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[#] Starlite Volcano

Figured I'd post what I have so far here, so I can get some feedback.
(Also in case you can't tell, this is my first VLDC. Not a lot of experience working with vanilla resources.)


(screenshot outdated)

New video here.
BPS Download Here!
When I first looked in the screenshot I thought these dark clouds were actually condensed forest leaves. Maybe you could split into multiple clouds so it would look more obvious or adjust the tileset itself.

Also I'd suggest making your background darker, specially that lava because it doesn't make much sense for a slight dark level atmosphere. Magma is not that bright.

The foreground looks okay, but there's not anything interesting or different in them. Since you're still early in the level making and it's your first VLDC, it's completely understandable.

If you make the level overall fun and listen to everyone's feedback you can definitely go well though. Don't forget the three key points: make it fun (design score), make it pleasant (aesthetics score) and make it unique (creativity). Good luck ;)
GitHub - Twitter - YouTube - SnesLab Discord
The depth of the background is really off. I understand this is your first time, but you still need improvements. The bottom with all the rocks and mini-volcanoes and such kinda ruin the flow of the mountains in the background, suddenly making the volcanoes above the ground look flat. Try making it less flat, or just getting rid of that part as a whole. Love the atmosphere, though!
Just so you know, I'm very active on the site anymore like I was before; I'm mainly on Discord now.
omg, that BG, it's really great!

this is the best atmosphere I've seen until now
Layout made by MaxodeX
2021 TRENO vibe check thread
Thanks for the feedback, guys! I also started the actual level design now, and I have a couple of screenshots and a new video.




New Video
Level looks cool so far. Only thing that bugs me is the strange items in the dirt. Looks kinda odd to me. Other than that, it's cool! Keep it up!
Just so you know, I'm very active on the site anymore like I was before; I'm mainly on Discord now.
I like the ground which has P-Switches, ? Blocks and Fishbones in it for absolutely no reason. Sure looks great and not stupid or anything.
Originally posted by snoruntpyro
Sure looks great and not stupid or anything.
instead of being a jerk about it why don't you offer your opinion in a constructive way #wario{-_-?}

I like the idea of landmarks in the dirt signalling to things above it (presumably the coin block in the dirt showing there's a coin block is to help the player keep their eyes open for other symbols, ala the p-switch later), but unless it's a consistent idea and the things you're hiding aren't in plain sight (you can still see there's clearly a p-switch up there) it's probably not necessary lol

the lava is also way too saturated compared to everything else. it should stand out more, but maybe darken it a bit? idk, it just looks really weird as is.
ask me if i give a f*ck...
Originally posted by snoruntpyro
I like the ground which has P-Switches, ? Blocks and Fishbones in it for absolutely no reason. Sure looks great and not stupid or anything.


I know you're generally more harsh than most people, which is fine, but I don't understand why you need to cross into the realm of sarcastic condescension so often.

That being said, Pyro's point is absolutely valid - watch your decor, LuigiTime. A lot of what you have right now is quite distracting and will ultimately take away from the experience. I'd remove the ? blocks, Dry Bones skulls, and skull-and-crossbones, at least.
Originally posted by snoruntpyro
Sure looks great and not stupid or anything.


Wow rude.

But yeah it does look kind of strange. Like I said in the general discussion thread, focus more on the design of your level and not the aesthetics. I tried focusing on aesthetics before and it didn't work out very well.
Sorry, I went too far. I don't really think about stuff I say sometimes. I would go back and actually say what's wrong with the stuff in the ground but everyone else already covered it kinda. It makes the level look really cluttered and it's just a nonsensical way to decorate the level.
After almost a week, I bring new updates (and a name change)!







I've corrected the distracting aesthetics, and added the entire second and third parts to the level.
There's a video here and the BPS Patch here.
Also a video of the secrets here.


Let me know what you think!
Not a bad level! I do have some problems with it though, as it could use some major work...

-The music you used for the first half...I don't like it. I like the Barrel Volcano theme, but to be frank, that song's very overused by now. Try using a different theme.
-It bugs me how the 8x8 flames don't hurt you when they're brighter than the 16x16 flames, which do hurt you. Either change the palette of the small flames so the player knows they're harmless or just get rid of them completely.
-Why did you put Swoopers only in the first part in your level? Do they really need to be there if you never put any other Swoopers in your level again?
-I still don't like how you're still using the P-Switch tiles in the dirt. I know you want to indicate there's a P-Switch you can use, but there's other ways to indicate that, like Coins.
-The bottom part of the background in the first part looks kinda empty now. Since what you tried before didn't work, try putting lava at the bottom, like you did in the interior section.
-The rising lava part looks either boring or bullshit, boring because the only enemy you used was Eeries and flames and bullshit because there's a few unforgiving parts such as the last part, with a bunch of simple jumps and claustrophobic areas. Don't do this.
-From what I see, some lava either don't hurt you or just has Mario swimming upwards. Not your fault, but it still bugs me.
Just so you know, I'm very active on the site anymore like I was before; I'm mainly on Discord now.
This level seems to be quite tough at some parts (especially the skull-raft with the lava-ceiling and the vertical scrolling room). As Falconpunch these areas are very claustrophobic. Players which doesn´t know your level should have a bit more space to dodge the obstacles.

Also there´s some inconsistency with the player-hud coloration. In the first part it´s normal and then it´s completely red while you´re in the caves and when you leave the volcano it´s normal again. I´d say it should always be normal or always be red, but not mixing its colors.

Apart from that it´s a hot level.
bad pun, i know









Originally posted by Falconpunch
-The music you used for the first half...I don't like it. I like the Barrel Volcano theme, but to be frank, that song's very overused by now. Try using a different theme.

To be honest, I've been kinda iffy about what music to use. I was considering this song but it felt a little too intense for what I had in mind.

Originally posted by Falconpunch
-The rising lava part looks either boring or bullshit, boring because the only enemy you used was Eeries

Guess I'll just make something else. Nothing I could do about the enemies, since normal sprites don't seem to work on Layer 2 Falls levels. (Even the generator only half worked. You might've noticed all the Eerie flames were coming from one side.)

Originally posted by Leiras
As Falconpunch these areas are very claustrophobic. Players which doesn´t know your level should have a bit more space to dodge the obstacles.

I'll see what I can do about that. Upside-down lava doesn't work very well anyways.
I think Falconpunch and Leiras pretty much told everything about your level so, time for work!

As for the level song, it's not that Barrel Volcano is actually overused, but it's not that fitting for your level. I'd suggest using the NSMBW Volcano port by Izuna. Should fit your level fairly well.

Another thing I'd suggest is about your first background. I dunno why, but it looks weird. The mountains are flat, looks like a triangle and the part where the lava falls is weird too. Try working on more on your background and try adding more elements such as decoration on the mountain (see the original SMW mountain in level 6 for example) and some dark clouds too.

But you're going well so far. Good luck!
GitHub - Twitter - YouTube - SnesLab Discord
Alright, I have an improved background here (still trying to work out what to do about the lava streams. Probably gonna have some fall at an angle).



Also, Vitor, could you be a bit more specific about what looks weird about where the lava falls? I'm not entirely sure how to improve them.
Having some lava fall at an angle is going to be a little tough, but if you can pull it off, I'm sure this will look amazing.
Just so you know, I'm very active on the site anymore like I was before; I'm mainly on Discord now.