1

Gaming Discussion / Maldita Castilla

« on: January 20, 2017, 06:22:48 am »

I don't know if any of you have played this game, but I like it a lot. It's a superb Ghouls n Ghosts clone with a medieval Spanish setting, awesome music, great bosses, and a deliciously gothic atmosphere. It's also much more fair than the original GnG games were. For example, MC gives you 3 hits instead of 2, in addition to the shield that you can find in chests. You also have more freedom of choice in weapons, armor and health are more frequent, and there are unlimited continues (although if you lose too many, you won't get the true ending). Best of all, you don't have to beat the game TWICE. Yes, this game is hard, but it's also not needlessly sadistic. That makes it better, imo.

This is also the game that inspired me to strike out on my own and make the software that I want to see, instead of waiting for bloated husks like Konami to do it. Locomalito designed this game all by himself (though he had help with the music), drawing on his own cultural background, mythology, etc, while in many ways building upon and improving the formula that he used as his blueprint. We need more of this sort of thing. A LOT more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnXPVFcVIW8&t=1360s

2

Gaming Discussion / I\'m designing my own 3D Goemon clone - set in ancient Israel, not ancient Japan

« on: January 16, 2017, 03:48:51 am »

The working title is Amashi (which is also the name of the protagonist), and it is a 3D platformer/action RPG in the same vein as the first Mystical Ninja on N64. I feel that Jewish culture, especially as told from a Jewish perspective (i.e. not Western/Roman Catholic/etc), is extremely under represented, so I want to be the first to change that. Plus, I'm tired of waiting for Konami to make a new Goemon, so I've decided to do it myself, only with a Hebrew spin on it. So far, I've compiled a basic plotline (which is really just an excuse for Amashi to travel the land of Israel and smash demons ), a bestiary (see below), and some gameplay ideas. Amashi ben Ishmerai starts off as a shepherd in a small village, living with his elder Shammua, wife Na'arah, and daughter Tamar. But while he is away, his city is destroyed by the plishtim (basically the Hebrew name for Philistines, which means "invaders"). The entire village is slaughtered, and all of the women and children are taken as slaves. Amashi, of course, is having none of it, and decides to go after the Philistines using his shepherd's cane as a makeshift bo-staff. He makes his way to their stronghold, but before he can confront their king (who has already set sail on his ship, slaves in tow), he is attacked by the Lotan (Leviathan) beast. Although the Lotan is defeated, it collapses onto Amashi's ship, catapulting him all the way to Mount Azazel, where he battles an army of se'irim (the Near Eastern version of satyrs) and defeats Azazel, the Se'ir king. Arriving in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), he tries to enter the temple to pray to Elohim/YHWH, but is denied entry. This means he must seek permission from the king, leading to a romp through a trap laden palace in the center of Jerusalem, ending in a confrontation with Solomon's guardian golem. The king is outraged and forbids him from entering the temple, so he has to sneak in. El hears Amashi's prayers, and instructs him to seek out the powers of the other gods (basically the gods of our polytheistic/Canaanite pagan ancestors) so that he may eventually defeat Ashmedai (the demon king who is responsible for the return of the plishtim), reunite with his family, and bring peace back to Israel.

Yeah, it's not the most original story of all time, but I am still reasonably confident in it. After all, there aren't many games out there with a Middle Eastern setting (let alone an ancient Hebrew one) where you aren't playing as some American soldier gunning down al-Qaeda or whatever. I have a lot of ambition for it. I just hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew.
January 17, 2017, 12:50:33 am - (Auto Merged - Double Posts are not allowed before 7 days.)I tried to post the full bestiary, but it wouldn't let me since it's too long.

3

Gaming Discussion / What is the future of the Japanese gaming industry?

« on: August 27, 2016, 05:34:04 am »

I play mostly colorful, quirky Japanese games. It's been that way for 25 years, and I don't see that ever changing. That's not to say that I don't enjoy certain Western games (e.g. Rayman, Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia, Uncharted, Mortal Kombat, LittleBigPlanet, The Witcher, Banjo Kazooie/DKC etc), but I've always leaned Japanese. Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Castlevania, Mega Man, Mystical Ninja Goemon, Bomberman, Dragon Quest, Katamari Damacy, Sonic the Hedgehog, Kirby, Ninja Gaiden, Tales of Phantasia/Symphonia/Abyss/etc, Secret of Mana, Shinobi, Ninokuni, Rygar, the list goes on and on.

But starting last generation, these games have begun to disappear completely, often along with the companies that make them. Konami's gone (and they took Hudson with them), Capcom is in miserable shape, Sega only makes (bad, excluding Generations and Colors) Sonic and Yakuza games, Namco isn't what it used to be, and while Nintendo still makes quality games, they've lost a lot of their ambition and most of their games nowadays end up feeling sterile. Square-Enix are trying to regain their lost glory, but the way Star Ocean 5 turned out leaves me worried. Tecmo-Koei, Falcom, and Level 5 are still out there, and that's about it.

So will there ever be a Renaissance, or should I just accept the fact that the kinds of games I like are rapidly dying out?