Slasher Boy [Jump'n'Slash]

I had this stupid idea in the back of my head for a while. And when I read about the TDC Halloween Compo this year, I took the opportunity to finally start doing something about it.

<img src="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2306601/slashshot1.png">

So you're Slasher Boy, you jump around and slash enemies. It's your basic platformer with a horror theme and the occassional boss fight. I didn't get too much done in the one month's time of the competition (and normally wouldn't release something this unpolished publicly [well, anymore haha]), but at least it's playable and yes, there's a boss to fight indeed.

I won't go too much in detail about story and controls here, you can see that stuff on the TDC site:

http://create-games.com/download.asp?id=7969

and the download link is there too. Maybe somebody wants to vote for me, LOL

VERSION OUTDATED - CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT VERSION INFO AND DOWNLOAD

I'd like to get some feedback in this thread about bugs and glitches and anything else too of course. There is always the chance that I'll continue this project. Updated versions would also be available here.

Known bugs/glitches:

* Animations might get stuck for a short time in the boss stage, has to do with the way I handled vertical platforms. It's minor really, still I should come around to fix it soon.

* Weird score glitch in the harvester stage. Sometimes when you die, there will be no more score added for killing enemies or the score won't be shown at all. I just realized this shortly after uploading the game, might have something to do with event sheets I forgot to include.

* Pretty important: I made a mistake setting up the harvester stage. So if you're on a CRT monitor with refresh rates of 85hz or even higher, the stage will become unbeatable. Don't go higher than 70hz. Obviously you'll have no problem using a typical TFT/LCD screen.

* Hit a flying ghost, then purposely overlap it while it is flashing. You shall now be immune to attacks from that creature until you leave the collision. (thx to ShadeKirby500 for noticing!)

So if you find anything else, be sure to let me know.

Also I can't help myself but mention that I'm looking for an individual who would be willing to do 2 or 3 retro and horror style music tracks for the game. Apparently all that's in it for you is being credited in the game, but maybe someone has a heart...

I realize this demo is horribly stitched together, but maybe you'll be able to yank some fun out of it.

Really nice so far. Haven't come across anything yet that you haven't mentioned. Keep it up.

The pixel art is great, and really like the swinging character in the first scene. Pretty good so far.

Looks great chap, nice effects and art.

Damn hard though, very unforgiving! I can get around the severe bounce back/falling to your death in most instances, but the little platforms with the hair walkers flicking back and forth are a little too much for me.

Wow!Really nice work there!

your pixel art is great as always (but "Castle Chaos" is unbeaten yet ) and "very scary" special effects are cool: Those splashes and blood draining from knives (very charismatic animation of a simple bonus by the way)

Haven't seen any bug while I was playing

PS

Was Michael Myers a prototype for your Slasher Boy?

Love your graphics, Slasher Boy looks quite emo.

Here's something helpful!

Hit an enemy, then purposely overlap it while it is flashing. You shall now be immune to attacks from that creature until you leave the collision.

Don't take away this bug please Mr. Pixel, or I shall eternally hate you or I'll complain about having so little lives. ;_;

Thanks guys for the kind comments!

PS

Was Michael Myers a prototype for your Slasher Boy?

Indeed Nowon. The idea was to make him look a little cuter version of Myers. It's all supposed to tie in with the western horror vs eastern horror story.

Damn hard though, very unforgiving! I can get around the severe bounce back/falling to your death in most instances, but the little platforms with the hair walkers flicking back and forth are a little too much for me.

Many remarks I get are about the game being too hard. I don't know really. I like my oldschool games pretty hard to be honest. It takes some time to get used to the gameplay I admit.

Steven, try jumping a little besides the platform slashing the head at the right time.

Maybe it would be interesting if people told me how far they got in the game. So if you made it past the first stage to the harvester or even to the boss, let me know! I offer a special credit in the game for anyone who beats the boss and is the first to prove it to me (screenshot of the final screen via email). Does that actually work as motivation?

Love your graphics, Slasher Boy looks quite emo.

Here's something helpful!

Hit an enemy, then purposely overlap it while it is flashing. You shall now be immune to attacks from that creature until you leave the collision.

Don't take away this bug please Mr. Pixel, or I shall eternally hate you or I'll complain about having so little lives. ;_;

Good find ShadeKirby! I can be such a sloppy worker. But the bug will go for sure in the next update. There will also be extra lives to earn and a special attack. So it should have better balance.

Good find ShadeKirby! I can be such a sloppy worker. But the bug will go for sure in the next update. There will also be extra lives to earn and a special attack. So it should have better balance.

Maybe giving the player a flash would be a good idea too, its annoying how you have to wait 5 seconds to attack after hitting something and they can hit you any time they want.

Many a time I've gotten hit by a ghost, then on a head, then into a cliff.

Edit: I was going to go for beating the first boss. But considering that, I'd have to get past the harvester first, considering that, I'll have to stop failing on the 5th screen.

Double Edit: Plus doing things while in the harvester is moot. Using the hydralics will get you killed, doing nothing will get you killed.

Third Edit: I complain too much.

Maybe giving the player a flash would be a good idea too, its annoying how you have to wait 5 seconds to attack after hitting something and they can hit you any time they want.

There is no fixed timeout where you can't attack. It's just while you are pushed back. As soon as you are on ground again, you can attack and be hurt again instantly too.

[quote:pl5skjiq]Many a time I've gotten hit by a ghost, then on a head, then into a cliff.

I know what you are getting at. There should be a short period of time, where the player can't be hit when he just was hurt. Should have been in the game in the first place. Will be added.

[quote:pl5skjiq]Double Edit: Plus doing things while in the harvester is moot. Using the hydralics will get you killed, doing nothing will get you killed.

Well, you have to use the hydraulic at the right time. When the arm is lifted up, the wheel will rotate faster doing way more damage. But if there are just 2 or less enemies you don't need to do anything. So with the right timing, you'll make it through the stage without using up all your energy.

Edit: I was going to go for beating the first boss. But considering that, I'd have to get past the harvester first, considering that, I'll have to stop failing on the 5th screen.

Well I can tell that you are trying.

Maybe the walkthrough video I'm about to make will help some struggling players to beat the game.

[quote:pl5skjiq]Third Edit: I complain too much.

No way. I'm thankful for your input!

As promised I made a walkthrough video for the Slasher Boy demo. To help those struggling and to prove that it isn't really that hard.

Wow great game and video.

Really nice work

*diggin threads* Hmm, I've got "small" problem. When I try to run it, it gives me error 'Can't find cd in drive E:'. Putting random cd in the drive ends with Runtime error "An unexpected error occurred and the application was terminated". Any clue why? :/

Actually I wanted to make a little Halloween game this year, but as usual I didn't come around to do so. Then like 4 days ago I had the idea of making use of the awesome Input System Plugin and adding customizable controls to the old Slasher Boy demo. And well, just in time for Halloween I completed the 2nd edition demo I want to share with you here.

<img src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2306601/slashshotnew.png">

So yeah, it's basically still last year's game. Probably not mighty interesting if you were around then and played it. Here's a list of the most important changes:

* Gamepad support, Xbox 360 controller auto detection and customizable controls through a little included app.

* There is still no music, but you can add your own tracks to the game with that app as well, if you feel strongly about it.

* Pause! Yes, now you can pause the game.

* Collecting knives now earns you an extra life, before you only received score.

* Boss and enemy exploits removed.

* Harvester stage refresh rate glitch fixed.

DOWNLOAD 2ND EDITION DEMO FROM GAMEJOLT

(see the included readme.txt for further info)

I was quite in a rush today, as I am leaving soon for some (actually not Halloween related) partying. So I hope no major issues slipped through.

If you find anything - especially with the newly added custom controls feature - feedback would be very much appreciated.

And not to forget: Happy Halloween everyone!