-
Zodiac, the Side-Quest
==========UPDATE UPDATE===============
If you're visiting this thread for the first time, read on. But the latest version, and the only download that will work, is located HERE:
http://www.solidfiles.com/d/4c6a2679..._(6-21-14).qst
it uses the public version of 2.5 available at ZeldaClassic.com.
=====================================
This quest is not complete.
This quest features heavily scripted side-scrolling goodness drawing inspiration from the likes of old-school Metroid, Blaster Master, Cave Story, and the spirit of The Guardian Legend. The main quest features a series of side-scrolling levels and shoot-em-up style corridors.
------ Universal Changes to Note
I've scripted some basic changes to the way the Zelda Classic engine normally operates to try and get a more action-based and fast-paced game.
1. Many of your abilities and weapons (except the primary weapon) use up Energy. Energy constantly refills at a slow rate in side-scrolling areas. In flying areas, due to the increased energy needed to fly, your energy initially won't refill at all. You can pick up energy refills, though, and later on you'll get items that will give you steady energy refill even while flying.
2. Your health and energy bars are proportional. That is, they stay the same size regardless of how many life or energy containers you pick up. The additional points are being counted, you just can't see them. Life is also displayed numerically on your life meter, and you can see how much damage various enemies do to you.
3. Some of your buttons are adapted to new uses. L and R no longer select weapons. In side-scrolling areas, the L button jumps. In flying areas, the L button fires a massive beam blast that clears out enemies. This beam uses up energy at a fast rate. In side-scrolling areas, hold the R button to dash when you get the item that lets you do this. Dashing uses up energy.
================= Items
Here's the current list of items. They're fully implemented unless otherwise indicated.
-- Weapons
PRIMARY WEAPONS
All primary weapons break some blocks at close range. In flying levels, your primary weapon is replaced by the ship's cannon.
1. Pulse Hammer - A short range (2 tiles) energy blast. Low damage.
2. Disentigrator Beam - A short beam (sword) that shoots twin projectiles a moderate distance. Medium damage. Can dig through sand (all higher level primary weapons share this feature).
3. Zodiac Weapons (11 different) - Each Zone has a Zodiac Boss guarding a special weapon. These weapons vary widely in power and ability. You can only have one Zodiac Weapon at a time. If you collect a new one, the game will prompt you to decide whether to replace your current weapon permanently. You can always go back and get an older weapon later. Eventually you will get an item that lets you switch between Zodiac Weapons on the fly. It's not in the game yet, but certain Zodiac Weapons will be more effective against certain bosses, ala the Megaman series.
The Zodiac Weapons are:
a. Aquarius Bubble - Shoots a bubble in a circular pattern in front of the player.
b. Scorpio Sting - Shoots a projectile in a wave pattern.
c. Aries Saber - Slashes three tiles in front of the player.
d. Pieces Spread - Fires three projectiles in a spread pattern.
e. Gemini Lazer - Fires two projectiles straight ahead, one straight backwards.
f. Virgo Whip - Whips three tiles in front of the player. If it damages an enemy, refills player's life.
g. Leo Beam - Fires a solid beam across the entire screen in front of the player.
h. Capricorn Wave - Fires a large singularity straight front of the player, but can be directed somewhat by controls.
i. Taurus Flame - Fires a spinning flame that moves upwards.
j. Cancer Charge - Hold button to charge up, then fire a single blast straight in front of the player. Variable strength.
k. Libra Eye - Fires a diamond that ricochets off of solid surfaces.
SIDEARMS
The sidearm is a gun that uses Energy and shoots energy pellets of variable power and speed. You'll collect bonuses during the game that increase the power, speed, or energy efficiency of the sidearm. The formula for how much Energy each shot uses is: Speed + Power * 2 - Energy. The pellets get bigger as the power increases.
1. Single Shot Sidearm - Fires once per button press. Tap button for rapid fire.
2. Rapid Fire Sidearm - Hold the button to fire repeatedly. Rate of fire depends on Speed.
MISSILE LAUNCHER
You'll find Missile Packs throughout the game. Each one contains five missiles. Missiles are (usually) the most powerful weapon available at a given time, but they have limited ammunition. Some enemies are immune to missiles.
1. Concussive Missiles - Fires one missile at a time. Penetrates walls, but does not explode.
2. Explosive Missiles - Fires one missile at a time. Explodes and deals damage over an area on contact with a wall or enemy. Affects more types of enemies that Concussive Missiles.
3. Super Missiles - Fires five missiles at once. Causes a massive explosion dealing heavy damage over a large area. Because it uses up more missile ammunition, it does not replace Explosive Missiles in your subscreen - you can always choose to use the lower level missiles if you like.
BOMBS
Good ol' bombs. Works the same way they work in Zelda Classic. Eventually, they'll bump the character up a bit just like in the Metroid series.
1. Bombs
2. Remote Bombs
BEAMS
The beam uses more energy than the Sidearm and fires a more powerful blast.
1. Electric Beam - Fires a damaging beam. Activates some electronics, hatches space fish eggs.
2. Freeze Beam - Freezes enemies for a short period of time, letting you walk on them to get to higher places.
----- TOOLS
1. Torch - Works exactly like the Red Candle.
2. Volt Key - Opens doors and activates technology designed by the former inhabitants of the Zodiac asteroid.
3. Grapple Beam - Works sort of like the hookshot, but in 8 directions. Pulls you towards grapple-able surfaces and holds you there as long as you hold the button. A second level Grapple Beam, which works on all solid surfaces, is planned as an optional item.
4. Detector - Works exactly like the Lens of Truth.
5. Health Tank - Consumable. Works exactly like the Water of Life, except you can stockpile up to 9 of them. (Needs scripting to get the higher level pickups to work correctly).
6. Overdrive Adapter - Consumable. Temporarily (20-30 seconds) boost your energy and health regeneration through the roof. Can only carry one at a time. Handy for carnage against bosses in the flying zones, or for constant dashing.
7. Sagittarius Changer - Use this item to switch your Zodiac Weapon.
8. Bullet Eraser - Clears the screen of enemy bullets. Consumes energy and missile ammunition.
9. Warp Pod (not yet implemented) - Consumable. Acts just like Fayore's wind; creates a portal, use again to return to that point. Carry up to 9.
----- BODY (passive equipment)
1. Armor. Three levels, works exactly like Rings.
2. Health Dynamo - Recharges hit points slowly.
3. Energy Dynamo - Increases energy recharge speed. Two levels. Less effective in flying levels. (Needs work)
4. Spin Attack - Changes the double jump into a spinning attack like the Screw Attack in Metroid. (Needs some work)
5. Communicator - Not yet implemented. Will let user hack into computer networks at different levels. Levels 2 and above will also display to screen the "Screen-Next" information, showing where on the map secrets and switches have triggered changes.
---- PROPULSION (passive equipment)
1. Hi-Jump - Doubles jump height.
2. Dash - Level 1: Hold R to double running speed. Level 2: Hold R to triple speed and move through vertical walls one tile thick. Dashing uses energy, double so for Level 2 dash.
3. Double Jump - Level 1 - Jump again once in the air. Level 2 - Infinity Jump - Jump repeatedly.
4. Wall Cling - Press towards a wall to cling to it. You can jump again from the wall.
5. Stomp - Exactly the same as Stomp Boots.
----- SHIP
Ship items are only relevant when you're flying around.
1. Ship Cannon - Five levels. High levels shoot faster, deal more damage, and have greater range.
2. Ship Jets - Three levels. Increased levels increase ship speed.
3. Ship Bomb - Four levels. This determines how powerful and how much range your ship's mega attack (hold L) has.
This quest file is unpassworded, so you can get access to my scripts. This is your best access to custom boss and custom enemy scripts.
Cheats are enabled so you can explore.
Download Link: http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zodiac.zip
(Thanks to user "Sephiroth" for the hosting space)
A few screenshots for flavor:
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Bullet_Spray1http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Bullet_Spray4
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Azelda003.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Azelda007.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Boss1.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Boss2.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/boss4.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/lazer.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/screen2.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/screen4.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/screen5.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/screen7.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda015.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda014.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda013.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda012.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda011.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda010.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda009.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda008.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda007.bmphttp://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda006.bmp
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
High time we saw these new betas in genuine action.
We need more threads like this one, we really do.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
One other note about the way the character jumps. If you start your jump about two pixels inside of a block, you'll "grab" the side of the block as you go and be able to slide or jump up the side. It's unintentional, but it's predictable enough to leave in as a feature. Experiment a little and you'll see what I mean.
Here's a brief walkthrough for those who don't want to cheat to explore. There's no plot elements added yet to direct you.
(1) Complete the opening flying level.
(2) Fill up at the recharge station (ammunition is limited) and head East, then down.
(3) You'll decend into an underwater area. Defeat the little jellyfish boss by jumping over him and shooting it in the head.
(4) Work your way up from this area to the Aquarius temple area.
(5) On the same screen with the room that gives you a hint to destroy the floor, fire at the floor.
(6) Defeat the bee queen. Let her spawn little bees, then hit her exposed birthing hole when they've cleared out.
(7) Take the Concussion Beam; now you can break the blocks throughout Aquarius.
(8) Head back to the start, go West, hitting switches to open doors.
(9) Optional: Head down to the deepest part of Aquarius. Break open a block in the celing where the hint tells you, and ascend to fight a really nasty boss. Defeat it to get the Level 2 armor.
(10) Go as far West as you can and descend to enter Scorpio.
(11) In Scorpio, work your way down, opening doors with switches (the main switch is hidden behind a wall in the same screen as the room with the fairy who doesn't talk yet.)
(12) Defeat the souped-up Ghoma to collect the Bombs.
(13) Back to Aquarius, use the bombs to get to Aries.
(14) In Aries, find a secret wall to access the lower-West portion of the map. Defeat a boss here for the High-Jump boots.
(15) Back to Aquarius. Use high-jump to get to the switches above the starting location. You can get to Scorpio this way.
(16) Head West through a newly opened door to get to Cancer.
(17) Navigate Cancer and defeat several bosses to get the Disentigration Beam.
(18) Return to Scorpio, digging through the sand with the Distentigration Beam. Find some new switches.
(19) Go through a newly opened door in upper Scorpio, beat the Cactus Blossom (most advanced scripted boss yet!) and earn the Dash Engine.
(20) Back to Aquarius. Head to the far upper East screen to access Pieces (currently called Ocean Zone).
(21) Use Dash to avoid the spitting squids, head East. Defeat a grub-spawning boss to get the Energy Beam.
(22) Return to Aquarius. Head to the middle of lower Aquarius to find Gemini.
(23) Use the Energy Beam in Gemini to hatch the fish eggs and explore.
Thats all there is for now.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Awsome!
...
Can I use some of the tiles?
Edit: I try to open the file but it says it's 'invalid'.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
You can use whatever you want. I noticed there was no viable side-scrolling tileset in Zelda Classic yet, so I've been making everything from scratch. Not a rip in sight, just pure unadulterated C-Dawg. (Although you can tell that some tiles, like the Gemini Zone, were certainly inspired by tiles in commercial titles.)
You should be able to open it without problems. Unzip the file and use Beta 254 or above. It was created in 254.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Yeah, this stuff is wicked sick. There are quests that make you wonder, "How did he do that?" and then there are things like this where you just know there's no point in asking. :cool:
I have an issue to bring up though. About 10 or 15 minutes after I arrived in the first true side-scrolling area (when you're on foot), the fire button stopped working for some reason, and shortly after, the jump button stopped working as well. Do you know anything about these things tending to happen in 254 quests?
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I can half answer your question.
The "fire" button stopped working because you ran out of ammunition. The normal gun is actually the bow and arrows, and true arrows are used to track ammo. Ammo refills at the energy stations with your hit points. I'm not sure whether to keep ammo limited for the player (as it's really irritating to run out) or not. I will probably eventually set it up where, as you run down to 10 or below, the ammo will slowly recover using your energy. Sort of like Earthworm Jim's main weapon, if you remember.
For now, just hit level 4 cheats and refill the player's arrow stock. (Starting arrows, I think it's called.)
As for the jump button - no idea why that would stop working unless you found a room with an error. The jumping is scripted for each side scrolling room, it should never turn off.
Also, here's some shots of the next area Im working with. Those flame jets move in and out, ala Fire Man's level from MM1. The sparky things hug the walls. (Although there's nothing special about it, they're just following an FFC changer path.)
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda0058.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda0059.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda0510.bmp
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
You sir are the man... the awesomness, the awesomeness.......
later i'll be bugging you about this enemy spawner thingy, but right now I gotta go play some Zodiac so I can't be bothered.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
So, the initial sh'mup level was nice, albeit a bit, umm, repetitive. Perhaps some damage combo FFCs for asteroids or debris to punctuate the enemy waves. I'm also thinking: maybe you could make the landing-area background more detailed (and less obviously tiled) by using appropriately synchronised FFCs (of larger than one tile in expanse)?
I'm not sure how I feel about using the Cave Story music - the leitmotif of the game itself - for the first zone. I have a habit of cringing whenever music that has a great significance to and within its original context (like the Song of Healing from MM, or nearly any track from Chrono Trigger) is used in a ZC quest for considerably less grand purposes. On the other hand, the track itself does give a certain subdued but optimistic atmosphere that the alternative track lacked. (But, I'm still of the opinion that you should used this [ ]http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/n64/SamusStage2.mid[ ] similar-but-different track instead...)
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Right on the money about what the sh'mup areas need. As I go, I'll add doodads that move down at the same rate as the background scrolls. Mounted guns, asteroids, volcanoes, that sort of thing.
And the music, like everything else, is in a constant state of flux.
If you weren't busy improving the engine, I'd ask if you wanted to help on this project, _L_.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Quote:
Originally Posted by
C-Dawg
I can half answer your question.
The "fire" button stopped working because you ran out of ammunition. The normal gun is actually the bow and arrows, and true arrows are used to track ammo. Ammo refills at the energy stations with your hit points. I'm not sure whether to keep ammo limited for the player (as it's really irritating to run out) or not. I will probably eventually set it up where, as you run down to 10 or below, the ammo will slowly recover using your energy. Sort of like Earthworm Jim's main weapon, if you remember.
For now, just hit level 4 cheats and refill the player's arrow stock. (Starting arrows, I think it's called.)
As for the jump button - no idea why that would stop working unless you found a room with an error. The jumping is scripted for each side scrolling room, it should never turn off.
I'll have to try that with the ammo. I can live with having a limited amount but not knowing when i'll run out is killing me.
I'm also having the same problem with the jump. After getting a couple of items i've realized instead of jumping it starts scrolling through the items. Happens in random rooms, sometimes just starting over stops it sometimes i have to close out the whole thing and reopen it.
Being a zelda idiot i can't figure out how to use the cheat as it keeps saying invalid code so i'll keep guessing on my ammo. Another little thing was i uncovered a chamber in aquarius with a bunch of worms in it, i killed them and a green bottle appears. The problem is it doesn't fall down where you can reach it and you can't move up past about midway in the room so there's no apparent way to get it.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dagon
I'll have to try that with the ammo. I can live with having a limited amount but not knowing when i'll run out is killing me.
I'm also having the same problem with the jump. After getting a couple of items i've realized instead of jumping it starts scrolling through the items. Happens in random rooms, sometimes just starting over stops it sometimes i have to close out the whole thing and reopen it.
Being a zelda idiot i can't figure out how to use the cheat as it keeps saying invalid code so i'll keep guessing on my ammo. Another little thing was i uncovered a chamber in aquarius with a bunch of worms in it, i killed them and a green bottle appears. The problem is it doesn't fall down where you can reach it and you can't move up past about midway in the room so there's no apparent way to get it.
I tried using Z3 subscreens (which display the arrows) but it caused repeated crashing. Maybe I'll try that again. Use cheat code "4" to access level four cheats.
The jumping is odd. Is it room-specific? If so, do you remember which rooms? If it's not room-specific, there's something really weird going on.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I can't remember the rooms but it just happened again at the bottom of the scorpio map a room to the right of where i saw a key block next to a silver square that's black in the middle. I'd take a snapshot but that's never wanted to work with this computer.
This is only the fourth time it's happened so it's not a constant occurence.
Ok, i can't say about the other rooms since i can't remember them but i'd have to say this one is room-specific. I went back and it didn't work again. I walk back one screen and it works, go back and it cycles through the items again. It looks like i'm going to have to jump on that screen too since you have to dig through all the sand and then jump up on the ledge.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I'll go back and check which rooms don't have the jump script activated. Screenshot em if you want me catch em faster.
I'm thinking of making a custom beam for each Zodiac sign - Aquarius Shield, Scorpio Sting, that sort of thing - that would be scripts running on custom sword items. Thing is, I need four or five utility FFCs on each screen in the whole quest to do this. Anyone interested in going through and setting five FFCs (the top five, so as not to interfere with other scripts) as invisible tiles at 0,0 on every screen in the quest? :)
_L_, I'll use the Smash Bros. song you keep suggesting.
Here's a new boss just finished. Moves back and forth and fires a giant beam weapon down at you.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda099.bmp
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I kept running out of ammo and had to use the lv4 cheat. Also there is a green potion that is impossible to get due to a barrier or something. but thats not why I posted.
Anyway to get a copy of Sabotage dragoon demo?
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I'm not sure where Sabotage Dragoon is uploaded right now. At one point it was hosted by Jman, I think. I'll try to get a copy uploaded this weekend.
And yes, I know that nothing has been done on that quest for years. I'm a bad man. My main problem is that I designed all of the bosses and special effects and so on in Sabotage Dragoon for the limitations of ZC earlier than 2.10. Now numerous changes, especially scripting, provide easier and more elegant solutions to those I used. So I've got to go back and fix pretty much everything. Which is fine, it just requires more time than I've got.
Zodaic, on the other hand, is really, really easy to design. Because I'm using a black background, I'm saving tons of time on screen setup. And scripting makes custom bosses half-hour, maybe an hour jobs instead of week-long jobs. So I'm mostly tinkering with this right now. Plus, I think this will make a bigger impact because there is literally NO decent side-scrolling tileset out there yet. It's fun to be making everything from scratch.
I've noticed no one has volunteered to help out with mindless FFC setup on every screen...
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Wow wow wowza! You, C-Dawg, never cease to amaze me. High five!
Even though I don't support the idea of sidescrolling in ZC and the scripts won't be useful for me, this quest looks fun and therefore it is a must download. I'll give this one a try whenever I have time from my questbuilding hurries. :)
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Petoe
the scripts won't be useful for me.
I'd check them out before drawing that kind of conclusion. Except for the general sideview jumping/dashing script, all scripts in this quest should apply just hunky dory to a traditional top-view format.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Quote:
Originally Posted by
C-Dawg
I'd check them out before drawing that kind of conclusion. Except for the general sideview jumping/dashing script, all scripts in this quest should apply just hunky dory to a traditional top-view format.
Oh silly me...
In that case, I'll check the quest out right now. Scripts are the best thing ever, I gotta admit. Too bad I still have to rely on other's help/ready examples with scripting, but maybe someday with lots of training I'll come up with almost as brilliant scripts as you and the few other scripting freaks here. ;)
But anyways, it is so goddamn awesome that you still are doing stuff with ZQuest. At one point I thought you were a goner... that would have been a huge loss for Zc community.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
For a very summary description of many of the scripts in Zodiac, you can visit this thread: http://www.armageddongames.net/forum...ad.php?t=97373
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I was playing through, and once I got to aquarius I started not taking damage, which then righted itself, and started happening again at random intervals. I also found this screen with apparently no gravity script: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...zelda001-1.jpg
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
You were taking damage. The problem is that scripting allows you to increment the player's current hit points even beyond the player's current maximum hit points. So when you filled up at the recharger, it was pushing your HP to unknown levels. Same happens with your magic / energy meter - it will constantly fill beyond your current maximum, so you won't notice it's dropping until it gets lower that what is displayed.
I'm adding a fix for that in the next version's script.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Oh right ok, thanks
And also, in this screen at the top of Aquarius, you can jump off from the top (as shown in the picture) but the top screen is blank, and has no gravity.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...zelda002-1.jpg
Also this screen has no gravity:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...C/zelda003.jpg
And the top half of this screen is unwalkable (well, unjumpable)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...C/zelda004.jpg
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Those who know me know that I like to make seriously difficult quests. Old school Nintendo style. So it's a bit of milestone today that I've made a level SO difficult, and SO aggravating, that I'm actually going back and toning it down.
It was a level where you need to climb and grapple your way up... and if you miss a grapple (easy to do because the hookshot still doesn't get along with sideview) you fell all the way back down and get to start all over. HOORAY!
Pair that with a boss that zips around blowing you with his fans, and can push you down a hole that puts you BACK AT THE START again ...
... even using cheats I wanted to tear my eyes out trying to play through it.
So that's not going to stay in.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Another update. Mostly scripts added to this one. For instance:
1. Script that makes the player slip on side-scrolling ice;
2. Script that causes enemy projectiles to form projectile-blocking ice prisions when they hit the player; and
3. MFING Ice Beam! (Sadly, it doesn't freeze enemies. That was the original intent, but trust me, without arrays, coding it that way was a monstrous pain in the ass. As is, it just creates ice blocks when it hits a wall or an enemy. Still pretty rad.) I've got to get the Carryover flag working correctly though; as is, the Ice Beam (randomly?) stops working after awhile.
Download the new version at http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Zodiac.zip. (Version 346 or later) As always, thanks to Sephiroth for the hosting space.
In this update, you can get to Libra.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda052.bmp
And fight this fellow, who will try to freeze you in blocks of ice so he can slam into you.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda050.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda051.bmp
Beat him and explore further to uncover this curious thing.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda054.bmp
Which turns out to be the MFING ICE BEAM.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zelda0053.bmp
Here's a list of things to do since the first time I posted a list. We left off with the Energy Beam allowing you to explore Gemini.
1. Work your way up and left in Gemini to hit the switch found there.
2. Descend to lower middle Gemini and fight the armored boss to obtain the Grapple Beam.
3. OPTIONAL - Find the passage to Taurus and fight the Giant Beam Cannon to get the Black Hole Armor. Not only is this armor more powerful than the Aquarius one, but it allows you to execute the Gravity Bomb attack, destroying all nearby enemies at the cost of a great deal of energy.
4. Return to Aries and use the Grapple Beam to explore the far upper right corner.
5. Defeat the fan-on-wheels to gain entry to Leo.
6. Explore Leo, moving to the upper middle portion of the map, and defeat the mainframe to get the Double-Jump Boots.
7. Return to lower-left Cancer and use the Double-Jump Boots to explore the new area and find Libra. (This area is a little buggy, might have to cheat).
8. In Libra, head to the upper right portion of the map to battle the Crystalline. Further on, after some annoying jumps, you'll find the Ice Beam, which replaces the Energy Beam.
-C
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
New custom boss to show ya. Most advanced one yet. Load up the quest file and move right to face the boss of Aquarius!
(Beta 346)
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zodiac.zip
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
The link above your last post is broken.
Anyways...
Nice boss! Am I right in guessing you have to use that wand-type thing on it?
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Nope. You can get to him before you need the Ice Beam. You just need to get your shots past his rotating shield, or hit him when he launches it at you.
The eventual idea is to have 12 Zodiac Bosses, each guarding a beam of their type. So if you beat the boss, you get the Aquarius Bubble. The beams will be exclusive - you can only have one at once. The Bubble is defensive in nature: short range, rapid fire, pushes enemies away, low power.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I have now added two other custom weapons:
1. The Scorpio Sting is pretty much identical to Metriod's Wave Beam.
2. The Aries Saber is essentially a three-tile-long sword slash. It's a bit overpowered right now, because it can score multiple hits in one slash. (Crissagream?) It tears the hell out of bosses.
The three custom weapons (Aquarius Bubble, Scorpio Sting, and Aries Saber) are attached to the Wooden, White, and Master swords until I overcome the problem preventing me from letting the player use custom sword items of level 5 and above.
As always, the quest is unlocked and you can go get these scripts for yourself. (You'll have to do a bit of studying to figure out how I'm doing it, though. This isn't as simple as most scripts.)
Here's the linky (b429):
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/zodiac.zip
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Did you use an item that starts with Z to make the level 5 sword? If so, then I think there is a bug which does not allow the player to use those, so maybe you can try using a magic ring for the level 5 sword?
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
New update. Uses Beta 434 now. No password, as always. Im going to stop specifying all of the new scripts in each update; there's getting to be too many. This one has rapid fire enemy guns, wall clinging ability, spread gun, pursue link on a radius, set between ffcs, vertical chaser and uh.... several more.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Zodiac.Zip
This version lets you explore Virgo. (Access it beyond the Flying Cactus room in Scorpio, using the Ice Rod.)
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Virgo1.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Virgo2.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Virgo3.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Virgo4.bmp
The big new scripts for Virgo are chain scripts. Remember old NES style "snakes" or "chains" made up of a series of different sprites? Yea.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/VioletBoss2.bmp
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/VioletBoss.bmp
And you can recover the Wall Cling Boots in Virgo. (The quest file starts you out with them). When you have the boots, press against a wall to cling to it ala Ninja Gaiden (except that you can actually climb the wall by hopping along it). I've also used a trick with link offset properties to let your graphics change while clinging. Problematically, the gravity script refuses to let me display the player's normal left or right graphics while off the ground, so I've got to use the splayed-leg symmetrical look while the player isn't firing.
http://users.sephiroth.ws/C-Dawg/Wallhang.bmp
Oh yea, that's the spread gun. It will stop working if you die outside of Aquarius, though. To get it working again, revisit Aquarius. (I gotta fix that)
STILL LOOKING FOR SUBSCREEN HELP, FELLAS.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
can i give this a try it looks interesting.tried the dl link but i just got the best 404 screen ive ever seen.if not i understand.thanks
edit:nvm i didnt see the new link.sorry
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Good update! If you want, I'd be happy to help with the subscreen.:)
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
I'd be glad for your help. The subscreen editor is a complete mystery to me. I've tinkered with it, and usually just create something unusable or crash the program.
What I want is a subscreen organized similar to Super Metroid; a large picture of the player character with the items and equipment placed in boxes connected to the body part to which they correspond. I would also like three or four "hidden" items that are saved as nonselectable equipment but are invisible in the subscreen. (Used for changing the characters' graphics).
I can do the graphics, that's not a problem. The arrangement of the items should be as follows:
Linked to Helmet: (Selectable Items) Lens of Truth, Ghost Blink, Energy Conserver (not yet implemented), Potions.
Linked to Boots: (Equipment - non-selectable) High Jump, Dash Jet (upgrades to Rocket Jet) Double Jump, Wall Cling
Linked to Chest: (Equipment - non-selectable) Rings, Screw Attack (not yet implemented), Hazard Sheild (not yet implemented), Energy Charger (not yet implemented), Wealth Medals, Health Rings.
Linked to Arms: (Items - selectable) Arrows, Boomerangs, Hammers, Wands, Hookshot, Swords, Bombs (upgrades to Missiles), Super Bombs
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
Where can I get the 2b354 beta so I can download this quest to try?? Thanks for any info.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
im pretty sure its up to beat 434 now but at any rate ya can find all the betas at www.shardstorm.com. its also listed in the betas thread in the forum for future reference if ya forget or somethin.good luck.
this quest is quite good cdawg i like it.im a metroid freak as well as zelda so thisll be nice considering theres no other 2d new quests out there for metroid.At least not that i know of.Should be a zelda classic, metroid classic and a kid icarus classic hahahaha.no matter though just makes me appreacite what they do for ZC even more.
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
The newest builds are actually found at http://www.shardstorm.dreamhosters.com/ nowadays
-
Re: Zodiac, the Side-Quest
eh either or...both go to same page.no matter.least theyre still somewhere thats good enough for me.