Just added a Mario 3 style overmap to our Tactics RPG. Thoughts?

[balthatrix]

Hi! Check out this video, where I show off the prototyped overmap interactions for our game Season of Arena.



What are your honest thoughts about the concepts presented?

 

[zer0sum]

I watched your video. I think the overworld plan totally works. I think you should have very clear icons to indicate which nodes have an encounter. i.e. a shop icon, or a battle icon, etc. Pixel art can be hard to read at the best of times, so something that contrasts well against your palette and draw my eye can help me understand the map at glance - that's good.

On the tactical map likewise I would make damage numbers pop more with bigger numbers and better contrast. The shop looks cool and the paper doll looks cool. All things considered it seems like a solid concept.

Check out Longsword - Tabletop Tactics on Steam. There's a demo. This is my game and I have a similar overworld map. It's way different graphically, I'm going like hardcore 3D stuff. But one of my favorite tactical RPGs is Tales of Maj'Eyal which is basic sprite graphics. You can run with your style and make a rad game, but I would push that overworld tile art super hard. Just make it overflow with detail to make me want to explore the world.

Also check out Domina; it's a pixel gladiator game that looks pretty rad.

/rambling

 

[balthatrix]

Hi, thanks for your thoughtful feedback sir!

We are planning to add some shiny/emissive sprites for shops and encounters. For shops, I was imagining we would make a little shop cart or something similar. For the encounters, you gave me a good idea. We can add an enemy overmap character, similar to the little hammer bros guy in Mario 3:

About the damage numbers, great idea! I've made a ticket to make damage stick out more.

Your game Longsword looks extremely epic! Honestly I was making Season of Arena so I could work my say up to making something more fancy like Longsword. Congratulations on how far you've gotten that game. I'm getting the demo to check it out.

Actually I've already checked out Domina. My composer suggested it! Very cool game. I'm hoping to add some blood and guts effects like those in that game. I really like the body explosion FX in Baldur's Gate

Thanks again for your great feedback.