Language…
13 users online: autisticsceptile1993, Batata Douce, DasFueller, DPBOX, Dzing, fanfan21, Hammerer, isaix, matthwsan, RZRider, TheBourgyman, underway, Ziz - Guests: 293 - Bots: 279
Users: 64,795 (2,378 active)
Latest user: mathew

Boring Mario

Standard

Hi everyone.

Lately I've been kind of feeling bad for cancelling a hack that I tried to make many months ago, and I missed the feeling of actually making a hack. So I started this vanilla hack project, and it's called "Boring Mario." Don't take the title too literally, it just means that it's the same old, same old Mario type of platformer. #ab{:P}

The hack itself is short, and will only have four levels. I don't know if I'll ever expand on this ever, but that's the way it's going to be now. This hack also doesn't really focus on the story, I just wanted to focus on the levels, this time.

Anywho, here's some screens:



Here's the title screen, of course. I just made a small miniature version of what could be a full length Mario level.



The overworld. I don't know if I'm happy with this just yet so if you have a suggestion on how to make it better, please say so.

And here's Plains One, which is essentially finished but I might still want to make a few "polishing up" changes to it.







"Plains Two" and "Plains Three" are still early in the making so I won't show off screens yet. The names "Plains Two/Three" is also subject to change. As for the fortress, I think I'll save that one for later.

Anyway, if you've got some important feedback and/or criticism, I'd be happy to hear it. I'd like to improve my level design in any way possible.

And the fact that this is my 1000th post is purely coincidental, I'd been working on this for a while and I didn't have anything special planned for this milestone so :-P
You should center the overworld, and add decor to the levels too, it looks bland at the moment.
formerly known as TheBasicASMGuy or TBASMGuy for short. hi.
overworld shape looks sort of strange to me and while i like the look of the levels from what i'm seeing, you should probably add more decorations and such

The level seems just fine (if a bit bland looking), but I think the overworld could do with some work. A more interesting shape and possibly height variations would make it look much better.

Also, I think the midpoint would look better if it was planted in the ground.

something is supposed to go here

Thanks guys for the feedback - And delivered so soon :)

About the overworld, yeah, I did think it was a bit off in that regard(being centered and the way it's built). It just seems so... Squareish, I don't know how to explain it. I'll redesign it and see what I can do.

And the level, I'll add some decor that doesn't make it look - well, boring - as it is above.
Quote
[...]it just means that it's the same old, same old Mario type of platformer. #ab{:P}

The hack itself is short, and will only have four levels.

Just saying, if you're going ala SMW's first world, I don't think 4 levels are enough as length. I'd really try to atleast increase the number of levels (something like 7-8 levels could work for me).

Also, the screens you showed look pretty flat. Try creating more obstacles; making the FG more varied would be a good start (in detail, you can see here an example of what I mean).

Quote
And the level, I'll add some decor that doesn't make it look - well, boring - as it is above.

... and this isn't going to fix the problem; yes, using more decorations makes the level prettier, though don't confuse "boring looking" with "boring gameplay-wise".
Thank you for the feedback - It really helps.

I had a look at the thread you linked and I think I see what you mean. Looking at the level in Lunar Magic, it is kind of flat in some areas.
So I haven't updated this in a while - It's not cancelled, I just lost a lot of motivation after several attempts to remake the overworld. In the end, this is what came of it.



While yes, it looks linear and maybe a bit bland, that's the whole point of this hack - Linearity. After all, most of the main series Mario games overworlds are linear.

I've polished up the first level to an extent, however I can't take screens of it at the moment. I've started to make the second level today, and as some of you probably guessed it will be an underground/cave level. I will not show screens of that level also, due to the same problem I just mentioned, and the fact that it is in a very early state, so there is nothing of interest.
Originally posted by Mayrio
overworld


It looks very smb3ish and i like it.

The levels look way too bland but they are fine, You could try decorating them more.

I'm quitting smwc goodbye it has been fun meeting you guys
*insert "Well, the title is certainly true" comment*

No. The level looks alright, though it is a bit empty. The overworld (so far) is more or less the same.

Like others have said, decorations could be a good asset to your levels. They can make them feel varied and unique, if done right.
Click here to enter the world of mediocre!

Standard