(NES) Total Conversion Hack Castlevania 3: Aperture of Corruption

[doublebass1985]

If I were to guess what sex the character was just by the sprite I'd say it's a guy. Am I the only one who gets that vibe? Not that you should necessarily change it cuz it has that perfect castlevania look to it.  It just reminds me more of Simon Belmont or something.

[Toffi]

Your not the only one doublebass1985, which is why the hair was brought back from prior sprite versions. The character the sprite is supposed to represent is Sonia Belmont from Castlevania: Legends. In past iterations the characters long braid was cut off due to hardware limitations. During gameplay the walk cycle would loop a wavy version of the long hair causing the sprite's braid to defy gravity when stopped. It was shelved until we fixed the issue.

[NiO]

Do any of these look better?

What about using a bg tile to fake a larger floor?

If I understood you are already doing that, but Im not sure.

Like, using a bg tile that does have half of the floor in it and the wall detail in the upper half, so when the character is there seems like its on the middle of the platform instead of the very edge.

The hack looks impressive btw.

[Toffi]

It's postin' time!
Welcome back to another enthralling round of updates from the AoC team. I hope your ready for some new and interesting progress updates from out latest levels.

To start we have more progress on the mad tower. This abandoned asylum was originally created to treat the mentally ill in 1872, however during the Draculin war of 1897 it was captured and converted into a fortress of the night. It's main feature is it's chilling heights and large activity area's.



This section is still a WIP so expect new sections to be refined and edited soon.

Lastly is the games newest iteration of Castlevania! Included within the castles layout are both new editions and classic ones. Some 1897 newcomers to the castle layout include an observatory, industrial kitchen and cannon houses! Many classic sections of Castlevania's past have returned like the chapel, ball room, armory, clock tower and throne room. If you have any suggestions to he current castle layout feel free to post them with traditional drawings or digital files.
Were more than happy to see some of your ideas!




REPLY SECTION
Hi NiO, thanks for the reply!
Yes, other stages have used background tiles to help sell the illusion of floor depth however it comes at a cost. Nametable data (which is the chunks of tiles that create levels) come with 32x32 tile boundaries. Since the tile is at the edge of a nametable boundary (to fit within collision guidelines) adding in a layer of background tile's would mean having to edit every nametable the ground touches plus alternative ones for where the ground doesn't touch the background. Sadly due to the vast amount of level data (including houses mountains ship exteriors, interiors, flooding sequences, ext) we are out of nametable tiles for the stage. It's technically possible but would require drastic cut backs of other level features. That's also why the latest mad tower vertical sections don't have the 2.5D effect added. It's a cost saving measure to prevent nametable locking in future sections.

[Alkali Man OG]

damn hard to believe this isn't a fangame made on pc

[Googie]

Those recent screens look pretty tight, I love 'em. 

[Xander max]

in my humble opinion, the feminine traits should be highlighted more, I tried to exemplify by copying a little of the style.
observation, my drawing is the one on the left, while the right is the original.
I really admire this project.

[doublebass1985]

I know your still working on these levels and stuff, but just wanted to give you some different opinions you might not notice.  So the ground platforms that flip over with spikes I don't know if that would work with a 3D environment.  I drew a more 3D version of the platform that flips over, but I don't think it would work with sprites and a tile grid.  Also the windows in the background really are purplexing me how the architecture of this tower is.  I drew if you were standing on the roof looking down is that what the windows would look like it comes out at a triangular wall?  The 2 screenshots on the right side the 2 stairways are different you have a 3D stairway and a 2D stairway they should probably be the same for consistency.  I can also see not changing the stairs too because the screenshot on the far right isn't 3D environment.  I also realize this is a game and stuff doesn't necessarily all have to make sense with architecture. Not trying to nit pick ,but I like stuff when it's ultra polished.

[Arcade-Elite]

Toffi on a side note whenever your done this game and had a good vacation lol if your a fan of Kirby's Adventure you should try to make a new NES kirby game or a Kirbys adventure 2. By what you did Using the MMC5 chip to its fullest potential. And Maybe have Mr. Gimmick as a Final boss? 

[Toffi]

Welcome one and all to another enthralling round of updates from the RHDN team
This April we have a lot to show! So I hope your ready for them. Without further a do, lets get started.

Opening up this round of updates is an improvement into the games lighting and dithering system, which is slowly but surely making our 3D modeling import system into a force to be reckoned with. Currently the system is rated for any model under 200 tri's and is interchangeable (though costly). Above is the older over saturated models and below is the current set up which allows for much clearer visuals without the prior systems import times.

Dithering's been tested however the resolution of a full bank means that it's much more difficult to pull off without losing a lot of poly detail.

If anyone's interested in seeing a model imported feel free to reply and I might be able to build a custom 3 color animation set for it.

Finalizing this post are some updates to stage 04 color wise and a few new WIP sections.
00 got some new colors, 02 01 got some extra graphics and 02 02 is being set up from the ground up.




REPLY SECTION
Thanks for the compliments Googie and Alkali Man OG, hopefully as this project continues we will continue to improve the quality of our work.

On the topic of the Mad Tower doubblebas85, there were a lot of technical limitations that led to the stages current look. the Sprite rotation of the spike traps makes it difficult to add a 2.5D skew to it without braking the functionality. The stair's and windows were a compression choice as a way to keep tile costs low for later sections of the stage. The asylum was designed to be a little off from the beginning, as if it's insanity wore off on the player and was engrained into the architecture. We originally envisioned this section as somewhat of MC Escher like experience, upside-down stairwells and all which might be revisited at a later point in development once the stage obstacles and boss are finalized.

Hi Xander Max! Were always open to receiving tips on how we can better polish our sprites. Thanks for the heads up and pixel art explaining what you would like to see changed. Ultimately the team went with a more hybridized form that took a few of your recommendations into account. It would be pretty interesting to see how your take on the games roster if you'd be interested in reviewing them.


I'm not sure what game the team might take after this project is done Arcade Elite. There are a lot of good choices out there and it might take a while to pick a game with the same potential as the US version of CV3.

[Flaviogames]

Welcome one and all to another enthralling round of updates from the RHDN team
This April we have a lot to show! So I hope your ready for them. Without further a do, lets get started.

Opening up this round of updates is an improvement into the games lighting and dithering system, which is slowly but surely making our 3D modeling import system into a force to be reckoned with. Currently the system is rated for any model under 200 tri's and is interchangeable (though costly). Above is the older over saturated models and below is the current set up which allows for much clearer visuals without the prior systems import times.

Dithering's been tested however the resolution of a full bank means that it's much more difficult to pull off without losing a lot of poly detail.

If anyone's interested in seeing a model imported feel free to reply and I might be able to build a custom 3 color animation set for it.

Finalizing this post are some updates to stage 04 color wise and a few new WIP sections.
00 got some new colors, 02 01 got some extra graphics and 02 02 is being set up from the ground up.




REPLY SECTION
Thanks for the compliments Googie and Alkali Man OG, hopefully as this project continues we will continue to improve the quality of our work.

On the topic of the Mad Tower doubblebas85, there were a lot of technical limitations that led to the stages current look. the Sprite rotation of the spike traps makes it difficult to add a 2.5D skew to it without braking the functionality. The stair's and windows were a compression choice as a way to keep tile costs low for later sections of the stage. The asylum was designed to be a little off from the beginning, as if it's insanity wore off on the player and was engrained into the architecture. We originally envisioned this section as somewhat of MC Escher like experience, upside-down stairwells and all which might be revisited at a later point in development once the stage obstacles and boss are finalized.

Hi Xander Max! Were always open to receiving tips on how we can better polish our sprites. Thanks for the heads up and pixel art explaining what you would like to see changed. Ultimately the team went with a more hybridized form that took a few of your recommendations into account. It would be pretty interesting to see how your take on the games roster if you'd be interested in reviewing them.


I'm not sure what game the team might take after this project is done Arcade Elite. There are a lot of good choices out there and it might take a while to pick a game with the same potential as the US version of CV3.

it's getting amazing, congratulations on the work, any forecast for the launch?

[SuxMenner]

Hi Xander Max! Were always open to receiving tips on how we can better polish our sprites. Thanks for the heads up and pixel art explaining what you would like to see changed. Ultimately the team went with a more hybridized form that took a few of your recommendations into account. It would be pretty interesting to see how your take on the games roster if you'd be interested in reviewing them.

I honestly prefer the sprite from before better, looks visually less cluttered and the additions made to showcase a more feminine look take away from the look of this Sonia which is already pretty accurate to the original but obviously less stylized like anime in Legend's artwork and more so the usual vania style, she just looks a lot more clunky in this new sprite.

[VincentNL]

Amazing work! Keep it up guys, I  can imagine the amount of hours and passion to make something like this to happen!

Regarding visual feedback, I think Xander's original suggestion being a pretty accurate one: hair, chest and knee high boots all follow the reference artwork.

[drax01]

in my humble opinion, the feminine traits should be highlighted more, I tried to exemplify by copying a little of the style.
observation, my drawing is the one on the left, while the right is the original.
I really admire this project.

This design is great, can you use it in your trick? Toffi.

[drax01]

Toffi on a side note whenever your done this game and had a good vacation lol if your a fan of Kirby's Adventure you should try to make a new NES kirby game or a Kirbys adventure 2. By what you did Using the MMC5 chip to its fullest potential. And Maybe have Mr. Gimmick as a Final boss? 

Final boss no, as a playable character option, being able to select between Kirby or Gimmick to play, would be great! A new adventure.

and your art would be the cover for the game. 

[Arcade-Elite]

I don't know if he could change characters to play as, as Kirby and Mr. Gimmick have different abilities. Thats why i was saying as a boss maybe and do some sprite tricks for the moves. But if he could pull that off well that would be a masterpiece for a Kirby adventure 2 or whatever he could call it. Mr. Gimmick and Kirby's Dream adventure? I mean if he is able to rework a mmc5 rom that is castlevania 3. And maybe convert from mmc3 kirby to a mmc5 should have more room to make the game bigger? I hope? It could be a start of one of the best reputations as a rom hacker to get another mmc3 game made especially if it's kirby.  
I am sure there would be other good idea's Toffi would come up with in that game also.   But Toffi and his crew are doing damn good work on this Castlevania game and i hope they keep going on other games as this is some of the best work i have seen in a long time. I can't wait to play it just wanted to thank you and your team for all of your hard work. I just get excited with every update. 

[drax01]

I don't know if he could change characters to play as, as Kirby and Mr. Gimmick have different abilities. Thats why i was saying as a boss maybe and do some sprite tricks for the moves. But if he could pull that off well that would be a masterpiece for a Kirby adventure 2 or whatever he could call it. Mr. Gimmick and Kirby's Dream adventure? I mean if he is able to rework a mmc5 rom that is castlevania 3. And maybe convert from mmc3 kirby to a mmc5 should have more room to make the game bigger? I hope? It could be a start of one of the best reputations as a rom hacker to get another mmc3 game made especially if it's kirby.  
I am sure there would be other good idea's Toffi would come up with in that game also.   But Toffi and his crew are doing damn good work on this Castlevania game and i hope they keep going on other games as this is some of the best work i have seen in a long time. I can't wait to play it just wanted to thank you and your team for all of your hard work. I just get excited with every update. 

I didn't understand if all the message was for me, but if it was so, let me clarify, I'm not participating in this castlevania hack, I'm not from Toffi's team, I'm very excited about the great work they're doing, I'm working on another project, which is from Mortal Kombat 2 Special, I don't want to spam here, if Toffi allows me I'll put the link of my forum. Toffi, can I place my link in this space?

[Creature667]

@Drax01, I'm sure Toffi wouldn't mind. I'm part of the Castlevania: AoC team and I'll allow it just because I'm interested in what your MK II Special Hack is about. Those Hummer Team knock off fighting games are interesting to me in that some of them have been surprisingly good looking (and some really freaking bad) but the Ultimate MK 3 NES hack that came out a while back is one of my favorite hack games of all time. It absolutely blows peoples minds when they see it in action. You making MK2 Special as amazing as that one?

[drax01]

I just thought, that it would be great to have 1, 2 and 3 on NES, we already have 3, which was what Vasil did, an impressive job and I can say that I'm not at that level, I'm totally new and new, when I started I didn't know anything .
I started the project looking for someone to do it, when I didn't find anyone I didn't want the project to die so I started looking at many tutorials, asking in forums, doing trial and error until I managed to materialize the project and move on, today Today, 2 users have joined and I went from being an individual to having a work team, we all give our best, they are already working on the music. My forum is:

https://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=36427.0

my youtube channel is:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZBPW4kneJpe-AUw8mZUUQ

Thank you

[Toffi]

Sorry for the delay,
Yes it's aright to advertise with links here as long as they aren't spammed and can be somewhat related to the topic at hand.
Thanks for the help Creature!