Nifflas' Support Forum

Level Editing Support => Knytt Stories Level Previews => Topic started by: munchybot on June 28, 2010, 10:20:44

Title: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: munchybot on June 28, 2010, 10:20:44
I just started working on this. I'm planning to make it pretty big (my goal is 200/300 400/500) and it's going to be very nonlinear, similar in gameplay to Nifflas's A Strange Dream (possibly my favorite level in any videogame, ever :D), with powerups in multiple locations and lots of exploring. It's actually my second level; my first was heavily inspired by Momruoy's Infestation, but I didn't like how it was turning out (too linear) so I kind of got bored with it after seventy-something rooms. :\ I may finish that later.

Anyway, here's some screens.

(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Munchy365/thehermit_1.png)
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Munchy365/the_hermit3.png)
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Munchy365/the_hermit2.png)

It's currently at seven rooms sixty rooms one hundred and forty rooms two hundred and twenty-two rooms... oh boy.

And as of 3/20/12, there is a playable demo! It includes two seperate paths to obtain the first couple of powerups, and two "endings". Areas you aren't allowed to see are walled off (charming, I know), though nothing is stopping you from opening it up in the editor and taking a peek around besides your (hopefully existent) disinclination towards spoiling things for yourself! This I recommend not doing.

You can check out that demo here (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/The%20Hermit%20DEMO.knytt.bin). Keep in mind that basically everything is designed to be revisited with powerups that you cannot yet obtain, and I'm building this level entirely out of order, so what you see here is only a fraction of what's been finished...

Oh, and the music in there right now is all placeholder stuff. I'm gonna make some of my own (http://kynes.bandcamp.com/) to replace it at a later date.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Boss0alex on June 28, 2010, 10:26:04
Looks quite nice. Quite nice indeed.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Hmpf on June 29, 2010, 11:30:45
I concur. Nice work with the colours there, especially.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on June 30, 2010, 02:24:09
How do you do that spoiler thing?

One of what will most likely be a few locations where you can find the run powerup:
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Munchy365/the_hermit5.png)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Razzorman on June 30, 2010, 02:53:31
This looks pretty good. I'd play this. :D

Quote from: munchybot on June 30, 2010, 02:24:09
How do you do that spoiler thing?
Code: [Select]
[spoiler=Spoiler name goes here]Stuff you don't want to spoil[/spoiler]
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on June 30, 2010, 03:00:57
Thanks (for both the compliment and the help :P)!

I updated this room with some bubbles in the water. Not much of an update but it looks a lot better in-game in my opinion.

Spoiler: IT WORKS MUAHAHA (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on June 30, 2010, 07:49:48
Phew - added fourteen rooms today! You can see thirteen of them in this

Spoiler: EPIC SPOILER!!!!1 (click to show/hide)

Gradients don't match up but everything else does.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Salmoneous on June 30, 2010, 10:26:48
This looks great. Very great even for a first level.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Hmpf on June 30, 2010, 12:58:37
Quote from: munchybot on June 30, 2010, 07:49:48
Phew - added fourteen rooms today! You can see thirteen of them in this

Spoiler: EPIC SPOILER!!!!1 (click to show/hide)

Gradients don't match up but everything else does.

OMG. This. Is. Awesome.

Also, you're giving me a run for my money in the "overdoing it with the screenshots" department. :D
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: bulbapuck on June 30, 2010, 14:20:18
Wow, this looks really good. Especially for a first level :)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Razzorman on June 30, 2010, 15:52:48
Quote from: Salmoneous on June 30, 2010, 10:26:48
This looks great. Very great even for a first level.
Quote from: bulbapuck on June 30, 2010, 14:20:18
Wow, this looks really good. Especially for a first level :)

Quote from: munchybot on June 28, 2010, 10:20:44
It's actually my second level

 X)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Pick Yer Poison on June 30, 2010, 17:06:28
Looks great. I'm keeping my eye on this. :D
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Firecat on June 30, 2010, 18:00:07
Looks very good,everything seems to fit and that tower reminds me of the tower in ASD.  :D
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on July 01, 2010, 01:34:04
Spoiler: Cleaning Robot! (click to show/hide)

Also this

(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Munchy365/ohshit.png)

:shocked:

EDIT: Does anyone know a good tileset for an ocean floor or something? I'm making a network of underwater tubes like in The Machine, but I don't want to use the Tileset 6 floors or it would just be an exact clone of Nifflas' level.

EDIT EDIT: I don't like doubleposting so I'll just edit this.

Spoiler: Leaky Pipes (click to show/hide)

MUST... STOP... POSTING IMAGES...
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: yohji on July 01, 2010, 13:30:06
Wow, this sure looks BUSY for the first/second level. Can't wait for the release. Also, yes, you might want to stop posting images  :D
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on July 02, 2010, 00:04:15
Spoiler: I hope I didn't overdo it (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Hmpf on July 02, 2010, 00:14:12
Quote from: munchybot on July 02, 2010, 00:04:15
Spoiler: I hope I didn't overdo it (click to show/hide)

That screen is completely lovely, if you ask me.

*adds munchybot to growing list of relatively recent new knytters whose levels she can't wait to play*
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Headgrinder on July 02, 2010, 01:39:13
Good grief, this is going very well!  Good job!
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: egomassive on July 02, 2010, 04:25:40
You weren't kidding when you said "epic spoiler!" I'm afraid all your screen shot making and posting is cutting into your design time. Looks good so far, but I'm going to stop looking before I've seen it all. :)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on July 02, 2010, 04:36:48
It's vacation, I don't need to worry about time ;)

EDIT: Is there somewhere in the editor where I can see how many rooms I have? That would be really useful, because it's getting a bit too big to easily count.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: RunMan on July 02, 2010, 11:27:10
Quote from: munchybot on July 02, 2010, 00:04:15
Spoiler: I hope I didn't overdo it (click to show/hide)

:shocked:

Your level design is amazing so far. Don't even think of abandoning this project. Great, great work.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Hmpf on July 02, 2010, 23:02:11
Quote from: munchybot on July 02, 2010, 04:36:48
It's vacation, I don't need to worry about time ;)

EDIT: Is there somewhere in the editor where I can see how many rooms I have? That would be really useful, because it's getting a bit too big to easily count.

No. I agree that it would be helpful, though!

What I do with my large level is keeping a list of all the different areas in it, and counting each area when it's finished. That way you don't have to recount the entire map when you miscount somewhere.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Talps on July 02, 2010, 23:35:43
This looks fantastic. I loved the freedom of Nifflas' levels like 'A Strange Dream', too, so I really look forward to this.
Title: Dilemma
Post by: munchybot on July 03, 2010, 00:20:43
Okay, so I'm not sure what to do here.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Talps on July 03, 2010, 17:02:13
They're both awesome, great use of gradients. I would use the underground on the surface and maybe have a 'distant valley' that uses the overground bit :P I've never been particularly impressed when caves have backgrounds that would be better on the surface, though maybe that's just me.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on July 04, 2010, 20:01:01
If you're in a cave it doesn't make much sense to be able to see mountains in the background.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on July 05, 2010, 00:11:38
Maybe it's a big cave. With tiny mountains. :/

Spoiler: town (click to show/hide)

Also, please check this (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=3641.0) out!

Passed the 100 rooms mark - I think it'll be a bit longer than 300.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Headgrinder on July 06, 2010, 13:24:47
It can make since to have a crevice with mountains in the back ground.  That is, a big crack in the rock, kind of like what the high way department does, but on a larger scale.  And actually the screen shot looked to me like an underground cavern, but perhaps that would be clearer if it used a different background than the area above it. 

I'm afraid the town shot is your first uninteresting screen shot.  :)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Whistler on July 26, 2010, 02:36:11
Oh please tell me your still working on this!!! This is AMAZING!!! I can't wait to play this.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Zydragazum on July 26, 2010, 02:45:23
Quote from: Whistler on July 26, 2010, 02:36:11
Oh please tell me your still working on this!!! This is AMAZING!!! I can't wait to play this.

I second this! Amazing stuff.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Headgrinder on July 26, 2010, 03:54:30
Hey, yeah, where'd ya go munchybot?  Drum up some anticipation and then leave us?  Don't be so cruel!
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Hmpf on August 04, 2010, 22:46:30
I second that.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on January 28, 2011, 03:16:29
In reply to now deleted post(s):
Spoiler: Ninth! (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: yohji on January 28, 2011, 12:00:47
Wow! It feels so good to see this is still being worked on!  :D :D :D :nuts:
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Headgrinder on January 28, 2011, 13:33:21
Ahh yeah!

Another awesome story saved from fading to dreams by the reappearance of it's master. 
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on January 30, 2011, 02:06:59
Spoiler: A fun little challenge (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: Healy on January 30, 2011, 22:32:04
Eeek! I'm terrible at dodging those things in tight quarters; I hope going through that room isn't required to beat the game.

Also, how close are you to being done with this?
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on January 31, 2011, 01:30:39
You don't have to go through that room, necessarily. But then you would have to go through other rooms of about the same difficulty level :P

Don't worry though, that's one of the last places you'll visit.

I'm not very close to finishing this yet. I don't have any kind of time estimate but it will be a while.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on March 11, 2012, 21:45:04
Hey guys. I don't think I'm ever going to finish this, so here's my favorite area of it mapped out for everyone to see.

Spoiler: humongous fucking spoiler (click to show/hide)

Make sure to check it out at full size! XD
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: yohji on March 11, 2012, 23:23:05
Ergh. Well, could you maybe release the unfinished version? I know a lot of people would enjoy that... :moody:
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: munchybot on March 12, 2012, 04:41:55
Well, since I posted that I've added like twenty rooms so maybe not! Perhaps I'll tie up all the loose ends and make a demo though.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit
Post by: rainulous on March 18, 2012, 18:58:11
Definately make a demo.
This is really inspirational to me, I'm trying to make a level that isn't a comeplete fail like my first one.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: munchybot on March 21, 2012, 07:57:07
The demo is out (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/The%20Hermit%20DEMO.knytt.bin) and I have updated the main post! I added a ton of stuff today - made the intro cutscene and all the level data (icon, background image, title, etc.) and added a whole new area, which you can explore a bit of in the demo 8)
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: munchybot on March 21, 2012, 11:58:06
I've already added 11 rooms since posting this demo :crazy:
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: Healy on March 21, 2012, 23:16:40
First of all, most people post a thread in the level releases forum (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?board=39.0) when they have something playable, even if it's just a demo.

Secondly, I played a bit of your level, and I have to say, it's way too hard for me. It takes too long to get the run power-up, including a screen with an enemy that can be very hard without perfect timing and/or luck. Plus, right after the run power-up is a very difficult section with hoses and other nasty stuff. If I were you, I'd put it a ways from the start of the game.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: munchybot on March 22, 2012, 01:58:55
Quote from: Healy on March 21, 2012, 23:16:40
First of all, most people post a thread in the level releases forum (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?board=39.0) when they have something playable, even if it's just a demo.

Most people? I checked and didn't see any demos or WIPs in there, so I figured I'd just add it to my original post here. Also it's described as "a temporary forum for posting your finished levels," and this isn't finished! If I'm asked to move it there I will. :)

Quote from: Healy on March 21, 2012, 23:16:40
Secondly, I played a bit of your level, and I have to say, it's way too hard for me. It takes too long to get the run power-up, including a screen with an enemy that can be very hard without perfect timing and/or luck.

I don't think I made it too difficult at all compared to most other levels I've played, but thanks for the feedback and I'll see what I can do.

Quote from: Healy on March 21, 2012, 23:16:40
Plus, right after the run power-up is a very difficult section with hoses and other nasty stuff.

What are hoses?

EDIT: here's the current map for anyone who's interested
(http://i.imgur.com/1dI7o.png)

and I just noticed this in the intro cutscene...
(http://i.imgur.com/wVEMn.png)
I didn't even notice the leaf entities when taking the screenshots. I'm too used to seeing them I guess.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: yohji on March 24, 2012, 18:57:58
The intro was superb. Brilliant stuff. The rest of the level felt very promising for a demo, but a bit more unfinished than I expected from the screenshots and all. You've spoiled things a bit by posting too many screenshots, maybe ;) And using old tilesets a bit too frequently... I hope the finished version will have a story, some dialogue, and more knytts walking here and there, populating the landscape :)

I haven't found any real problems. I didn't find any of the challenges particularly hard; although it may have been pure luck with the first creature before the run powerup. The tower screens (with the springs and other stuff, x1005 etc.) were a bit uncomfortable because of the many random water deaths, but otherwise OK.
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: munchybot on March 24, 2012, 22:16:48
Quote from: yohji on March 24, 2012, 18:57:58
The intro was superb. Brilliant stuff. The rest of the level felt very promising for a demo, but a bit more unfinished than I expected from the screenshots and all. You've spoiled things a bit by posting too many screenshots, maybe ;) And using old tilesets a bit too frequently... I hope the finished version will have a story, some dialogue, and more knytts walking here and there, populating the landscape :)

I haven't found any real problems. I didn't find any of the challenges particularly hard; although it may have been pure luck with the first creature before the run powerup. The tower screens (with the springs and other stuff, x1005 etc.) were a bit uncomfortable because of the many random water deaths, but otherwise OK.
I'm trying to keep it entirely dialogue-free, and keep the storyline as unexplained as possible - I want to leave all that stuff up to the player's imagination, with just a couple nudges and hints here and there.

The creature before the run powerup is totally easy to get by, you just jump over him and walk through the tunnel. :P

I really like the way the water looks underneath the tower rooms, but I'll put a floor there and probably recycle that water pit sorta look somewhere else in the level.

Thanks for the feedback!
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: Polana on December 31, 2012, 12:28:42
I've played demo yesterday and it was superb.
Does anyone know it is still being worked on ?
Title: Re: [Environmental] The Hermit [3/20/12: DEMO OUT NOW!]
Post by: Hmpf on January 08, 2013, 20:52:09
Random scenery feedback (I remain as predictable as ever): love the underwater area; all those plants around the tubes. (What is it about me and plants in this game... Maybe I need to start gardening or something.)