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The Lost Chapters - Chapter 1 DEMO 3 (final demo before full release)

Welcome!


Welcome to my C3 hack thread! I hope you'll be interested in what I have been preparing for these last months since the completion of Demo 2.

Enjoy!

If you don't want to read anything about the hack itself and Demo 3, you can always go directly to the "Screenshots", "Video", "Ports" and "Download" parts.

And comment, please! ANY type of feedback is welcome!

--------------------------------


The story behind my SMW hacking career and TLC - Chapter 1 development:


As some of you may know, I've been working in a hack project for... 4 years. Upon learning about SMW hacking in the process, as a (semi-)perfectionist, I felt forced to make countless modifications. Each time I was feeling better and better with it. It got some consistence back in 2010, when I had a bit more than 4 worlds complete. So yeah, these last 3 years were entirely dedicated to making worlds 5 and 6 and revamping old levels, mainly because only recently (these last 2 years) I was starting to understand the whole "player's perspective" thing, and gather patience and spare time to learn more advanced stuff. When I joined SMWC, I was blown away with learning. And when I finally revealed my hack from its secret state and made a hack thread about it, I started to feel that my hack still had a lot to improve, by reading feedbacks, visiting the WIP's section more often and minutely analyzing hacks that were received well by the community. And thus I began my quest for preparing my hack to be good enough for this year's C3. I must admit that I'm not still completely satisfied (and probably will not be for some time), but I'm finally feeling that I'm doing my best, and I'm still learning a lot each day. And with this said, I hope you guys will have a good time with Demo 3. #ab{:)}



About this hack:


For those who don't know TLC - Chapter 1 yet, this hack mainly aims for a 1/1 combination of gameplay experience and story, with a touch of custom stuff into it, like misc. graphics, some tilesets, music and paletting. This hack can be classified as Traditional and Adventure in Gamma V's definitions, and Chocolate. For more info, including its story, check my hack thread. It's kinda outdated though, I'll completely change it in the near future, including the screenshots.



About Demo 3:


First of all, Demo 3 includes worlds 1 to 6, 65 levels, 77 exits. Worlds 5 and 6, which weren't in Demo 2, are respectively ice-themed and forest-themed. Most levels that were already in Demo 2 were revamped, both design-wise and aesthetics-wise. Some heavier than others. Some bosses (and their arenas) were edited for making the battles more unique. World 2 boss had its graphics changed, and is now a different creature. More cutscenes have been added as well. Demo 3 should also be compatible with the 3 major emulators now. So yeah, I think it's safe to assume that it's worth checking it out even if you have already played Demo 2. If you haven't, then this is the opportunity to know TLC - Chapter 1. #ab{:D} As it's already mentioned in the title, this will be the last demo before the real deal, since it already showcases a lot of stuff. I expect to finish this hack within a year, but since there are some uncertain things to worry about (next bosses, music), then I can't really say something for sure. So stay tuned for it! #ab{:)}

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Screenshots:


Instead of tossing a bunch of screenies all around in this thread, I decided to link to a slideshow, so you can sit back, relax, and view each one of them without any visual pollution:

SLIDESHOW WITH SCREENSHOTS
You know what? Forget about this stupid slideshow idea (I'll leave it here, anyway though). There you are:





Video:


Unfortunately, I don't have any trailer, or gameplay compilation, because I'm a n00b at these video things, so here's a gameplay video of the first level of the hack, which you can compare with an older one of the same level, back when I was releasing Demo 1 IIRC:

First level gameplay video. (Demo 3)

Same as above, but in Demo 1. (OLD)



Ports:


These are the music pieces I ported especially for this hack:

Suikoden II - Adventurous Journey (Unsampled. Using this for the OW.)

Starman Theme (Semi-Custom) (Unsampled. Ported and then added a custom touch of mine into it.) #ab{;)}

Final Fantasy V - Walking The Snowy Mountains (Sampled. The one from the legacy ports was annoying me, so I had to port this myself.) #ab{:P}

Tales of Phantasia - Biting Cold (Sampled. I've already shown this one in the SPC Showoff thread, but this version is fixed, with pitch bends.)


Download!

Alternatively, you can download it directly from my FileBin here.



Support TLC - Chapter 1:


Userbar:

Thanks for stopping by! Please, don't forget to leave a comment! #ab{:D}
*Shao Kahn voice*
Excellent
Superb
Well done

Simply amazing. It's awesome how you could maintain some consistency even with so many graphics. It deserves some better music, but it's a demo though.

Fully supporting it!
Originally posted by Arctic Avenger
It deserves some better music, but it's a demo though.

Hummm... I was thinking about porting more music, but I had other priorities these last months, especially remodelling some levels, replace YI gfx with something more unique, learn and apply things like HDMA and layer 3. Actually, I even tried to port a music piece for the first level and other grasslands areas, but unfortunately I was having too many problems with it, so I gave up. :/ So yeah, since I probably won't rush to finish this hack for C3 2014, I'll make sure to spend some more time in porting music. #ab{;)} What scares me is that I'm already running low on sample banks, and I have 3 more worlds to make. #ab{x_x}

Anyway, thanks for the comment and support. #ab{:D}
I prefer not to play large-scale demos so I can preserve the experience of playing the whole thing for the first time, but judging by those screenshots and the video, you already have a lot of different level ideas, which is good. It sounds like the hack's had a really long development cycle, which has given you a lot of time to fine-tune and improve everything, so I'm definitely curious to see how this will turn out when it's finished. Good luck on wrapping it up over the next year or so!
Youtube (Main) | Youtube (Alt) | Bandcamp | DeviantART
Originally posted by AxemJinx
I prefer not to play large-scale demos so I can preserve the experience of playing the whole thing for the first time

I think the same to be honest, but I really don't know how much time I will have to spend to finish this... Especially because I want to be a bit more ambitious with this last part of the hack. So I'm leaving this kinda big demo here, just in case I can receive some feedback on what needs to be changed on worlds 1 to 6 before releasing the real deal so the whole hack can be as consistent as possible, and so people can get introduced to its gameplay.

Originally posted by AxemJinx
but judging by those screenshots and the video, you already have a lot of different level ideas, which is good. It sounds like the hack's had a really long development cycle, which has given you a lot of time to fine-tune and improve everything

This is true, but there are still many "residues" of my (poor) past hacking skills in this thing, so I still have some work to do with these (for example, removing/editing some YI GFX that don't really fit much with my current graphical style). But I'm glad to see that all this revamping has visible results in the others' perspectives. #ab{:)}

Originally posted by AxemJinx
so I'm definitely curious to see how this will turn out when it's finished. Good luck on wrapping it up over the next year or so!

Thanks for your attention and feedback. Much appreciated. #ab{^_^}
Judging by the awesome screenshots, I can see how you worked hard on this hack and how good it is now.

I haven't download the hack yet kill me but looking those screens again, I'm sure it's a very quality hack you're making. Looking foward for the finished version of this!
Originally posted by ShadowPhoenix
I haven't download the hack yet kill me

I don't blame people for wanting to wait for the full version (I do it myself). #ab{¬_¬} But even if they want to play Demo 3 now, there may be ways to overcome the problem of having to play 6 worlds again in the full version. I'll see what I can do about this (hopefully, using Demo 3 saves on the full version may do the trick... Never tested this before, though. If someone knows if this is possible or not, please share it with me.).

Originally posted by ShadowPhoenix
I'm sure it's a very quality hack you're making. Looking foward for the finished version of this!

Thanks for the comments, and I'm glad to see that there are people interested in seeing the project complete! I'll do whatever I can to not disappoint. #ab{:)}
This hack deserves more attention, really. The plot is really interesting and you made a good use of the VWF cutscene tool. The graphics seem all pretty good and fitting. I enjoyed the level design a lot as far as I played. I'm currently stuck in the first ghost house - and by the way, there's a way to get stuck there, by hitting the P-switch and not following the question block stairs - but I'll definitely keep playing it once I figure it out. :P

A really superb project of yours I must say. Looking forward for the full release! Good luck!
It's easily the best thing I've done
So why the empty numb?
Originally posted by Koopster
there's a way to get stuck there, by hitting the P-switch and not following the question block stairs

Nope. You can still use the first door in the room to "reset", but if I tell you thoroughly about this, I'll end up making a spoiler. Here's a hint:
Look at the pit. Why is that hand rail there?
Look carefully and you'll understand. #ab{;)}

Oh, and thanks for the comments! :>
Originally posted by Koopster
This hack deserves more attention, really.

This, absolutely. I just played (well, moderated) this demo, and it's a very well made and polished hack. I had a lot of fun playing it, even though I think the later levels got a bit way too hard and were a little bit frustrating. I really enjoyed the storyline, and the way you tried to make it "active", adding "real-time" happenings.
I was totally surprised when the Toad town suddenly "resurrected"... now that was a very sweet touch! #ab{;)}


Some of the puzzles were very clever, but I see you tend to reuse good old formulas, like the "season-changing", which is not a bad thing at all. I mostly liked the custom music you used, it was good to hear finally more not-that-overused ports in a longer hack. Good choices!

Overall, very nice work! I'll make sure to play the whole version when it's finished. For now, let's hope more and more people will try your hack. #ab{;)}