Adagio's toast. Too much shit to fix and I don't have the motivation to do it. So instead, I'm putting the poor misshapen thing out of its misery and retaking an old project.
I had a crappy one-room "remake" of Haunted Castle I did a few years ago (when my programming knowledge was almost nonexistant). Well, I figure I'll start that back up since I have a more clear direction of where it is I'm going with it; where, with Adagio, it was more of "hey, I want this today, let's program it. I totally won't hate it next week after I've done so much implementation with it." Guess how it got to shit. :X
So, with that, here's my basic gameplan of what to do aside from the obvious;
-Expand the stages. I'll still only have the six, but I'll extend them and add a ton more to them. The cemetery, for instance, now has multiple crypts/mausoleums to go through and explore, rather than just the one Medusa's in. I also have two major changes in mind for the last two stages; chiefly, make an actual clock tower rather than a cheap elevator. I've given strong thought to shortening the elevator and putting a boss on it (similar to Brachyura). Right now, that boss is looking like the Rock Golem, who I may give recurring appearances as a miniboss. The other main change will (keyword, WILL) be that stage six won't just be that goddamn bridge. I'm thinking something along the lines of X68/Chronicles' last stage, as in multiple towers with collapsing bridges connecting them (because I can't nix the collapsing bridges completely, of course). I also gave thought to tossing Death into one of the towers, but that's just a thought for now.
-Add an actual semblance of a plot. While I'm not too eager to jump into dialogue scripting and coding, I do want Serena to have a bigger role than the damsel in distress. At the moment, I really want to give her a two-sided fate similar to Annette from DxC, in that she will die if certain conditions are not met. Now, whether she just gets killed, or turns evil/possessed and YOU have to do it, I haven't decided.
-Expand enemy roster. This one's self-explanatory.
-Expand bosses. This one needs more explanation. I'm not keen on some of the bosses(stained-glass knight), especially when I think about having to program some of them (stained-glass knight). So, I've considered scrapping/replacing some, or just adding more to compensate. The latter will happen regardless, but the degree is the variable here.
-More classic weapon types. This one's a biggie. Right now, the three main weapons operate in reference to the GB games. The leather/chain whips are traditional, with the Sword of Powah being the flame whip, in that it goes away upon being hit. I know this isn't really like HC in that regard, but I don't plan on making the bosses able to be beaten effortlessly by spamming the sword, which still does insane damage (damage counters, btw, are 1 for the leather, 2 for the chain, and 5 for the sword. The gap's big, but I think it's fair when compared to the combination of whip damage and fireball damage that the system alludes to.). Subweapon-wise, I plan on keeping them all; bomb will replace holy water, torch will replace axe (though it will also light any enemies it hits on fire, unless they're immune, in addition of setting the ground ablaze. Heart cost will be increased in tandem), boomerang replaces cross, and the stopwatch will stay. It will now cost five hearts rather than two. Hearts will be somewhat easier to come by than in the original as I will include candles in the game.
And with that said, here's some stuff to prove I'm actually doing this shit and not just blowing air.
Some screens from the first stage (largely incomplete, but the "feel" of the stage is shown pretty well IMO.
And some music I've gotten done so far. Mostly later-stage themes, but with me being a very musical person, if and when I get development boredom later on, listening to the later stages' themes will give me the motivation to get them done (I know it sounds odd, but that's just how it is).
Cross Your HeartBloody TearsBasement MelodiesCan't Wait Until NightGood "coming back" post, I think.
EDIT 6/17: On the offchance anyone is willing to, I would immensely appreciate any help on this. My previous and current projects have taught me than doing everything myself is fucking hard. My other game I can manage that well enough, but this one I know I won't be able to. I don't want to go all noob and say "I need a programmer, spriters, etc.," so I'll take whatever help (if any) I can.