Nifflas' Support Forum

Temporary => Knytt Stories Level Releases => Topic started by: Talps on June 07, 2016, 23:27:06

Title: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on June 07, 2016, 23:27:06

Dragon Myth
Click here to download version 3! (https://www.dropbox.com/s/o73po71d81a1gfk/Talps%20-%20Dragon%20Myth%20V3.knytt.bin?dl=0)


(This level requires Knytt Stories + (http://egomassive.com/ks/))

My name is Juni.

I have lived all of my life in Muen Village, west of the Grey Mountains where the dragon lives.

When I was young the dragon would fly down and attack our village, destroying houses and fields, and carrying away animals and people to devour in its home.

Ten years ago the dragon returned to its lair and fell into a deep sleep.

Then, last night, it woke up.

I'm not going to wait here like a sheep in a field for it to come and kill me. I'd much rather die fighting than die afraid. So I'm going to go to its lair and face it.

And nothing is going to stand in my way.

---

Version two, the 'Oh gosh, why is there so much screaming' update, fixes two major bugs from the original release, as well as various minor tweaks and fixes and some minor story improvements.
Version two point one, the pedantic update, fixes one minor bug uncovered in a very belated piece of beta testing.
Version three, the NewGame+ update, adds a very exciting reward for those who find all five secret golden creatures. It also includes some SGE and minor bug fixes, new dialogue, and replaces some overly nasty challenges.

Spoiler: Download older versions here (if that's what you're into) (click to show/hide)

Version 1 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/9isde0jdhhkw9mw/Talps%20-%20Dragon%20Myth.knytt.bin?dl=0)
Version 2.1 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/gj78xnj740qvorg/Talps%20-%20Dragon%20Myth%20V2.1.knytt.bin?dl=0)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: pfrangip on June 08, 2016, 03:26:58

Guess I'm not sleeping tonight! Downloading now!  8)

Been waiting a long time for this one!  :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: SC on June 08, 2016, 05:57:02

(https://my.mixtape.moe/lbrxob.png)

Gonna play this one tomorrow. This is gonna be SICK.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: Fubaka on June 08, 2016, 09:17:47

As a twice beta tester and mild contributor, I whole-heartedly endorse this level.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: ixMarcel on June 08, 2016, 14:01:10

Hey, that's pretty good! (https://youtu.be/vjUqUVrXclE)

Gonna play it now  :crazy:.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on June 08, 2016, 14:13:39

Been mind-bogglingly busy last month, but I didn't want to miss the long awaited release of this level. As Fubaka hinted before, you guys are in for a real treat! :)

@ixMarcel: Wowza! What happened to your star count, man? I'm seeing a total of -100 there. Did you try to poison LPChip while I was away or something?

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: ixMarcel on June 08, 2016, 15:35:44

So far so good! I'm enjoying this level very much. BTW The golden rat placement was so clever it put a smile on my face.

@Vegetal Gibber: Well... I wanted to take his place as the administrator of this forum  :shifty:. Actually I didn't (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=2207.msg71683#msg71683).

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: scratskinner on June 08, 2016, 16:49:58

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

found a couple voids at x1058/1059y986
also managed to get to the chunk of flint without getting the umbrella. (Is killing it earlier likely to result in an alternate ending? crashing just short of rather than on top of the witch's lair?*)

also got to the purple mushrooms from the exit side (Again, will getting them earlier alter anything?)

The lame ending was definitelydafinetly fun. "And remember: Always listen to kitty!"

A bit annoyed that there isn't an option to come clean to the wicked witch of the east**, especially after hearing the people from your village know that you stole from her. "Here's your key back. Oh, and I think this double-jump thingy is yours, too." (Yeah, yeah, I know: then where would she get the dragon-slaying sword? Also that it's entirely plausible she knows only because of kitty. She certainly didn't hear about you slaying Greta.) Maybe call her on her own thefts...

What did she mean to accomplish by kidnapping the princess, anyway? One of the knights gossiped about blackmail; did she want a lifetime supply of catnip? Or maybe she thought princesses made good bait for dragons? (Was it her, or her sister Greta trying make trouble for her? I note the secret tower where the princess is held is literally on the other side of the map.)

Does she have anything to do with the dragon? Is she likely to object to you trying to kill it? If not, would she want dibs on any of its innards?

That room with the last golden creature; with the watcher in it: Are either of the wicked witches under the influence of it or its ilk? what the watcher says, and the witches' opinions of thieves and intruders seems to line up a bit.

Did I miss any references to googoojoob's "Dream" while playing?

*Hope I'm remembering that screen right.
**Yes, I've forgotten her name. Sorry. It started with a J, right?

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: plural on June 09, 2016, 09:26:54

Sometimes it was exhausting with how big the level was to run back and forth through, (especially when you go the wrong way and end up having to go back and forth through the forest twice). But there is so much to love here. The little artistic touches, the alternate endings, secret area, the final areas were really cool. The skelly men looked great, the first time I saw the axe man I was like ahhh! he's so cute!. The best type of KS+ enemy "palette" swap and it works so well in the game. It feels so open with the small changing elements throughout. It's a really great level. Good work.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: pfrangip on June 11, 2016, 08:22:25

Finally finished this bad boy! I gotta say, this is definitely your best level, technical-wise, polish-wise, and fun-wise.*  :)

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

• To be honest, at first, I was almost a little underwhelmed, but it quickly turned into quite an excellent level!
• There's so much to enjoy about this, the story, the overworld, the fairy island, fighting the witch(es), the dungeon, really every area (except maybe the forest) felt new and different and like a real part of the "world."
• The music was excellent, I like the use of new custom tracks with some old favorites
• The difficulty was spot-on. Never frustrating (except for those damn shinies!!) but definitely a good challenge
• LOTS of polish! Practically everything changed every time the story progressed!
• LOTS of fun little details... like Juni getting a sword added... playing as the princess at the end... being able to go out on the balcony at the island, the blacksmith, the witch stirring in bed...
• Speaking of witch, great use of custom objects! I loved the enemies, the axe skeleton and the witches were actually quite scary!
• I did find the lame rabbit ending... and the ending where you explode the Dragon and die
• I got four golden things: big beetle thing in forest, the rat, the spiny muskrat, and the loch ness monster. What else am I missing??? What general locale is it in? I really want to free that guy in the dungeon!
• I did find a single void at x1056y986
• I actually got to the flint before getting the (2nd) umbrella. It is possible, and nothing happens. You might want to either allow the player to end the game at that point, or make it impossible to reach.

Anyways I could go on and on, but just... great job, and thanks for making it!  :)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: scratskinner on June 11, 2016, 09:15:32

Spoiler: @pfrangip (click to show/hide)

You know that screen with the yellow key? Did you notice how when you entered it from the left there were two eye-passage indicators, but when you were actually able to get the key, there was only one? I think you can figure it out from there. Also, was I wrong in assuming the "explode dragon" ending is the main one? I'd figured that was the end of it.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [KS+] [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic]
Post by: Talps on June 11, 2016, 10:52:37

Thanks for the feedback everyone! And way, I love that people like my skeletons!* :D

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Does anyone care to explain how they short-cutted in the final area so I can fix that?

Sorry, I'm short on time so I can't say more. Just wanted to ask that question and say thanks. :)

Spoiler: * (click to show/hide)

Modelled off all those skeletons I gathered under my floorboards. Why do you think this level took so long?

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

That's not true!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: ixMarcel on June 11, 2016, 13:59:43

Quote from: Talps on June 11, 2016, 10:52:37

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Does anyone care to explain how they short-cutted in the final area so I can fix that?

Spoiler: Endgame gameplay video (click to show/hide)

Here (https://youtu.be/3Ub8WtuY_5U)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: scratskinner on June 11, 2016, 16:02:21

(I had all this written up and got beaten to the punch. Still posting it though, as I have other things I wanted to say.)

Spoiler: @Talps: slightly ranty argument against nixing; and possibly humorous sidetracks (click to show/hide)

In the first place, (for me at least) it wasn't exactly obvious that it was a shortcut, as opposed to a missable secret. Especially since Juni's stated goal is to get out of the dragon to kill it. And since "green glow" is shorthand for "secret nearby" rather than "end of level nearby".

Secondly, in my eyes at least, being able to get past that room without the umbrella is a feature. The flint, with its plethora of "detect target"s but no justification for them (end sequence, convenient reason you can't do the end sequence*, alternate end sequence**) is what needs fixing. And you don't need to know how I got there to fix that. Heck, if you're dead set on ensuring I don't get to the flint before I should, you already established that passages open and close inside the dragon, so just put a floor over where you'd drop to the flint. (Preferably put something there to take the sting out of essentially starting over. Maybe someone got eaten before you did?)


*

Spoiler: possible convenient reason (click to show/hide)

Perhaps you could pull the same trick you played with the hologram, and have Juni lose the sword blade but not the hilt as she falls down the dragon's throat. (Maybe coming off as she plunged it into the throat lining) Then you could have the umbrella you find (in dialogue, at least) missing its handle, and insulation (if any) on the tip. Umbrellas are made of metal, right? (I forget whether the sword was pictured in the cutscene or not. I'm also assuming that the hilt is enchanted, and would carry that enchantment to a suitably metal thing.) Presumably, you wouldn't be able to start the chain reaction with just the hilt.

**

Spoiler: possible alts (click to show/hide)

#1: end sequence as normal, except instead of going to a new character, you end up in a void, where that guy from Silver Falls yells at you for breaking the universe:

Guy: You were supposed to get the umbrella!  and go through the rest of the level! But noooo, you just had to-

Juni: There was an umbrella?

Guy: What did you think all those updrafts were for; scenery?

#2: Because Juni killed the dragon earlier, the dragon falls and is impaled on Jotunn***'s house, and Juni lands in the rejuvenation stew Jotunn just so happened to be making for herself, with the purple shrooms you so helpfully gathered for her. (I assume she's not fibbing about her joints.)

#3: As normal, except the dragon is on a different part of the road, and the knights comment on whatever article of Jotunn's clothing is poking out from under the dragon. (does she have ruby slippers or anything?)

***Did I get her name right this time?

That said:

Spoiler: @Talps: The Trick, Here (click to show/hide)

Those drippers have periodic breaks in their dripping which can be taken advantage of. The rest is a solid second jump right over the spikey. I think, anyway. If I'm off on the exact spot, practice without the dripper to find the optimal jump area. Or examine the video linked by ixMarcel.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Ultigonio on June 11, 2016, 22:33:04

Spoiler: secret (click to show/hide)

WOO LAME RABBIT ENDING

Anyway, having gotten that far, I feel now would be a good time to post up some of my thoughts on the level.  I've been enjoying it more than I thought I would, considering how much time I've spent playing KS in general.  Some of the bits of level design I've seen thus far are so clever that I wish I could have had a chance to nick their ideas for Deep Freeze!  It's probably for the best that I didn't, though. :P

I would, however, like to make an argument similar to that which scratskinner made about the nigh-ending:

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I also felt the need to get to the flint without the umbrella, since it did, in fact, appear to be a missable secret.  Because it's so tough to do, I somewhat feel that a player who pulled that off would have earned that sequence break, although I can understand why you would feel otherwise.  What's especially unfortunate, though, is that doing this very difficult thing not only results in no reward, but also pushes you back a little bit in the level, since it's not possible to go right back to where you were previously.  It would be best to simply make it impossible to make the first jump under the urchin, if that's how you'd like to fix it.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on June 11, 2016, 23:16:10

Ult, that's the plan. Sergio was actually planning on making a second draft of the cutscene he drew for the endgame of the level so once he's done I'll release a second version with the issues addressed.

In the meantime I've rounded up my other beta-testers and have locked them in my torture chamber to punish them for not finding the sequence-break. Rest assured they will never make that mistake again... or any other! Bwa ha ha ha ha! (I've become all angsty and evil now that Sergio's beaten me to 100 stars. Now is the winter of my discontent...)

Thanks so much for the video, Ix!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: yohji on June 18, 2016, 18:05:19

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I loved the level but only got one ending, the one with the dragon killed, and a statue in the village, and playing as a... peasant girl running about? I feel like I've missed something like 50% of everything. I only play KS rarely these days, so that's why. (I really feel uncomfortable saying this.) I'll have to revisit this someday, hopefully I won't miss a time when I have all the powerups and can still go to the forest for the golden creatures... which are presumably in the forest... eh.

Like everybody else, I loved the skeletons. Greta's cave was actually my most favorite part of the game. I wonder why Jotunn didn't build herself a similarly large place? Oh, and the metamorphosis cutscene - I actually gasped in real life and thought the game was over, cursing myself for stupidity. Incredible stuff.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Purple Ink on June 22, 2016, 02:21:24

Haven't had time to actually play this to the end yet (I'm avoiding reading comments here) but I have to say that Talps has done it again. Great work!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: egomassive on August 05, 2016, 09:02:19

Great level Talps! I'd forgotten about most of the help I provided over the years. Playing the level felt nostalgic as different parts reminded me of forgotten discussions, custom sprites I made, and custom sprites I fixed the transparency on for you. Most of the tricks you did with KS+ features and flag/shift logic were executed so well that I hardly noticed they were happening. There was one in particular that stumped me for awhile as to how you pulled it off.*

Spoiler: More praise that spoils things (click to show/hide)

*The skeleton on the collapsing bridge. I killed myself several times so I could watch it again.

The idea that shadow people are human remnants was brilliant!!! I never even considered that. They're just about the right size, especially the children.

It took me 3 play-throughs to find all the golden creatures. I really appreciate the visual clues pointing to them.  In my searching I found so many wonderful extras that added so much good humor to the game. (Bad humor too, unfortunately. Apology accepted.)

The water section made the best use I've seen yet of the water physics. Normally I don't care for spikes, and water physics can make the game's pace drag, but spikes and water combined feel just right.

Spoiler: bugs (click to show/hide)

I found the sequence break in the dragon as was mentioned previously. Although it makes no sense that you can't end then, you can at least get back on track. Much worse, I intentionally skipped picking up the umbrella on my second play-through. I thought since you can reach the flint without the umbrella at the wrong time, then maybe there is a right way to get there without the umbrella, and of course some sort of special ending for masochists. Nope, I got hopelessly stuck at the bottom-left corner of the dragon. It's a total game-breaker. *sigh* That fellow at Silver Falls was right about me.

x1012y1018: The W's turned my hologram on occasionally. It works OK though.

x1022y1016 Tile x2y8: Missing background tile.

In the Darksome Wood Cave the right-hand walls have some bad climbing spots. It's a weakness of the tileset. It can be fixed with invisible Juni Blockers. The left hand walls have bad spots too, but they're barely noticeable.

 Some layer 3 leaves on boughs you can walk on are in contradiction to other locations in the forest. Left-most boughs on x976y1006 and x972y1006.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: powderj on August 10, 2016, 00:55:31

A slow summer at work and I've started playing Knytt Stories again.  I'd forgotten how much I love this little game!

I think I need a little help.  Searching for the glowing mushrooms in the crater and seem to be at a dead end.  Should I have already found the umbrella?  I don't have it and can't seem to progress any farther.  I'll keep searching, I suspect I either made a big mistake, or I'm missing something obvious!

EDIT:  HA!  The power of posting.  Found it, very creative!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 07, 2017, 21:27:43

I'm stuck at the point where you need to find the yellow key. Crater Field can't be navigated without something like umbrella.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 08, 2017, 00:20:48

Hey GreyFace,

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: You can enter Greta's Cave. (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Try climbing... (click to show/hide)

Whee, nesting spoilers is fun!

Hope you're having fun!

I have been working on an updated version of this to remove the broken ending besides a few other fixes. I think my main reason for not posting it is due to a desire to make some really big changes that I don't really have the inspiration for. When I have a few hours free I'll do a last check that everything in my copy is ok and post it up. More ambitious changes will have to sit out unless I have a big spurt of motivation one day.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 08, 2017, 00:31:00

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Climb where? I've no idea where that cave is.

Cool, meanwhile I'll play some other levels. I also always find myself in the trap of starting some ambitious new changes and ending up not releasing things for far too long.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 08, 2017, 21:25:53

Sorry, I told you the wrong cave.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The cutscene told you that the yellow key is in Witch Jotunn's cave. Sorry.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 08, 2017, 21:34:02

I've no idea where any cave is.

Edit: Nevermnd, found the cutscene folder and looked it up.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 10, 2017, 23:21:40

Thanks for the tip, got through it. I assume removing of the broken ending wouldn't add any new content, so I won't miss anything with the current version, right?

Spoiler: bug (click to show/hide)

After getting the shrooms, at x1001y984 if you jump while moving towards the witch you can wall swim out of dialog tile that's at x1002y984.

BTW, the level is fantastic so far!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 11, 2017, 09:56:45

This was an amazing masterpiece! <3

Haven't found 5th golden creature though :(

Edit: Oh, thanks to scratskinner I know where to search.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Yay, my bunny found its use!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 12, 2017, 02:28:08

Glad you enjoyed :D

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on August 13, 2017, 08:02:32

Got through 2nd time. Loved the secret, another deeper layer to a great story!

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The ending says "Second bonus room test..." - which room is that about?
Bugs:
1) At x1019y1016 the shift isn't set to square. I got stuck twice on different sides of it.
2) Speaking of sequence break, another possibility is to skip the umbrella on the screen where it's located. As a result you'll get trapped (with save spot in the trap), because to escape from x1080y989 you need umbrella.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 14, 2017, 00:39:51

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I think you mean bonus room text? It was the room with the second golden creature, with the ghost talking about death.

I've changed that shift. Ego mentioned the umbrella and there will be a bonus room for people who jump over it.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 18, 2017, 09:28:24

Ok, with only a few hours before I leave for the airport I'm posting an updated version. There are no massive changes but this update fixes the sequence break and the game-break from missing the umbrella. It also includes various lesser bug and SGE fixes and a few quality of life improvements.

My dreams of redesigning Crater Field and Silver Falls from the ground up, and of implementing the reward I had planned for the secret ending, will have to wait.

Get the updated version as soon as Dropbox finishes uploading it and makes a link stupid Dropbox doesn't it know I'm in a hurry? here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/nzs47cjvvjtzrbv/Talps%20-%20Dragon%20Myth%20V2.knytt.bin?dl=0).

Um, I will hesitantly add that because this is being uploaded in a hurry I haven't played it in over a month. It would be very unlike me to leave it with any glaring problems but I haven't tested this for release so if you see any issues please let me know and I'll upload a fixed version after I get back home (you know, possibly four years after but my heart is in the right place).

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: sergiocornaga on August 18, 2017, 12:14:51

Yay! This version introduces an improved version of one of the cutscene graphics I made, so regardless of any game-breaking bugs it may or may not introduce, it gets my official seal of approval. I hope bugging you to do this didn't make your departure too stressful… have a ton of fun!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on August 18, 2017, 22:04:04

Also this version introduces an improved version of one of the...

It's ok Sergio, I'd woken up earlier then I wanted so I had an hour to play with! ;)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on September 06, 2017, 02:25:11

I've checked the ending sequence bugs, works fine now. The cutscene frame looks way better than it did, nice work, sergio.
I'm wondering what are the quality of life improvements?

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on September 06, 2017, 18:26:45

Mostly minor changes; I added an alternative screen when backtracking through some dialogue and fixed various small SGEs. There was an undiscovered bug with the lever sequences in Greta's Cave that I fixed as well.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Dr.Korbin on October 10, 2017, 23:42:57

Yay, nice level! I enjoyed it a lot!

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

• I liked the level, how it is diverse, the quest, how many different sub-quests it has.
• The music is well chosen.
• An interesting idea with the map, you can now move not only left-right and up-down, but also forwards-backwards.
• The bunny ending made me a bit upset. After what Jotunn did to Juni and after she kidnapped the princess, and especially after Juni got an anti-witch sword, it seemed to me very natural to come to her house and kick her ass. Well, alas.
• I also expected another ending where Juni survives. Alas again.
• Intruder joke, ha-ha  :)
• I found only 4 golden creatures: near the red key, in the castle, in Greta's cave and that loch ness in another cave. Where is the last one?
   I've cheated going in the bunker, so this is only curiosity  :P2
• The flower in Greta's cave, what is it for?

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on October 11, 2017, 22:42:06

Heya, glad you enjoyed! :)

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

She technically survives in the Lame Rabbit Ending...

Spoiler: I think the creature you missed is in... (click to show/hide)

The Darksome Woods.

The flower is a reference to my level 'Petals of a Dying Flower'.

Thanks for posting!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on February 11, 2018, 01:28:11

Haldo, just posting to say I've reuploaded the level with a very minor bug-fix. The link in the opening post will be updated in about thirty seconds.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on June 24, 2018, 01:57:27

Dragon Myth V3 is now here!
Click here for the download! (https://www.dropbox.com/s/o73po71d81a1gfk/Talps%20-%20Dragon%20Myth%20V3.knytt.bin?dl=0)

In addition to various tweaks, minor improvements, and bug and SGE fixes, this version contains one major update. If you find all 5 golden creatures in one playthrough, you now unlock... a very special reward for completing the bonus area. If you've got a save with the bonus area already completed, you can access the new reward by going back down into the castle dungeons after installing the new version - restarting should not be necessary (unless you're saved in a screen I've moved - I've no idea if that's likely or not).

Spoiler: For those who want to find out what the new reward is immediately... (click to show/hide)

Find all 5 golden creatures and complete the bonus level to unlock NewGame+ mode, which lets you play through the whole level as a custom character! Additionally, NewGame+ includes a new version of one of the game's areas. If I can pull some ideas together, a future release will include more updated areas for NewGame+ mode!

Enjoy!

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Miragent on July 04, 2018, 15:07:36

I really appreciate! Edit: I look forward to play the new version. Time to catch that elusive golden rat I never found.

I found the rat and also finished the game with the

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

new character.

So now I can give you some real feedback about this v3 (warning: contains Heavy v3 spoilers):

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Seriously, reading this will spoil all the V3 new content. Last Spoiler warning.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

You have basically set the foundation for a new game+. This is good. It works perfectly fine and is executed perfectly, technically speaking. However, your new game+ has a lot of unexpressed potential, as you probably know already. When I have hit the new game + door, I was expecting at least a slightly different experience, while:
- the game stays essentially exactly the same, with the playing character being named differently and having a new sprite and animations (the new sprite and animations are very cool per se)
- the story has not changed one bit. Xianu sprites and name got pasted in the cutscenes.
- the Secret Keep area got a new design. Honestly, I didn't notice. It must be because I was eager to see what was different in new game+ so I missed the only part that actually changed.
- Xianu gets swapped with Juni in the Seafarer's inn so she has the love story with the npc there. Ok.
- The ending remains the same, with a new statue built in the new game+ for Xianu (very very nice statue, though)

Other people might like v3 as it exactly is and not want it changed one bit. I would personally love if New Game+ was more "+", so here are some possibilities!

- At least a slightly different story. Who is Xianu? Why does she want to kill the dragon? If the reason has to stay quite the same, then maybe narrate it slightly differently. Is Xianu's personality the same as Juni or less reckless, more calm? This can open up a lot of possibilities and would add depht to the story. Xianu and Juni's stories might even intersect at some point in New Game+.
- At least a slightly different level. New challanges (maybe slightly harder?), tiles coloured differently in areas that changed to make me understand we are in a different area
- At least a slightly different ending to reward you for beating the game again and in new game+.
 

Minor stuff:

Missing pink grass in x1011y982 pos x18y1
Typo: "it" instead of "in": x1011y1011 x10y3 Sign A part 2

Spoiler: hints on where the 5 creatures can be found:

Areas (-not- in order):

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Crater Field; Knytt Castle; Jotunn's Cave; Witch Greta's Cave; Darksome Woods.

Areas, in order (at least some of the creatures must be caught in this exact order):

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

1 Darksome Woods
2 Jotunn's Cave
3 Crater Field (wrong, thanks Talps for correcting)
4 Knytt Castle (wrong, thanks Talps for correcting)
3 Knytt Castle
4 Crater Fields
5 Witch Greta's Cave

Subtle hints about the locations in these areas:

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

1 Look for something suspicious
2 Not everything is what it looks like
3 Before visiting Jotunn again
4 In a gusty place
5 Before making a mess

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on July 06, 2018, 01:37:29

(Psst, you got 3 and 4 the wrong way 'round)

(Also thank you for playing! :D)

My favourite secrets in the game are the ones you get by going to the Crater Fields gateway of Knytt Castle at every opportunity.


The pink grass was deliberate thank you very much! The typo will be fixed if I ever release another version of this.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Miragent on July 06, 2018, 02:22:20

Quote from: Talps on July 06, 2018, 01:37:29

(Psst, you got 3 and 4 the wrong way 'round)

You are obviously right. Spoiler about secrets incoming.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Knytt Castle cannot be after Crater Field because when you visit Jotunn again, the game transitions to nighttime and the castle gates close. So I adjusted the "hint" because this really can be missed easily as there's only one precise moment when you have to get it.

I edited my previous comment to give some feedback.

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on June 01, 2022, 06:06:39

Here's an SGE - one tile of the ceiling above isn't solid (coordinates included in screenshot).

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: Talps on June 02, 2022, 17:17:56

That's upsetting.

It'll be fixed if I ever have a big enough reason to upload another version. Thanks for pointing it out. Hope you had fun. :)

Title: Re: Dragon Myth [Epic, Hard, Challenge/Scenic] [KS+]
Post by: GrayFace on June 04, 2022, 08:40:43

Quote from: Talps on June 02, 2022, 17:17:56

Hope you had fun. :)

Of course I had! I'd confidently say it's in my top 5 favorite levels.