Messofanego
Banned
from the first video
you guys are dicks
Or NeoGAF is trying to stop people from falling for a scam.
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Castlevania remake in Unreal Engine 4 Demo and Kickstarter are up
- Thread starter Malyse
- Start date
Or NeoGAF is trying to stop people from falling for a scam.
Bl@de
Member
hey_it's_that_dog
benevolent sexism
The camera placement is weirdly unpleasant.
The room transitions look kind of cool, and that's the only positive thing I can say about this. Hopefully this guy gets some good learning out of building this project, but he's definitely not going to have a successful Kickstarter.
The room transitions look kind of cool, and that's the only positive thing I can say about this. Hopefully this guy gets some good learning out of building this project, but he's definitely not going to have a successful Kickstarter.
EmCeeGramr
Member
The shifted perspective part is bad not just because it looks wonky, but because it actually affects gameplay.
-Stairs. As everyone has seen already, the animation for getting on stairs... isn't there. Maybe he's still trying to figure out how you can have an animation that convincingly shifts Simon into the background instantaneously, since you can't have a delay getting on stairs. In Castlevania world, stairs exist on the same plane as floor, the player, and enemies.
In games like A Link Between Worlds, developers got around the fact that you can't have incorrectly drawn perspective in a 3D game by warping objects and the world so it "looked right" from the shifted top down perspective:
This project doesn't really consider that at all, so you have stairs and whatnot being on different planes than the rest of the game, which not only makes the game look more cluttered and poorly animated, but also poses a gameplay issue: do enemies hurt you if you're on stairs? That's a pretty important part of Castlevania's gameplay, so I would assume yes, right? Otherwise, you've broken a significant part of the game. I can't find a video confirming this either way, but by shifting the perspective and putting stairs on a different plane, you either have to A) make Simon immune to enemies, as would appear logical, or B) say that Simon is getting hurt even when nothing is apparently actually touching him, just passing in front of him. Players can't even trust their own eyes now!
-Another, bigger issue is enemies across different floors.
So here's the first room of Stage 2 of Castlevania:
Even when you start out, you can see the knight, you can see the bat, all of that from the very beginning. Do you climb the stairs and attack the knight with the whip or a subweapon? If you fought the Giant Bat at the end of Stage 1 with the axe, then you'll still have it right now, and throwing it will teach the player (if they hadn't already noticed) that the axe goes through floors.
Stage 2 has more to consider vertically than Stage 1 did with its couple of stairs; Stage 2 has floors over floors, Medusa Heads bobbing up and down, etc.
Here's what Stage 2 looks like in this project:
There's no bat. The top of the screen is taken up by a massive stone archway. The knight hasn't spawned yet, and I think it might not spawn until you get close enough to the stairs. Even if it had, would you have noticed the bottom of its feet? Could you have attacked it with an axe from below?
And remember when I said Medusa Heads? One of the most infamous enemies in the series for their maddening sine wave motions as they constantly spawn, often during areas with spikes or bottomless pits. At least you can always see them, so you can see them coming from above or below.
Like in this screenshot. See the Medusa Head?
Wait, you don't?
It's the tip of the black indistinguishable blob that's clipping through the floor, right behind Simon's feet.
-Stairs. As everyone has seen already, the animation for getting on stairs... isn't there. Maybe he's still trying to figure out how you can have an animation that convincingly shifts Simon into the background instantaneously, since you can't have a delay getting on stairs. In Castlevania world, stairs exist on the same plane as floor, the player, and enemies.
In games like A Link Between Worlds, developers got around the fact that you can't have incorrectly drawn perspective in a 3D game by warping objects and the world so it "looked right" from the shifted top down perspective:
This project doesn't really consider that at all, so you have stairs and whatnot being on different planes than the rest of the game, which not only makes the game look more cluttered and poorly animated, but also poses a gameplay issue: do enemies hurt you if you're on stairs? That's a pretty important part of Castlevania's gameplay, so I would assume yes, right? Otherwise, you've broken a significant part of the game. I can't find a video confirming this either way, but by shifting the perspective and putting stairs on a different plane, you either have to A) make Simon immune to enemies, as would appear logical, or B) say that Simon is getting hurt even when nothing is apparently actually touching him, just passing in front of him. Players can't even trust their own eyes now!
-Another, bigger issue is enemies across different floors.
So here's the first room of Stage 2 of Castlevania:
Even when you start out, you can see the knight, you can see the bat, all of that from the very beginning. Do you climb the stairs and attack the knight with the whip or a subweapon? If you fought the Giant Bat at the end of Stage 1 with the axe, then you'll still have it right now, and throwing it will teach the player (if they hadn't already noticed) that the axe goes through floors.
Stage 2 has more to consider vertically than Stage 1 did with its couple of stairs; Stage 2 has floors over floors, Medusa Heads bobbing up and down, etc.
Here's what Stage 2 looks like in this project:
There's no bat. The top of the screen is taken up by a massive stone archway. The knight hasn't spawned yet, and I think it might not spawn until you get close enough to the stairs. Even if it had, would you have noticed the bottom of its feet? Could you have attacked it with an axe from below?
And remember when I said Medusa Heads? One of the most infamous enemies in the series for their maddening sine wave motions as they constantly spawn, often during areas with spikes or bottomless pits. At least you can always see them, so you can see them coming from above or below.
Like in this screenshot. See the Medusa Head?
Wait, you don't?
It's the tip of the black indistinguishable blob that's clipping through the floor, right behind Simon's feet.
DR2K
Banned
I have a couple of words.
Dude needs a GoFundMe instead to get an education.
This is an actual parody, right?
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Sorry guys. I reported him to Kickstarter. You should all do the same. We know this money is just being burned.
Awesome points! I don't think this guy will be able to solve some of those issues without a massive rework and/or engine changes.
goldenpp72
Member
I think it looks kinda cool for an early thing that would be far off, if he had official backing and perhaps a bit more focus on the gameplay part id actually be interested. As is though, this will be a waste of time for the poor guy.
Won't do anything. Konami is the one who cares.
Jawmuncher
Member
This sure as hell ain't happening.
Why do people do this.
You have the talent it seems to make your own game. WHY REMAKE SOMETHING YOU DON'T OWN.
Make new characters, design new levels using your own assets. That way you get to make a game and you make money if it's good. This is just going to shut down with no hope.
You have the talent it seems to make your own game. WHY REMAKE SOMETHING YOU DON'T OWN.
Make new characters, design new levels using your own assets. That way you get to make a game and you make money if it's good. This is just going to shut down with no hope.
Triggerhappytel
Member
I made it about 40 seconds in. Terrible commentary.
The shifted perspective part is bad not just because it looks wonky, but because it actually affects gameplay.
-Stairs. As everyone has seen already, the animation for getting on stairs... isn't there. Maybe he's still trying to figure out how you can have an animation that convincingly shifts Simon into the background instantaneously, since you can't have a delay getting on stairs. In Castlevania world, stairs exist on the same plane as floor, the player, and enemies.
In games like A Link Between Worlds, developers got around the fact that you can't have incorrectly drawn perspective in a 3D game by warping objects and the world so it "looked right" from the shifted top down perspective:
This project doesn't really consider that at all, so you have stairs and whatnot being on different planes than the rest of the game, which not only makes the game look more cluttered and poorly animated, but also poses a gameplay issue: do enemies hurt you if you're on stairs? That's a pretty important part of Castlevania's gameplay, so I would assume yes, right? Otherwise, you've broken a significant part of the game. I can't find a video confirming this either way, but by shifting the perspective and putting stairs on a different plane, you either have to A) make Simon immune to enemies, as would appear logical, or B) say that Simon is getting hurt even when nothing is apparently actually touching him, just passing in front of him. Players can't even trust their own eyes now!
Actually, in castlevania, you have a narrow entrance window where you begin climbing stairs - entering this mode actually changes the player's state. If you are not in that window, and you press up near stairs, the game will actually move you to the correct location, displaying a walking animation as you walk backwards to the stairs.
So the game actually accommodates the very type of animation you are talking about, and has since the original castlevania. His game merely lacks that feature.
BlazeHedgehog
Member
from the first video
you guys are dicks
I'm okay with people thinking I'm a dick if that means I care about games being properly represented
"eh, good enough" is not the kind of thinking that made a game like Castlevania become a classic
And if this is honestly the best they can manage, then it's DEFINITELY not good enough
Not saying this is comparable on any level, but Resident Evil 4 - considered one of the greatest games of all time - has plenty of instances in its texture work where "eh, good enough" was applied.
KiefbladeMaster
Member
Why doesn't Kickstarter check to see if you have licensing for a huge IP before trying to crowdfund a fan remake..? That seems like a huge oversight. Highly doubtful Konami will even consider an offer of that size either, lol.
Reminds me of that Open World Star Wars kickstarter last year or whenever that was.
Reminds me of that Open World Star Wars kickstarter last year or whenever that was.
hey_it's_that_dog
benevolent sexism
it takes orders of magnitude more ability to create a (good) level than to copy one.
Mr. Poolman
Member
This looks like shit.
I wouldn't if I ran KS.
I think some fan games are worth attention, and it's not always about the money.
This is how we have Sonic Mania, for example, and how Bohemia Interactive hired a modder who made free campaigns in ArmA II to become full-time staff for ArmA III.
That said, there is a better Castlevania fan project going on, but I'd like to not talk about it for fears of DMCA takedowns ruining that..
TheOfficeMut
Unconfirmed Member
Judging from that gameplay video, Konami would be doing that kickstarter a favor if they just shut it down right now.
It's pretty easy, you just send money to ceo@konami.com via PayPal and you get a PDF of the IP rights in a day or two. shocking no one does this
BlazeHedgehog
Member
Not saying this is comparable on any level, but Resident Evil 4 - considered one of the greatest games of all time - has plenty of instances in its texture work where "eh, good enough" was applied.
Sure, but that's a single element. This seems to have an "eh, good enough" mantra applied to... well, almost everything, really, including the core game mechanics
CrichtonKicks
Member
No money is being burned- project won't be funded so nobody will pay anything.
I'm not even sure that's even actually that accurate.
It's a gamecube game to begin with that got ported rather quickly to another less capable machine.
I'd love to hear the technical argument that shows that they intentionally didn't make the best they could at the time. If we're talking el cheapo ports, that's kind of the issue when you don't have a large enough budget.
Jacksinthe
Banned
Good grief everything about this looks abysmal.
Nothing more than a cash grab.
Nothing more than a cash grab.
The Baron Count
Member
For the same reason it's easier to do a mediocre cover of a great song rather than write your own.
I guess This is what the 'fuck konami' crowd eventually ends up doing.
Mufausa The 3rd
Member
re_fan1996
Member
I'm chopping my ears off right now!
After 5 seconds I had to close it.
Triggerhappytel
Member
Next month on Kickstarter - Blood Stains: Ritual of the Dark by Dejawolfs.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
From the comments on the KS page:
theindieboy
Member
Yep this is silly if not got license or agreement to pay x for it then this is so dead, looks pretty cool but doubt it won't be killed very soon.
CecilRousso
Member
I don't even know where to start with that.
Triggerhappytel
Member
Yo; he's a creator, now a businessman. He should team up with Keiji Inafune!
Never ends well for people who thinks they can use an IP they don't own in a commercial fashion, this one is no different. By all means make a game inspired by castlevania in UE4, but using the actual IP is just asking to get sent a cease and desist, and then sued if you refuse that.
From the comments on the KS page:
I hope this happens, he gets four and half years down the line, gears up for launch and then Konami send a C&D