Recently I came up with an idea for a platform game, but I don't really know if I should make it b/c what I have in mind is completely massive and I have no clue whether or not it will work.
- There are multiple playable characters. Originally I wanted 8, but I'm thinking of reducing it to 3 to narrow down the most important abilities.
- Each character has 3 special abilities that can be used with A, Down-A, Up-A.
- Each character is specialized for a certain purpose. For example, one character runs extremely fast and can jump multiple times but can't fight well. Another is a strong, quick fighter but is difficult to control (i.e. fast falling).
- The game uses a "Tag Team" system that allows you to have two characters with you at once--pressing Shift allows you to shift between them.
- Each level faces some kind of unique scenario--one level has you running from an entire army that's chasing you. Another has you ride in, climb atop of, and eventually fight a giant toy train. Another has you escaping a spaceship that's being crushed by a meteor storm.
Sounds like a cool idea, but if you haven't had much experience with making games, try to make some simpler platformer first. Then build on the engines you make.
Sounds a lot like The Lost Vikings, which is by no means a bad thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Vikings
There aren't enough puzzle platformers out there, and it is definitely able to be done well if you focus on differentiating the characters and coming up with fun puzzles emphasizing teamwork. For example, in the Lost Vikings, one of the characters uses a shield to block attacks, but other characters can also use that shield as a platform when it's above his head. Like Snerlin said, I'd be wary of overambition. Try to write out on paper what you want out of the characters and levels beforehand.
"Omg. Where did they get the idea to not use army guys? Are they taking drugs?" --Tim Schafer on originality in videogames
I based it off a Games Factory game I made ages ago but never finished...
Each character has a special ability which can be used to certain obstacles. There are 3 characters but the gameplay isn't as rich as your's sounds. One can attack, one can hide and not be detected by guards and one can teleport to beacons he has dropped.
Advertisement
Post Reply
Edited by the Author.
