Demo: "The Lord of the Rings"

Elissa · 04-01-2002, 12:47 AM

(Update: links to screen shots now available; see later post in thread.)

Hi everyone,

I've now had the opportunity to play and enjoy some extremely high-quality quests, courtesy of everyone here. Now I'm obliged to put back into the community, and I'm doing so with my first public quest, a large and plot-intensive game based upon "THE LORD OF THE RINGS", the immortal novel by JRR Tolkien. I've nicknamed it "A Link to Middle-earth".

This release, Demo 01, is complete up to the gates of Bree. Being the first part of the quest, it is quite easy and relatively linear, but it does set the groundwork for what I hope will be a game of high quality. This is another of those not-always-popular quests where the character starts without a sword. However, I believe that this works out to be a strength in this case (but you will be a better of judge of that).

The final quest will be large. It will also be non-linear, so much so that you will be able to skip certain areas entirely or embark upon multiple routes. All the major locations from the book will be yours to explore, as will some areas not touched on directly in the novel. The overworld will be larger than that found in most quests, and dungeons will probably play a less key role (but later dungeons will be more inspiring than the rather bland "Barrow" dungeon included in this demo).

I don't intend to enter this quest into the contest, and there are two reasons for that. First, I won't commit to a definite timetable for its completion. The second reason is the more important: this quest is not consistent with the competition rules; I may even opt not to include the Triforce, as it adds little to Middle-earth. This quest is a departure from the norm, whereas the competition requires that quests conform to certain minimal standards. But, yes, I'm eagerly awaiting the tools that the new beta will make available upon its release.

Obviously this demo is a small step on a long road, but I figured that I couldn't be the only person dreaming of a "Lord of the Rings" quest for Zelda, and I hope that someone out there finds this worthwhile.

Lis.
www.xyvol.com/zelda/elissa/lotr.zip

Thanks to Xyvol for hosting the file!

**K-Teclis** · 04-01-2002, 05:55 AM

We'll see how good it is!

**Emaleth of Donn** · 04-01-2002, 06:22 AM

Nice start to your quest, a problems though. In the Barrow, the room where the sword is, either it is a bug, or you will have to have different enemies in there as the fireblocks underneath it do not trigger when the blue candle is used, and the candle that you are allowed with one flame only does not work on ghosts.

Would maybe make it more challenging (and keep people playing at least) by keeping the ghosts as well as those statues but at least allowing Frodo to have a red candle so he has a chance. That way he'll have to just keep dodging the statues to try and get the ghosts eliminated.

You have to be quick on your feet too with the riders!

Would make it more LOTRish too if you could find some music from the movie to use, I'm sure there are many midi's out there already.

Elissa · 04-01-2002, 06:43 AM

Thanks for taking the time to play the quest, Emaleth! You've come up with some incisive feedback, too, which is always good.

I really like your idea about using Midi music from the movie; it really would do a lot for the game's atmosphere. I was thinking of raiding the old Zelda Midi Shop for some music, but the thought of music from the film never struck me. Thanks!

Regarding the black riders, yep, they're sure deadly! You will have to encounter one of them at the least in this demo (depending on the route you take). If you take the ferry (ie, raft) instead of the bridge and then head through the Old Forest rather than taking the Road, the one rider you encounter is slower and does not fire swords. But the Road might be worth a look-in if you insist on searching everywhere (and if you're fast on your feet!).

Now, on the topic of the ghosts/candle. There's no bug here, nor is there a mistake. What there is, perhaps, is poor explanation. You're not supposed to kill the ghosts with the candle (you can't, and that's deliberate), and the blocks separating you from the barrow dagger cannot be burnt.

Fredegar (back at Crickenhollow) sells you info on this point, which in hindsight might have been a bit obtuse. At any rate, my sister managed to figure it out; she's a Zelda novice, but is a big fan of the books, so she might have drawn on her LotR lore to get through. If you remember who saves the hobbits in the book (and if you've discovered how to get in touch with this character in the quest), use this to your advantage.

If not, I can tell you a bit more. ;)

Elissa.

**Emaleth of Donn** · 04-01-2002, 07:34 AM

Ahh well, if Tom is under that one bush with the 4 darknuts, then I'm afraid you might not get many people, myself included, there. Where you enter from the Barrow the darknuts are right behind you as they come from the same side of the screen, making it impossible to outrun them.

Anyhoo, good luck with the rest of your quest!

Elissa · 04-01-2002, 07:53 AM

No, no, no, no, no, no, no! No! :)

Tom is not on one of the "dark screens" with the Black Riders. That would be quite sadistic, and bad quest design too. He's at the entry to the Old Forest, right before the path maze. In fact, he tells you how to get through.

You need to use a special item to find him (not the candle; Fredegar's advice gives a big clue), and you use the same item to get through the Barrow. Thanks heaps for testing all of this; I've thought of a way to make Tom a bit more accessible in the post-demo version.

For the record, if you explore the dark Road, you'll find a 1/4 of heart. You don't need a candle or anything like that to access it, just fancy footwork!

Lis.

**Emaleth of Donn** · 04-01-2002, 08:12 AM

Well, if I need the whistle then I do have a problem since I don't have it or any clue where to get it, lol I do have the boomerang, bracelet, raft, candle, & the compass for some reason.

No matter though, time for me to head out to work, so this will have to wait for another day.

**Raichu86** · 04-01-2002, 04:38 PM

Sounds interesting. Could you post some screenshots?

Elissa · 04-01-2002, 08:02 PM

**Raichu86** · 04-01-2002, 08:50 PM

Interesting, looks pretty good. But why are all the trees dead?

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