Project Elemental (v0.1 - Not finished yet)

[aliensalmon]

Synopsis:

Spoiler

Project Elemental is still in an early developmental stage and is not a full game yet. Therefore, there are still a lot of things you'll find missing - but I put in enough gameplay for a 10-minute test drive. I will admit that it is a basic RPG Maker game (using mostly RTP and random turn based battles) but with my personal flair on it. The game is and will be mostly focused on gameplay rather than story, but there still is a story (just very basic and barebones so far)!

The story so far: Rachel, working for the scientist Dr. Elemens, goes to the forest of Elementia to investigate the ecosystem imbalance and in turn, the high levels of mana present there. She is accompanied by a man named Paulus who tells her about the prescence of a mysterious spirit in the forest.

This game is a follow-up to my first project, Project Rachel, and uses skills and techniques I learn while making that game.

Download Links:

Spoiler

With RTP:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/e2qdhsgvp87y7a0/Project_Elemental_RTP.exe

Without RTP:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/r80l9e7legtm0tq/Project_Elemental.exe

Comment: The more updated version is the one without RTP - because I am able to update it more frequently because of shorter loading times. I'll also try to update the one with RTP as soon as I can.

Screenshots/Artwork:

Spoiler

 

New pictures as of Aug. 12, 2014:

(These reflect the "no RTP" version. Will update the RTP version, soon.)

 

Credits:

Spoiler

Enterbrain (RPG Maker Program)Celianna (Futuristic Tiles)
Yanfly (Visual Battlers, Battle Engine, and other scripts)
Erangot (Face Maker Program)
Anonymous D. (Anime Character Maker Program)

Animal Faces by Fayforest/Ruruga/Gozaru resized for VX by GrannyDeb

Thalzon (Some Battlers)

Pineda (Some Animal Sprites)

Enelvon and Solistra (Bestiary scripts)

Gyrowolf (Field Music)

Pioneer Valley Games (Some Battlers)

PandaMaru (Some Battlers)

Archeia (Some Battlers)

V.M. of D.T. aka "Vlue" (Advanced Game Time Script)

PS: Is it okay if I post another game today? I have another game which I have been working on which I think is at the same development level as this one.

 

[TheFroMofo]

I don't mean to be rude, but as I went through this project I couldn't help but feel that this whole project seemed a little rushed. The areas seemed very linear and there seemed to be no incentive to fighting wild enemies as I could take on all of the bosses and still win with all party members alive. If there is anything that you personally think needs a stronger focus and don't know how to approach it I will happily give feedback. This project has a lot of potential and I can't wait to see it in its completeness.

 

[aliensalmon]

I don't mean to be rude, but as I went through this project I couldn't help but feel that this whole project seemed a little rushed. The areas seemed very linear and there seemed to be no incentive to fighting wild enemies as I could take on all of the bosses and still win with all party members alive. If there is anything that you personally think needs a stronger focus and don't know how to approach it I will happily give feedback. This project has a lot of potential and I can't wait to see it in its completeness.

Thanks for the feedback, TheFroMofo! I really appreciate it! I'll address your criticisms first.

About it being rushed: Well, the project still is an early developmental stage, so I'm trying to get the whole storyline working first. I'll then focus on polishing it up.

Linearity: Yeah, I see it. I'll fix this. Perhaps I could use some help with this.

Easiness: I was kind of aiming for an "easy-to-learn" kinda project with a lot of complex skills thrown around (like Pokemon). But yeah, I see what you mean. I don't want the project to lose its easy-to-learn feel but I do what to put a little bit of challenge, too. I guess I could use some help with this as well.

I guess the things I need help with are the linearity of the maps and adding a bit of challenge (but not too much.) But thanks again for the reply!

 

[TheFroMofo]

I feel that all of these problems may be solved with better mapping. Larger maze-like areas will give the player more battle opportunities, make any area such as the forest actually seem like what it was meant to be rather than a path, and I feel that the difficulty of the bosses should be made a lot higher, but should also be met a little further in the game. I was surprised that the first area in the game (going back to forest again) was so short and then there was this boss at the end. It might be best if you add an area before the forest to let the play get accustomed to battle mechanics. Also, the areas were a little bland. Maybe if you added some more trees or irregular patches of grass here or there, the areas would look so much nicer for such a simple solution. Don't give up and keep up the good work! 

 

[aliensalmon]

I feel that all of these problems may be solved with better mapping. Larger maze-like areas will give the player more battle opportunities, make any area such as the forest actually seem like what it was meant to be rather than a path, and I feel that the difficulty of the bosses should be made a lot higher, but should also be met a little further in the game. I was surprised that the first area in the game (going back to forest again) was so short and then there was this boss at the end. It might be best if you add an area before the forest to let the play get accustomed to battle mechanics. Also, the areas were a little bland. Maybe if you added some more trees or irregular patches of grass here or there, the areas would look so much nicer for such a simple solution. Don't give up and keep up the good work! 

Thanks again for your feedback! I'm fixing the game up now.

 

[TheFroMofo]

Sweet! Post some screenshots.

 

[aliensalmon]

Here some of the maps I made and edited:

Spoiler

Garden Forest (I changed this, made a few tweaks here and there. It leads to both Garden Forest South and Garden Forest Interior.)



Garden Forest (South) (New Map)



Pyre Mountain Trail (New Map)

These maps are not final and are subject to changes. These are just basic layouts.

 

[TheFroMofo]

Ah! So much better!  Again, throw in some scenery to change it up a bit, but what you have you right now is such an improvement. Keep it up!!

 

[aliensalmon]

Decided to save this topic from oblivion. I haven't really worked on the game for the past few months, but I do have some new stuff to show.

Spoiler

Some maps:

 

I'll update the download links, too.