Language…
11 users online: abhinavkrishna123, Alucard648, Green, Neuromancer, Rauf, recam, Scags, ShadowMistressYuko, signature_steve, Sokobansolver, yslowp3 - Guests: 91 - Bots: 200
Users: 64,667 (2,405 active)
Latest user: DarthHylian

Tower of Disarray - Revival Edition [NEW LEVEL]

Standard

Tower of Disarray
Tower of Disarray is a project I started back in the Summer of 2015. I put it on hold some time ago for multiple reasons, but now I want to pick it up again. My goal with this hack is to make something with original graphics, unique levels (no boring grasslands here, folks) and fun gameplay without any rediculous gimmicks.


Get the demo here [Crashes in Snes9x for some reason, will be fixed next release. Sorry for the inconvenience]

GOALS
>32 Exits : [6/32]
>Fully hand made GFX
>Actually complete it

IN THE WORKS
<Atmosphere Acropolis>
A long abandoned city suspended atop the clouds by mysterious forces. Overgrown with flora and severely overpopulated by birds, this locale is deceivingly dangerous. Plunging into the sea of clouds below is one of the tamer threats in this level.
[CLICK TO VIEW ANIMATED]


STORY
A mysterious tower has appeared on the horizon, and with it comes chaotic events. The longer it stands, the more skewed reality becomes. Mario must journey to the tower and find a way to stop it before the entire world is flung into disarray!

LEVELS
<Shady Sawmill>
A busy logging mill in the forest. Saws go in every which way, making this path a hazardous one, but ultimately the fastest.



<Misty Mountaintops>
The only way past the mountains is through them. The terrain is filled with nooks, holes, and caves, some more obvious than others. Rumour has it there's a secret mine so well hidden that those that originally dug it forgot where it was.



<Impact Valley>
The tower has gained enough power to rip the very moon from it's orbit. It's impact caused cataclysmic damage to the surrounding environment. With no time to waste going around, Mario must travel straight through the impact zone to reach his destination.
>mfw imgur turns my .gif into a webm


<In The Clouds>
Mario must travel through the clouds. What he didn't expect were the gigantic droplets of water and variety of life living in this strange place.





CLOSING
And that's it. Feel free to let me know of any problems you see, or any ideas you have. Also, I need new music for Misty Mountaintops, the track I have is far too short and repetitive, so I'm open to suggestions for that. Thanks for taking the time to check out my hack. Expect a full release sometime during the Summer, if all goes well.


Tower of Disarray

5/?? levels done
-HAHA Oh jeez-
An 'A' press is an 'A' press




Hella neat layout by Erik557
I am really loving your graphics style. As far as the levels go, they all look fantastic and varied. 33 Exits is a short, but decent amount of exits. I usually play longer hacks, but this looks like it'll be in my main point of interest for a little while to come.
Originally posted by Skewer
I am really loving your graphics style. As far as the levels go, they all look fantastic and varied. 33 Exits is a short, but decent amount of exits. I usually play longer hacks, but this looks like it'll be in my main point of interest for a little while to come.

I just don't want to be too ambitious. I've never completed a hack because I've lost the will to continue working on them, and I don't want that to happen again. That said, I already have plans to make an expanded edition some time after release.


Tower of Disarray

5/?? levels done
-HAHA Oh jeez-
An 'A' press is an 'A' press




Hella neat layout by Erik557
With regards to Misty Mountaintops, could you give us an SPC so we can get the general 'tone' you're looking for?

As for the hack itself, I love the visuals. The way the colours are done reminds me well of Steven Universe. But some of the level design ignites my nitpicking powers.

So, these levels seem very linear. And that's difficult to back up when Shady Sawmill has branching paths and Misty Mountaintops has loads of secret areas.

The thing with the former is that there's no situation where two paths feel, from a gameplay perspective, equal. Thusly, no major situations where the player has to think on their feet and choose between several seemingly equivalent options.

As far as Misty Mountaintops, I would go so far as to say that an uninformed player choice isn't really a choice at all. The small inlets where the wall becomes passable are very simple to miss when they're not in your way, which is great for hiding secrets mind, but it doesn't make the level anymore nonlinear in many cases. And throughout what wee see of the whole level, there are lots of first order optimal strategies with every obstacle, so the amount of actual thought that moves through the players head is minimal.

As said before, these are mostly minor nitpicky complaints. It really does look fantastic so far, and the visuals alone have me excited, save for some unfinished sprite GFX. I would recommend revisiting those Ninji GFX, though. Also, Shady Sawmill would probably look much better with a more yellow-orange sky. to compliment against the mostly purple foreground. I know that's not how naturalistic lighting works, but considering that this is the first level and bound to leave a strong impression on your player, some extra contrast would be stellar here.
I've become very grumpy these last few years, and have been biting my tongue here in SMWC's forums quite a bit. I just want to let you all know that if ever I come off as harsh, I still care about you all. You guys are great.

(Avatar by http://reyleias.tumblr.com/, butchered by me)
This hack seems very well planned, the little amount of levels could be a proof. The level design and graphics seem made with love and I like it. And I have to say this inspires me a lot.

I'll be waiting for that C3 demo. Keep this up, please.

Once, I started a hack with a VERY similar plot, but instead of a tower there was a golden castle. I have a little unreleased demo somewhere...
Oh my goodness, I have not seen a hack this nice-looking in such a long time.
I am quite hyped to see more progress.
This looks really great!

Tag (div) was not closed.
Tag (div) was not closed.

Here's a sneak peak at the level I'm working on. Not very finished at all, but I figured I should keep you updated.


Tower of Disarray

5/?? levels done
-HAHA Oh jeez-
An 'A' press is an 'A' press




Hella neat layout by Erik557
Originally posted by Spinjumper
-snip-
Here's a sneak peak at the level I'm working on. Not very finished at all, but I figured I should keep you updated.

Son. That ExAnimation tho.

Although I feel that the inclusion of the smaller, decorative water droplets may confuse a player going in. I would either recommend using a different, darker palette for the decorative droplets or removing them entirely.

Don't get me wrong - I love the way they look, but it seems pretty visually unintuitive.
I've become very grumpy these last few years, and have been biting my tongue here in SMWC's forums quite a bit. I just want to let you all know that if ever I come off as harsh, I still care about you all. You guys are great.

(Avatar by http://reyleias.tumblr.com/, butchered by me)
I would make the decorative bubbles blend-in with the background or remove it's outlines.
Your hack reminds me Shovel Knight.
Or can it be a coincidence?
Originally posted by S.R.H.
I would make the decorative bubbles blend-in with the background or remove it's outlines.


How does this look? It seems like common sense that you could only swim through the bigger drops, and the player is taught this before having to get past any danger with them.
Originally posted by Roberto zampari
Your hack reminds me Shovel Knight.
Or can it be a coincidence?

It could be the art-style, particularly the hue-shifting. Regardless, considering Shovel Knight is a particularly fantastic game, I take this as a pretty big compliment.


Tower of Disarray

5/?? levels done
-HAHA Oh jeez-
An 'A' press is an 'A' press




Hella neat layout by Erik557
Originally posted by Spinjumper
It seems like common sense that you could only swim through the bigger drops, and the player is taught this before having to get past any danger with them.

Still, one should always take steps to make their mechanics more clear, if at all possible.

Anyway, yes, things look much nicer with the outlines removed on the small bubbles.
I've become very grumpy these last few years, and have been biting my tongue here in SMWC's forums quite a bit. I just want to let you all know that if ever I come off as harsh, I still care about you all. You guys are great.

(Avatar by http://reyleias.tumblr.com/, butchered by me)
Yeah, that looks better.
I've been doing a bit of polishing.

I'm halfway done with building the 4th level, by the way.
Edit: I've finished the level! Check the OP for screenshits!


Tower of Disarray

5/?? levels done
-HAHA Oh jeez-
An 'A' press is an 'A' press




Hella neat layout by Erik557
Originally posted by Spinjumper
Screenshits!
uh
Everything here is extremely impressive. You're an inspiration for me. #fim{<3}
Your stuff is a great proof that you always improve.
My favorite level is 'In the Clouds'. Extremely nice effect there.
I must say, I find the original graphics and level design here highly impressive. The originality in your levels (the sawmill concept etc.) is a very nice touch, and lacking in many other hacks. The clouds are much improved now too, the colours work a lot better.
I want to post my opinion here, Spinjumper: The graphics are okay, but the main problem is the mario graphics. I'm afraid that your hack will be rejected because of clashing graphics. I suggest to make your own mario graphics or find 8-bit graphics.
Originally posted by Roberto zampari
I'm afraid that your hack will be rejected because of clashing graphics.
Hack moderation isn't as strict as before, though.
Clashing graphics is not a rejecting reason... has never been iirc.
Like we've had tons of levels using DK graphic before.
Bad graphics though... those are a different story (which this hack doesn't seem to use)
Anime statistic on MyAnimeList:
400 animes completed ✓
6000 episodes completed ✓
100 Days completed ✓
... what even am I doing with my life?

Standard