an expert mode, unlocked by beating the game once. It's here that a lot of those extra things will happen. That is, If I have the space (Seems likely). for instance, I was planning on expert bat attempting to buffet you into spikes!
The green lines are just for my reference; They won't be there on release.
Oh, cool! Can’t wait to see the Mummies, Frankenstein’s Monster, Death and Dracula! (Not trying to rush you or anything, just excited.) Managed to get to Medusa’s statue, and got the Triple Shot with the Cross.
I love that you put in the file select screen! “Underground” is a classic tune. (I did notice that when you start a new file, it puts you at level 2.)
Also: In the original game, there’s a stopwatch above the first lift after the stairs with the knights in Stage 05, as well a ghost after the crushers and before the final stairs in Stage 6 (not asking you to put those things in if you don’t want, I just played Castlevania 1 a lot.)
I'll be putting the ghosts in very soon! Honestly though, @Retro_Pup_Pico_8, keep the suggestions coming, man! I could use all the feedback I can get!
Are you sure you’re okay with that? I’ve played Castlevania 1 a bunch (and loved it), so I know quite a few things about the game. Can’t wait to fight Medusa and see Stages 7-9, aka Block 3.
*Heads up, after Block 3 comes a cutscene where Simon falls into Block 4. During Block 3 and before the last room of Block 4, Simon takes 3 damage.
Also, there’s a glitch with the map screen where the life counter (P) reads 1 less life than when I ended the previous block. (e.g. 0 -> -1)
Again, loving this port so far!
@Retro_Pup_Pico_8 Absolutely, I am!
You seem a little reserved, but you don't have to be! There's nothing to be ashamed of, autism just means you're wired a little different, that's all!
If I'm being honest, it's people like you, with your love for the series and distinct attention to detail, that I value the most!
How long you been playing Castlevania on NES? I've been playing since 1992, since I was 4. Still, I'll admit that even I don't know every nook and cranny.
Got it on the Anniversary Collection in (I think?) 2023. Got into the series as a whole around 2022.
I’m reserved because I’m an introvert and mainly stay in my own lane.
My favorite games in the collection are Castlevania 1, Castlevania 3, Super Castlevania 4, Belmont’s Revenge and Bloodlines.
Also, thanks for being so chill about me being autistic and welcoming my feedback. I’ll let you know of any other details and secrets as you develop the game.
Speaking of which, there’s supposed to be a secret treasure in the hallway before Medusa discovered by standing in the fourth archway for a bit.
@Retro_Pup_Pico_8 Ooh! Didn't know about that one! Tell me, do you know where the un-reachable secret is in block 3? (Level 3)
Also, Do you have any other means of contact? I don't wanna keep bumping this post. If you don't mind, of course!
My discord (mobile) is RetroPup89, and on desktop; PicoSpectral89. I am on the Pico-8, Picotron, LazyDevs and NerdyTeachers servers.
I’m sorry to keep bumping this post myself, I just wanted to keep our conversation going cause I liked where it was going—I hope I wasn’t bothering you.
Just before the fight with the Mummies, walk left while standing 1 block above the one containing the meat for a few seconds. Truly curious to see what Block 3 will look like!
Again, awesome game!
Wow....a great version
I had a Castlevania cartridge for my NES in 80´s and it´s incredible....all the secrets are here....good work
I know, I know @Turbochop.....I like a lot the Start sequence with the castle under construction...:):):)
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