[Demo][v2.0.2]Super Mario RPG: The Starlite Worlds

[udivision]

Download Demo Version 2.0.2

From the makers of Super Mario RPG: The Seven Sages...

Quick Game Info:
-RPG Genre
-Made in RPG Maker XP
-Heavily edited Tankentai XP battle system

The story so far...
It's another day in Bowser's Castle. The Koopa King is recanting his past glories to a script toad (stolen of course) as suggested by his advisor Kammy Koopa. It's going rather poorly. A Koopa servant bursts into the room with urgent news: "Your Ruthlessness, there are some weird things going down in the dungeon!" Annoyed with the incompetence of his minions, King Bowser heads down the fix the problem with Kammy right behind him. Little did they know that this little disturbance would become a big problem, and Castle of the Koopa would soon be the stage for the fight fate of their world!

Confirmed Features Updated: 09/11/10

-Action Commands (Timed Hits)
-Timed Defense (Like Paper Mario)
-Full, Paper Mario style badges (All skills learned from badges)
-Mouse Support in battled and in field
-Mario, Luigi, and Bowser playable
-No more "changing suits" but you can learn suit skills from badges
(Example: Mario turns into "Fire Mario" to do his "Fireball" attack he learned from a badge he equipped as seen in the video.)
-5 types of badges (Party, Mario, Luigi, and Bowser, and Ally)
-Control Bowser/Kammy on main field at certain points of the game
-New, mouse-based first strike system

Videos

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPeh5i2QO-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vbyJcfDDBg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NaGWgYNYgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTu4tv4RXVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9ArssNYo74

Beta Screenshots (05/27/10)

Spoiler

Screenshot Batch #1 (7/24/10)

Spoiler

Screenshot Batch #2 (9/11/10)

Spoiler

Credits
shun's Mouse System
Atoa's Sideview Battle System & Add-Ons
Punk's Skip Title XP
Mohhunter's Menus
Rataime's Destruction Egine
Dubealex's Parallax Backgrouund Script
Autoscrolling Panaroma's by RPG Advocate
The Sleeping Leonhearts' Hero and Event Frame Script
Agckuu Coceg's Modified Advanced Weather Script
arevulopapo's New Particle Engine
Gubid's Enemy Detection System
Dubealex's Advanced Message Script
Raziel's Battle Report

 

[regi]

Looks fantastic. Action commands are, without a doubt, the best thing you could have implemented into a Mario based RPG. The only thing I'm worried about is awkward controls (switching between mouse and arrow keys, unless you have WASD too), but otherwise it's a perfect portal to the past :3

 

[udivision]

You can try it out in the demo. It includes a little of the mouse usage with keyboard when you gain first strikes.

 

[bacon]

The battle system looks incredible except for the fact that it looks laggy. This may be because of lag or how you set up the animations. Remember, the mario games are more fast paced and while they aren't pick up and play games, they do resemble it. Fast animations and quick reflexes are what make it fun, battle seemed to be overly prolonged with slower animations.

Another thing is the boxes. They are incredibly bulky. Try to simplify it. Remember, the game are always about simplicity. There aren't HP bars or SP. The fight and escape should be a little box in the left and the HP should be in the top left corner. It would be cool to inverse the battlers as well and have players on the right side of the screen. Also, the boxes should disappear when combat starts to get the full view of the action. Im sure your system is bare basics at the moment but its just something to look into. And im sure you are going to have a different windowskin.

Im not a huge fan of the font. I get the style you are trying to convey but it just doesn't click for me. It may be because it doesn't match the graphics. Look for something a bit cleaner.

Spoiler

If you want to add personality, try making textboxes over the players instead of a textbox at the bottom. It really adds life and a sort of whimsical element the games are known for.

In my opinion, I think you are overdoing things. Like I said, simplicity is what make the games so good. You do not have to overthink too much and battles can be simple, but difficult all the same. The games are known for gimmicks, so give us some.

Bowser in particular could use some dialogue fix up. Your have the situations down, its just the execution is sometimes bleak. Ex: instead of dont even say it, it would be dont say it. But also remember, Bowser is not an intuitive or very smart creature. He really wouldn't think dont say it. Instead, Kammy would same something in small letters and bowser would be like " what did you just say". That is what I get from the games at least.

Im sure the music is temporary but if worse comes to worse, remix some old songs. There are countless midis that you can remix and rearrange. I have done it before and even have taken multiple parts of midis and combined them to make something. Add some variety.

Im interested in how you plan to implement bowser. Remember with Bowser in the other game, he handled tougher and stronger enemies. And there was the gimmick of Mario and Luigi inside his stomach and he could suck down smaller enemies. You need to find a creative way in implementing him. Just switching off will become mundane rather quickly. Be creative.

This is me being really picky. I mean, seriously, this game is beyond describable. I hope you fix some issues but jesus, keep up the work. c:

 

[udivision]

Thanks for your feedback, we'll take those into consideration.

Please play the demo when you get a chance.

The videos are laggy compared to the real game because of the software we used. Also, we're implementing Bowser like we did in Seven Sages, so he's not incredibly powerful compared to the Bros like in BiS although he is stronger.

I get the feeling you haven't played our first Mario fan game, but you'll know what to expect in terms of dialog and humor (it's been generally regarded as true to the PM and M&L series) if you take a look at it.

Thanks again for taking to time to respond to us!

 

[udivision]

Screenshots added! There are also more new ones in the OP that aren't in this post. The OP also has an updated list of features.

 

[Eidolion]

Looks awesome, I'll have to give this a try sometime in the future.

Although, I'll want to point out that in your one screen shot, you spelled Destination wrong.

 

[cordynasty]

After this, I recommend you guys, udivision, to do an original game. I enjoy the fan games, but I think it's about time you make something of your own.

 

[udivision]

C-Division and I were making an original game for XP before Starlite Worlds was ever conceived.

It got erased. ;_;

We probably will try again in the future, using the remnants of our planned game or starting anew. There's a certain draw about making fan games, though. Name recognition, getting to use colorful non-rtp graphics, and having a general model to follow to name a few.

 

[Mikepjr]

THE best mario fan RPG i have EVER played.
Very well done, i can't wait to see when it's done.
The only thing i can complain about, is that in some areas i lag a bit, things get choppy.
Oh and you can't skip the splash screen thingy at the beginning and get right to the title.

 

[c-division]

Once you've saved once you should be able to skip the beginning scene thing. The lag is an ongoing problem and we're looking for solutions.

Yeah, we were doing an original rpg but my computer resetted so it was lost. However, if it wasn't this game probably wouldn't have been started.

 

[Pokémaniac]

I love the look of this and I would download it, but >100 MB for a demo is a bit much for me and my shitty Australian internet. Sorry!

 

[udivision]

I could upload the demo in smaller chunks if you'd like. PM me if you're interested.

EDIT: New Video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NaGWgYNYgw

 

[udivision]

More GIFs here!

 

[R.J.]

C-Division and I were making an original game for XP before Starlite Worlds was ever conceived.

It got erased. ;_;

We probably will try again in the future, using the remnants of our planned game or starting anew. There's a certain draw about making fan games, though. Name recognition, getting to use colorful non-rtp graphics, and having a general model to follow to name a few.

Making fangames is cashing in on someone elses idea. It's uncreative, cliche, and cheap.

I'm not saying this fangame is bad, it's probably good. But it could be so much better if it had original graphics and characters to go with the gameplay.

Also you'll never be able to publish anything commercially or otherwise that is a fangame.

 

[udivision]

Assuming of course, we could make original graphics that were worthwhile. And assuming of course, we'd actually want to make commercial games. (No, and no since this is just a hobby.)

I don't see how fan works are any more "uncreative, cliche, and cheap" then your average "Guyz I'm making an FF game but it's not called FF" type game.

You have a point and I acknowledge that. But if we were making Starlite Worlds as a non-fan game? It'd take years more work, effort and skills we don't have. It'd be more rewarding too, in the end. But would it be a better game? TBH, I don't think so. And on the audience's end, that's all that really matters.

 

[R.J.]

If you're saying that this game would be worse with custom graphics, does that mean you think the main reason people play this game is because it's a Mario game? In that case, that's a bad thing.

Also I realize you're doing this as a hobby, but you're still releasing it to the public. And you're right that there are a lot of FF-like games, but if they use custom graphics then at least it differentiates them from everyone and their mom who use FF rips.

 

[death by moogles]

@R.J.
I think what udivision is saying is that the team working on Starlight Worlds is incapable of creating graphics superior to the ones that they are using now, and therefore see it unnecessary to create custom graphics, as it would only depreciate the game's aesthetic.

I've been keeping up with progress, but I have nothing to say that has yet to be said, so I haven't posted. Just posting to try and clear things up!

I'd like to note that I never played the original Mario RPG, so I have nothing to which I can compare this. Regardless, I really like it.

 

[R.J.]

Obviously they're incapable of creating graphics superior to Super Mario RPG, so am I. It's hard to do better then a multi-million company. But they don't have to do better, originality goes before quality. And if it really looks like crap, they can practice and get better.

I'll leave it at that though, for what this is it's a good game. I've said what I wanted and don't want to keep giving you crap about it.

 

[c-division]

I see your point definitely. My 2 cents

-I like making Mario games where things are set-up for you and you just have to build on them (Fighting, Humor, Characters, etc.)
-Fan games get lot of exposure. There aren't many good mario rpg fan games and SMRPG: Seven Sages has about 8500+ Downloads, and is pretty well known. The final boss battle vid someone else uploaded has 100,000+ views on youtube and the Dark Bowser vid has 100,000+ views. So yeah, i love the exposure.