Paper Mario?

[King Bowser]

Hi,


I was wondering if it's possible to make a game similar to Paper Mario with RPG Maker VX Ace. As in, a game with a similar map style and battle system. Is it even possible to do this?


Thanks.

 

[mlogan]

You need more description. You can't assume everyone's played this game. If you can link images with sample map styles and describe the battle system, you will get a lot more accurate help.

 

[Euphony]

Certainly, but like any game that strives for a very stylized look and feel, it would take a lot of work and dedication to pull off.


For one thing, you'd need help from a scripter to recreate the battle system. You could get something similar to the Paper Mario setup by combining a sideview battle script (there are several out there) with Galv's Timed Button Attacks, but if you want to recreate the battle system 100% faithfully, you'd definitely need a scripter for that. And you'd probably need to pay them because battle systems are lot of work.


You'd also have to create your character sheets in a way that when they move north and south, they stay facing east/west. Not as much work as the battle system, but still, it would require some patience and dedication, especially if you aren't practiced in spriting. And again, you might need a script to help you out, because the character sheets weren't really designed with that kind of movement in mind.


Maps would be the easiest thing to handle. It's pretty simple to set up maps in a stage-like formation, then lay them over a parallax background. Here's a quick and dirty example using the RTP:

Spoiler

 

[King Bowser]

Here's a picture of the style I'd like to replicate.


Is this possible?

 

[King Bowser]

Are there any tilesets you'd recommend to get a similar graphical style to Paper Mario?

 

[mlogan]

@King Bowser, please avoid double posting, as it is against the forum rules. You can review our forum rules here. Thank you.


If you need to add something, please go back and edit your previous post.

 

[Wavelength]

To replicate the "adventure"/"platformer" gameplay you'd want to use Parallax Mapping (create the entire map as one or more pictures rather than tiles, then manually set passability), implement a Pixel Mapping script, and either manually implement stuff like jumping, or take your chance with an action system like Falcao ABS.


Then you'd need to hire a scripter to make a lot of mods to the battle system - Timed Hits, sideview animations, damage popups, skills with special logic, all that good stuff.  That's before you even create any of the content for people to play.


It's certainly well within the realm of possibility, but by the time you've created a game that can compare with Paper Mario you'll have spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars.  Paper Mario wasn't built in a day, either.  Well, big guy, is it worth it?