[NES] Metroid 1 - Ultimate Remake - Based on Rogue Dawn engine modifications

[Grimlock]

(This post will be updated on occasion to reflect project progess)

Metroid 1 - Complete Reconstruction - A Hack of Rogue Dawn

This is a complete reconstruction of Metroid 1 using the game engine modifications of the rom hack Rogue Dawn.  I have reverted the custom Rogue Dawn graphics back to the original classic graphic.  In addition to the classic graphics I have added several new tiles to accommodate the slope mechanics that were integrated into Rogue Dawn as well as others to add an additional layer of detail.  All of the new upgrades, bug fixes, mapper expansion, slope detection, and all the other fancy what's it's of Rogue Dawn will be included in this modification.  Consider this a Rogue Dawnized recreation of Metroid 1.

The game rooms will resemble the originals but will receive RDs organic level design style.

Link to Rogue Dawn at RHDN:
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3280/

Foundation for future projects:

This ROM hack will be released with the source files (precompiled build) and the tools used to create it.  In addition to essentially resetting the graphics back to the classic tiles the innards of the ROM have been highly organized to create a platform for others to use as a foundation for building their own original Metroid ROM hack.  After the version 1.0 release I intend to work on tutorial files that will be included in revised releases. 
Providing a foundation for others is a large part of the purpose behind this project.  Releasing the RD source files and the tools wouldn't have been a good way to go.  RD is incredibly complex, layers and layers have been added to the level design.  Essentially to anyone who wasn't actively developing it, it looks like a mess internally (Palette swaps, tile swaps, warping, screen loading code for text, complicated combo and structure usage) so it would be a fairly difficult foundation to start with.



Extra goodies:

In addition to reconstructing the original layout there will be several new secrets and conveniences built into the level design.  The flow of the original game will be there but additional secret passageways and secret item rooms are being added.  RD had more missile pickups than the original.  The new power ups from RD will be integrated into the level design so new item rooms may be added.


Progress:

(Project started in summer of 2019)

Updated 9-23-2022

Brinstar - 100% Complete - polishing

Norfair  - 100% Complete- polishing

Tourian  - 100% Reconstruction - Enemy placement testing and adjustments

Ridley  - 100% Reconstruction - Enemy placement testing and adjustments

Kraid    - 100% complete

Title Screen        - 0%
Game Over Screen    - 0%
Game ending graphics - 0%
Game ending text    - 0%

Adding new item rooms and secrets - 80%


(Images are earlier pre-polished level designs)

Project Images:


Old Vs New











Other Images

[Vanya]

Hot damn! That all looks fantastic!

[knderia]

Everything looks more "organic" now. Shows what decades of knowledge can do to a game engine.

[ultimaweapon]

It does look awesome

[Googie]

This is tight, bro. I really dig it! 

[Metalwario64]

I get that you are going for an enhanced "vanilla" look here, but I think using the block ground tiles with slopes like this sorta makes them look like someone cut them out in Photoshop. I know you drew actual edge graphics for the slopes (and they do help), but I just think the block look clashes with the organic slope shapes.

It's fine if it looks fine to you, but I think it would be better to make a similar looking repeating rock texture so it doesn't look like someone carved out the edges of blocks or something. That's just my opinion.

[ifightdragons]

This looks really cool. Definitely added to my follow list.

Will this be made compatible with the two essential improvement hacks?
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/504/ (Metroid99)
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4471/ (Metroid + Saving Unofficial Update)

I surelyy hope so, as the base game is a total slog to beat without these updates.
Best of luck going forward!

[Spooniest]

Quite stylish

Metroids coming out of the glass pens made me jump a bit as I was scrolling down

[MegaManModelT101]

Oh, hey Grimlock! Just realized you were working on this a bit ago. Will there be any beta testing for this one or not needed? Either way good luck with this project, but can ya get back to me on something soon? I messaged you via email recently. Hope this project pans out well and that you're doing ok currently.

[Vanya]

This looks really cool. Definitely added to my follow list.

Will this be made compatible with the two essential improvement hacks?
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/504/ (Metroid99)
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4471/ (Metroid + Saving Unofficial Update)

I surelyy hope so, as the base game is a total slog to beat without these updates.
Best of luck going forward!

Doesn't it already have most of if not all the features from both those patches since it's based on Rogue Dawn?

[ifightdragons]

Doesn't it already have most of if not all the features from both those patches since it's based on Rogue Dawn?

Oh right, of course Neato!

[Grimlock]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate the feedback.  I'm merging the organic look of Rogue Dawn with the original NEStroid.  It's going to have all of the Rogue Dawn modifications since this it literally a modification of Rogue Dawn from the original RD source files.  I have two motivations behind this project; to provide a companion patch for the Rogue Dawn development tools so they can be released for others to use, and secondly for the fun of creating a more organic version of NEStroid.

For those that don't particularly care for the block look of the slopes maybe they'll grow on you after playing this version of M1.  One of my goals is to keep it close to the original graphical style.  Currently it is vanilla tiles for the most part but I may further enhance the tiles after the level design is complete (or others may do with it as they please, the tools will be included).  Although I do want this to be high quality I do want to complete it in a reasonable time as I feel my efforts with my M1 silhouette project will be better spent and I'd like to get back on it soon.

NEStroid (Metroid 1) Silhouette Project:
https://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=27483.msg367575#msg367575

EDIT:  T101, thanks for your help with RD, email sent

[Grimlock]

Hey all, I just wanted to provide an update, this project is getting closer to completion.  I'm wondering if anyone would be interested in visiting the original music and enhancing it.  The music would essentially be the same but improved, much like the other aspects of the game that have been improved.  Also, if any experienced graphics artists would like to take a crack at the title screen, game over screen, or game ending sequence I'm open to bring others onboard, otherwise I'll produce those graphics after I complete the remaing level design and tile work.

Here's a few more screenshots of the original and the enhanced level design you can expect from this game modification:


Original Level Design:




Enhanced Level Design:





Original Level Design:




Enhanced Level Design:

[Spooniest]

Ooooh. That's purty.

... I wish I did know how to music for the NES, but I can only make it with guitars and such, myself.

[altoiddealer]

Amazing! 

[Shadic]

Just saw this for the first time. Looks fantastic! Great improvement to the Morph Ball area too.

[IcePenguin]

Most excellent!  As always, it's fun to see Metroid related stuff.    Comparing the different screens of the Morph Ball area, I like what you did with the textures.  The blocks did look strange when next to the slopes, at first, but your latest version blends them together nicely and with a new rock texture in between.  Can't wait to see more!  Also, can't wait to see more of your silhouette hack!  Has that made any progress?

[Grimlock]

Also, can't wait to see more of your silhouette hack!  Has that made any progress?

No progress unfortunately.  I've been focused on this project exclusively between the two.  I'm actually much more excited about the silhouette project that this remake but I want to provide a high quality result before I move on to the silhouette project.  I'm also working on a very high end Super Mario hack with two talented individuals that I feel will make a pretty significant impact once it's completed.  My primary role is level design for that particular project.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  I've stepped up my goals for this project and I plan to take it to the next level beyond my original intentions. 

[Vanya]

I get goosebumps when you say things like stepping up to the next level. lol

[ShadowOne333]

I was quietly doing something similar, aiming for a "Metroid Redux" kind of treatment months, if not a year ago.
I was using Snarfblam's Map+Save latest unofficial build (as well as some more stuff, like 7 Energy tanks and others), and also implemented animated graphics for lava based on Rogue Dawn.

Give me a few days and I'll upload everything I had on this.
Just let my crappy slow-ass Gentoo machine finish updating and I'll give you all I had, you can even name the project Metroid Redux if you want, as I don't really see myself going back to this anytime soon.