Dead Content Dark Horizon

[sithlord999]

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Shadows of the Empire is now called Dark Horizon. The game will be realesed in three playable chapters. The new version also contains many other changes as well. Also, screenshots of things that are no longer in the game have been taken down.

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The Empire has been in power for thirty long years. Ever since it started, countless people have suffered and died because of them. There had been many rebellions against them, but all of them fell. Now, rebellions are a very rare thing.

Cain Redman was sixteen on the day that would change his life forever. It was a normal day in his hometown until word of an imperial attack reached them. Thinking it was just a rumor, the citizens went about their day as always. But it was no rumor. The town was destroyed and Cain was the only surviver. Not knowing where to turn next, he joined a Rebellion led by a man named Josh Marks. Now, five years later, Cain is the top agent in the rebellion. His his current mission is to destroy the Imperial General Shizaro. Not only is this the start of his most dangerous mission, but also the start of an adventure no one ever expected.

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Spoiler: Chapter 1: A New Enemy

Spoiler: Outside the Rebel Outpost

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Spoiler: Inside the Rebel Outpost

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Spoiler: Menu Screen

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Spoiler: A mysterious knight attacks one of the rebels

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Spoiler: The battle system

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Spoiler: Clearmeadow Village

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Spoiler: Shimo Village

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Spoiler: Sabaku City

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Spoiler: Bounty Hunter Hideout

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Spoiler: Shimo Cavrens

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Spoiler: A balcony at the Temple of Shadows

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Spoiler: Chapter 2: Sorrowful Twilight (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

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Download
Estimated Length: 1hr 15min
Filesize: 39.21 MB
Chapter progress: 79%
CREDITS:
This list may not be complete. I'm still going through resources.

Spoiler: List

Story
---------------
sithlord999

Scripts
---------------
XRXS
Ccoa
sithlord999
Ratime
KGC
SephirothSpawn
Trickster

Character Art
---------------
Studio E.go!

Title Screen
----------------
Thomas Clark aka Torik of Shadow Slayer Productions

Graphics
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Mack (First Seed Material)
Charas Generator
Enterbrain
sithlord999
Militantmilo

Music
---------------
Shinkichi Mitsumune
Yutaka Minobe
Alan Hawkshaw
Unknown

Mapping
---------------
sithlord999

Eventing
---------------
sithlord999

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<<DEMO COMING SPRING 08>>
Chapter Progress: 5%

 

[Crystalgate]

I've played a bit. The status screen shows some numbers and some equipment graphics, but no text. The game also seem to lag a lot. Occasionally when walking, the game stops for a secaond or two. This went on until it happened during battle only this time the game never recovered and I got an error message that said that the script is hanging.

Sorry for only posting negative things, but I didn't get far.

 

[Ratty524]

Interesting how you are using RM2k charactersets and battlers. O_o

By the screenshots, I feel that you can work a bit on the title screen, since the writing is very hard to read. I'll try it out in the near future.

 

[sithlord999]

@Crystalgate: Where did you get a hanging script error? Also, could you let me know where it's lagging at? I can't tell on my computer. I have it running in Smooth Mode and I get no lag at all. And yes, i'm aware that the status screen has no text. It was a japanese script and I haven't changed the text to english yet. Thanks for letting me know about the lag though.

@Ratty524: I have a new title screen now that will be in the next demo.

 

[jbart321]

I really think this game could benefit from using the newer rmxp graphics. The crisp drawings that you use for the facesets just don't mesh well with the older graphics imo.

 

[sithlord999]

Yeah. A few people told me the same thing. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have used RMXP graphics. But i'm too far into the game now to make such a big change.

 

[Crystalgate]

@Crystalgate: Where did you get a hanging script error? Also, could you let me know where it's lagging at? I can't tell on my computer. I have it running in Smooth Mode and I get no lag at all. And yes, i'm aware that the status screen has no text. It was a japanese script and I haven't changed the text to english yet. Thanks for letting me know about the lag though.

The lag started in the very first dungeon and was also present in the forrest after that dungeon. It was in that forrest I got the hanging script error and it was in a random battle against two of those rock creatures (don't remember their names).

 

[sithlord999]

Hmm. That's strange that it would happen there. The forest has no shadows or lights (which I thought were causing the lag). Does anyone else get lag there?

 

[Lockheart]

Seems very interesting, and I like that your brave enough to use the older graphics, I myself am working on a gaming using the older graphics rather then the flashy new stuff, so much easier and quicker to work with, but sadly a bit under detailed.

Good luck with your game and I look forward to a full game.

 

[sithlord999]

Thanks. Shadows of the Empire is actully going to be a project in chapters. I already have a few things done with the second chapter and i'm switching back to RMXP graphics for chapters 2+. I have about three chapters planned.

 

[Jstreet]

I like the rm2k look more than the RMXP RTP look. So unless you plan on using completely customized graphics, you should stick to the rm2k look. I'm still playing through the game, and when I finish I'll let you know what I think.

 

[Crystalgate]

Hmm. That's strange that it would happen there. The forest has no shadows or lights (which I thought were causing the lag). Does anyone else get lag there?

I have now finished the demo and haven't got any more lag while walking in the maps. However, the lag was present during battles.

 

[sithlord999]

My guess is that it's because i'm using OGGs for music. But it could be something else too.

 

[iceplosion]

Wow, the character portraits look incredible, they seem so professional its just a shame about the rest of the graphics. still those character portraits are just awesome.

Edit:
Ok I've played the demo and I have to say the game is incredible, the only flaw is the backgrounds and some minor spelling mistakes but the portraits are incredible (I'm so jealous of you, My game had some character portraits created but you have so many and they are so good!) The battle system was great and well balanced, the fights were enjoyable and the music was appropriate for each situation. The characters seem likeable (especially Cain) overall the game is ipressive but I have a few questions.

What script did you use to make pictures appear before the title screen came up?
What script did you use to show after battle information/level up etc?

And thats it. Well done on creating such a good game.

 

[sithlord999]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. The art was ripped by me from games by a Japanese anime company called Studio E.go. As for you script questions, the images before the title screen script I got here somewhere. Look in the scripts section and you should find it. The battle result script was by a Japanese scripter called KGC.

 

[Reives]

OGG basically lag-bumps once when it first loads I think. I personally prefer it over mp3 myself too. This is looking very good, but as I mentioned on the screenshot thread, the character portraits do feel a little off. I personally wouldn't change the tilesets themselves (as if that's possible at this point anyhow, heheh), but you might be able to soften the char pics a little by filtering them in photoshop or the like.

 

[sithlord999]

OGG basically lag-bumps once when it first loads I think. I personally prefer it over mp3 myself too.

I use OGG so I can loop the music without using PSFs. :D

you might be able to soften the char pics a little by filtering them in photoshop or the like.

I have GIMP but I guess it can do the same things Photoshop can. I'm not really too knowledgble when it comes to photo editing but i'll play around with it and see what I can come up with.

 

[Jstreet]

Well I have a bit of a mixed critique about the game, because although overall the game wasn't bad at all, if you concentrate on certain aspects there were quite a few things that were rather irritating and/or on the bad side of things.

Pros:
- As I said the overall game was kind of fun. It holds the elements that make an RPG what it is.

- The visuals were also pretty good. I like the retro rm2k look. I think I prefer it more than the higher detailed RMXP graphics.

- The potential presented in the storyline.

- The potential presented in the characters.

- I like most of the music selection.

Cons:
- The story although sequential, still felt bumpy. You introduced a few too many elements and some scene felt a bit random.

- The characters showed potential, but never developed as I thought they would. Most of the males have the same ego, and most of the females have the same generally perky personality. They all got annoying after a while.

- The writing took away from the game. Not only the spelling errors, but the general mechanics and usage that was presented. You couldn't really tell who was suppose to be intelligent, comical, serious, etc. Again a result of the mirrored personalities.

- The whole "Dark Lord" thing could've have been omitted completely, or at least done a bit better. It was just a random scene that didn't really have anything to do with anything. He just pops up and says "I'm going to take over the world, bye." No motive, no background, no character.

- I think the game would do better with an ATB battle system rather than a Turn - Based, because when you have to fight large groups of enemies (the invading soldiers) the battles will become extremely boring, tedious, and repetitive.

As I said as a mixture it was so horrible that I couldn't stand to play it, but the elements alone weren't all that impressive.
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[sithlord999]

Thanks! Now I know what to improve on. The characters may not develop so much in this chapter than they do in chapter 2 but I will try and see how I can develop them more in this one.

- The writing took away from the game. Not only the spelling errors, but the general mechanics and usage that was presented. You couldn't really tell who was suppose to be intelligent, comical, serious, etc. Again a result of the mirrored personalities.

Writing is what I seem to have the most trouble with so I knew someone would point that out eventually. I do have most of the spelling errors fixed now though.

- The whole "Dark Lord" thing could've have been omitted completely, or at least done a bit better. It was just a random scene that didn't really have anything to do with anything. He just pops up and says "I'm going to take over the world, bye." No motive, no background, no character.

Well the Dark Lord does play a role in the game later on. But I completly agree with you on that scene. It does seem pretty out of place.

- I think the game would do better with an ATB battle system rather than a Turn - Based, because when you have to fight large groups of enemies (the invading soldiers) the battles will become extremely boring, tedious, and repetitive.

The only reason I didn't use an ATB was because the battle facesets script only works with the system i'm using. But i'll play around with some scripts later on and see what I can do.

 

[bradleydfc]

I havn't downloaded this yet, but wow, the Chracter Artwork looks outstanding, and I was shocked with how detailed they were. Keep it up!