Ice Metal 2: Oh hey look this topic again!

[Lunaria]

So here's the deal:
Ice metal 2: Awakening
Is now in planning stage.

Now before people get all confused I want to clear up one thing. I decided to switch series number of two sequels. What was released earlier as the demo of Ice metal 2 as well as that concept will now be known as Ice Metal 3.

The idea behind why I'm doing this is that I'd rather have them in release order rather then chronological order. That as well as Ice Metal 2 will be a lot more epic if the 3ed one comes after it, rather then before.


Now, for the hack itself.

I have been balling it back and forth whether to make this a NEStroid hack or a super metroid hack. Ice metal 2 is a bit smaller and shorter then the first one as well as not quite as story driven.

The issue with making this a super metroid hack is that I would have to draw the new main character, something that would be a lot easier for nestroid. (Think: some awesome GF special force, kinda)


There is also other aspects that fall in. NEStroid would be a lot faster and easier to make once I learn how to do shit. But where as for super metroid I know exactly what I'm doing, but making shit would take a lot longer time. I would still say that if I make this a NEStroid the release would be sooner, I'd say.


So I decided to turn to the fans and see what you guys want. After all, you're the ones who will play it, not me. (sad face)


Keep in mind that once development starts I will keep this hack behind the scene for everyone except my feedback group. (See: People who have been a major support for the first one.)

[Hiroshi Mishima]

As much as I'd love to have the next one be Super Metroid, I do feel that it might be better on Metroid 1. Main reasons being, as you have already stated, it'd be quicker and less graphically intensive because it's smaller both in size and in scope. I also think it'd be easier for you to pick up on how to edit Metroid 1 than to do fucktons of custom work trying to make the graphics in Super Metroid.

I don't know how much FREEDOM you'd have, mind you... I know that MDbtroid was supposed including other stuff but it sounded like you had to resort to playing it on a specific emulator as a result... I dunno, I'll play it either way, but if one sounds like it'd be easier for you to make it on than the other, I'd go with that.

Or maybe I'm just saying that cause I have more experience with 8-bit graphics and would personally find that a bit easier to design for... so don't let me be too big of an influence on making a choice. :p

[Lunaria]

I'm much better at drawing 16bit graphics rather then 8bit. Also note that two tilesets of the 5 needed are already done as we speak, so, yeah. (One is a reuse made by me and the other one is made by DSO.)

[Hiroshi Mishima]

That's a factor for you then. Although the graphics in Metroid 1 are less detailed than Super Metroid, you're better at doing SM graphics. Yeah, that could be a problem if you run into too much trouble with them. Hmmm...

[Zhs2]

Metroid 1 needs some more lovin' (:cry:) but if Super Metroid is what you want to go for, then it's probably a good idea to go with what you already know. Learn Metroid in its entirety? (I'm sure snarfblam is up to teaching somebody all about the inner workings.) Or go with an engine you're already familiar with? Ultimately, it's up to you.

[Lunaria]

Thank you zeke, you're helping me decide SOOOO MUCH!

I'm more interested in other peoples opinions, I already know my own.

Also, pro tip: I'd rather have replies then simple votes. :/

[DSO]

I like the Super Metroid engine more than the original, but without knowing exactly what you're doing I can't say which would be better for you, just what I'd like to play more.

[Quietus]

Super for me.  I just don't play the original, and I suspect that others don't either.  Your hack would be targeted at a smaller audience.  I'm not saying nobody plays it, but certainly less people do.

[Orel]

I'm going to have to say super, i've never really been much of a fan of the original metroid and i really enjoyed ice metal 1.  We could really use more super metroid hacks that are all about the exploration and don't require massive savestate abuse.

Also, it would be interesting to see a GFed sprite for samus.

[seastorm]

I defintely prefer it to be on SM, I am having a blast right now playing Ice Metal 1, and with all of your graphical work, IM 2 would be WAY better graphic-wise and much more complex and downgrading to the M1 engine would be a dissapointment for our fellow fans who loved IM 1.

[Black Falcon]

I defintely prefer it to be on SM.

Agreed.
Also if you decide to use the SM engine, alot more people will play and alot more people are able to help you, especially with coding 'n such, making it nicer, better and just overall a more kickass game!
I'm not playing M1 hacks much (not at all to be honest) because the M1 engine seems far more limited.
Well, at least to me.

[Lunaria]

Alright so I decided to go with the super metroid engine.

Hopefully some kinda soul could help me with a few ASM changes somewhere down the line. Production will start soon, but as mentioned, will be kept mostly behind scenes.

I will try and get the behind scenes feedback place/thingy set up ASAP and invite the people that I think can help out and speed up production, for everyone else, there is metconsts with a few show off trailers every term or such. ;P


Note: I was ninja'd! >8(

[Riffman81]

Guess I'm late to the party :sad: However, my reply is Super Metroid as well. Although all the reasons I have as to why have already been brought up in the above posts. As with Ice Metal 1, I'd be happy and willing to contribute box art, or anything else you may have in mind. I've been spending a lot of time learning SMILE while taking a much needed break from my Mega Man 2 hack, so if I can be of any help to you Crys, just let me know.

[Hiroshi Mishima]

I would honestly have been interested in a smaller-scope sequel using Metroid 1 engine, but if you've got your heart set on Super Metroid (and it would be easier for you to do) than I say go for it. I do agree with someone else that Metroid 1 does need some more love, but I know that it's hard to find good quality hacks for it.

[Silver Skree]

I'd say stick with Super. You obviously already know what you're doing then, but also, I've noticed that you have room for improvement (imo) in Super, so I think you should stick with it to improve your skills as well.

I'd love to give feedback and critique your SM stuff, if you'd be willing to put up with my highish standards.

[Lunaria]

Most likely one of the last things shown publicly:

Physics test

[Riffman81]

Glad you decided to stick with what you know Crys. Those are some nice changes. Looking forward to seeing more later on.

[Orel]

That speed booster looks like fun, I'll look forward to playing this in 2012. (or whenever it comes out.)

[Lunaria]

That speed booster looks like fun, I'll look forward to playing this in 2018. (or whenever it comes out.)

Sure thing! :D

[Hiroshi Mishima]

I'm sure this is something that is expected of me so I don't see much problem with saying it.

The altered physics worry me. It looks like you've increased the overall gravity, which can mess up Wall Jumping and Space Jumping. I hope this isn't going to turn into another Redesign in terms of how Samus controls...

Other than that, the graphical changes are nice and I'm familiar with the Speed Booster changes and they're always fun.

[Orel]

My only real problem with altered physics is that it usually breaks compatibility with the control freak patch, but i guess i'm in the minority of the people it effects and if the game is good enough I'll suck it up and relearn the original controls.  (I'm not about to beg Kejardon to make special versions of the patch for specific romhacks, although if they existed i would certainly use them.)

Also, didn't Eris have a lot of those same speed booster changes? (I remember retaining velocity after i jumped and landed.)

[Quietus]

Yes, Eris was one of the first hacks to use it.

The thing with altering physics is that it's just one more element of the game that can be tinkered with.  If it's OK to tinker with everything else, why not this?  Altering the jump height, and making jumps between platforms smaller, shouldn't add any real difficulty in platforming, as the jumps are essentially the same.  I think that getting used to things like the boost ball, or learning which enemies are weak to which weapons are much tougher than altered physics.  Jump physics in particular surely can't be more annoying than suitless underwater stuff. :heheh:

[Hiroshi Mishima]

*still needs to play Eris past the first area later*

I understand that about changing the physics, but my big fear is all those horrible flashbacks to many, many times I tried to play Redesign. Whenever I hear "physics" I always think back to that, because I haven't seen them changed all that much in many hacks besides it. If it doesn't screw up the way Samus controls in regards to Wall Jumps and such, I'm fine. Hell, maybe this means we'll be making Fusion Style Wall Jumps, that'd be a cool idea since this is supposed to take place after Fusion and all. It could lead to new puzzles.

[Lunaria]

The physic changes are made to make gameplay more smooth. If you want to one wall jump then it's easy as before, if you want to do double wall jumping then it's faster to move to the other wall now.

Same goes for most things:

If you want to grapple right after using grappling chances are you will be aiming up and a direction key, if so you will ready to aim right after the jump. If you don't then releasing grappling beam will send you in a snazzy looking spin jump instead. (This was also used in the first Ice Metal.)

Moving around goes faster when you jump, therefor you can go faster if you want to, same goes if you use the boostball for even more running speed.


Physics changes are not generally bad, but it's how you design them that pushes the hack from awesome category to shit category. (Not saying SMR is shit, but I know twice the many that hates the new physics than opposed to love them. :/ )

I also decided to use higher gravity to make platforming more compact. The idea is that most platforming will be to the left and right rather then up and down. This combined with all the options for extra speed is sure to give quite a new twist to super metroid. =)

[Hiroshi Mishima]

Now that is a concise answer that acknowledges my issues and makes me feel better about the changes and also gives me more reason to look forwards to the hack in general. :D

Oh, and I remember that bit about launching into a spin jump from grappling in the first Ice Metal. That was a neat little trick and I enjoyed using it from time to time, since I like grappling. :p