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[rezuth]

Hey,
I just want some quick input on which you would prefer.
Let's say you're playing a 2D sidescrolling game on XBLA that plays like Castlevania: Portrait of ruin meets Castle Crashers but the settnings is in Mexico.
Would you prefer using melee weapons(Knifes, swords, knuckels, axe's, spears, chains, broken bottles etc) or ranged weapons (pistols, shuriken, machine gun, minigun, shotgun etc)?

Perhaps a combo could be used where you're limited to a small amount of ammo and is required to save it up for bosses and go melee style on the rest?

Any input would be great.

 

[SapientWolf]

That question is... oddly specific.

I would prefer to use a cactus as a weapon. I wouldn't care if it was melee or ranged.

 

[impirius]

I like Castlevania's system of a main melee attack with limited ammo for ranged attacks.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Hey,
I just want some quick input on which you would prefer.
Let's say you're playing a 2D sidescrolling game on XBLA that plays like Castlevania: Portrait of ruin meets Castle Crashers but the settnings is in Mexico.
Would you prefer using melee weapons(Knifes, swords, knuckels, axe's, spears, chains, broken bottles etc) or ranged weapons (pistols, shuriken, machine gun, minigun, shotgun etc)?

Perhaps a combo could be used where you're limited to a small amount of ammo and is required to save it up for bosses and go melee style on the rest?

Any input would be great.

i'd prefer to have both...

 

[lyre]

Quite specific indeed ... so specific, this question sounds a lot like ... a thinly veiled ... design .... direction ... que ...

But to answer your que, it highly depends on how the game in its entirety is designed around.

Take for example of a few 2d side scrollers I play far too much, the Megaman Zero games. While they allow both melee and ranged attack options, the four games are designed around melee combat mostly. While the games are perfectly beatable with just the buster (ranged attacks), the game feels more in tune jumping in your enemy's face and slashing away.

However in ZX, I feel the opposite where the game feels more like it was designed around being a shooting sidescroller. The short time you spend in X mode in the beginning with just a buster feels more balanced than the rest of the game where you toggle between the other 5 forms. Good thing there's an X only mode after you beat the game. Also with ZXA being a buster only/mainly game, that I find only supports this thought.


And since the game is set in a Mexico setting, bring out the guns! And no combos please, nor air jumps or moves you have to/can buy as well. If you're good enough, you should be able to beat the entire game with what you start with.

 

[favouriteflavour]

metal slug system works for me

 

[rezuth]

I like Castlevania's system of a main melee attack with limited ammo for ranged attacks.

That was my bet also but then I started thinking about El Mariachi and how it would be very nice to do a game in that kind of style.

That question is... oddly specific.

I would prefer to use a cactus as a weapon. I wouldn't care if it was melee or ranged.

Cactus would actually be a nice joke weapon

i'd prefer to have both...

Thanks

Quite specific indeed ... so specific, this question sounds a lot like ... a thinly veiled ... design .... direction ... que ...

But to answer your que, it highly depends on how the game in its entirety is designed around.

Take for example of a few 2d side scrollers I play far too much, the Megaman Zero games. While they allow both melee and ranged attack options, the four games are designed around melee combat mostly. While the games are perfectly beatable with just the buster (ranged attacks), the game feels more in tune jumping in your enemy's face and slashing away.

However in ZX, I feel the opposite where the game feels more like it was designed around being a shooting sidescroller. The short time you spend in X mode in the beginning with just a buster feels more balanced than the rest of the game where you toggle between the other 5 forms. Good thing there's an X only mode after you beat the game. Also with ZXA being a buster only/mainly game, that I find only supports this thought.


And since the game is set in a Mexico setting, bring out the guns! And no combos please, nor air jumps or moves you have to/can buy as well. If you're good enough, you should be able to beat the entire game with what you start with.

The problem I would think with guns is making it a challenge. The game would obviously be a lot easier with guns and I wonder how much of a challenge people accept. I doubt many would like a game as hard as Megaman today, or?

metal slug system works for me

Run'N'Gun nonstop, ey?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Umino]

Are you making such a game?

 

[rezuth]

Are you making such a game?

:lol Yes!
Just making sure we're on the right tracks.

 

[JDSN]

The best way would be having unlimited ranged attacks that cause the standard damage and melee attacks that makes massive damage but leaves you unprotected.

Run'N'Gun nonstop, ey?

You havent played Metal Slug havent you?

 

[TTP]

Asking NeoGAF is a good way to start. More devs should do this. Seriously.

I'd go for the combo (limited ammo for ranged weapons of course)

 

[Raging Spaniard]

As far as the short range stuff isnt as long as a 2 inch wang (ZELDA 2 IM LOOKING AT CHOO) I dont really prefer one over the other, options are good, thats the fun part, to figure out what to use in each situation

 

[rezuth]

The best way would be having unlimited ranged attacks that cause the standard damage and melee attack that make massive damage but leave you open to melee attacks as well.



You havent played Metal Slug havent you?

I have actually only completed Metal Slug for the GBA but I have played most. I might have not used the ... "correct" term.

That is an idea.
I'm also wondering about how to handle weapons in it. Would people prefer earning money from dead enemies etc and using them to buy weapons/upgrades or just find them on the ground?

 

[Jamesfrom818]

Let's put it this way. I had a much easier time beating Megman X4 with Zero than with X.

 

[soco]

it really always depends upon the game and the situation for me. even in castlevania the melee weapons tend to be long ranged ones (axe, knife, etc) and i use those quite a lot.

since the question is so specific and references castlevania, i'd say follow their lead in terms of balance. give both as an option, then balance each by range and area versus the cost. melee would be free but the ranged would cost something, and ranged's power would depend upon the cost.

 

[rezuth]

Asking NeoGAF is a good way to start. More devs should do this. Seriously.

I'd go for the combo (limited ammo for ranged weapons of course)

Thank you, I'm glad you approve.
As it seems now it would be the best approach and the easiest one when balacing.

As far as the short range stuff isnt as long as a 2 inch wang (ZELDA 2 IM LOOKING AT CHOO) I dont really prefer one over the other, options are good, thats the fun part, to figure out what to use in each situation

Note: Don't make 2 inch short range weapons. *Check*

it really always depends upon the game and the situation for me. even in castlevania the melee weapons tend to be long ranged ones (axe, knife, etc) and i use those quite a lot.

since the question is so specific and references castlevania, i'd say follow their lead in terms of balance. give both as an option, then balance each by range and area versus the cost. melee would be free but the ranged would cost something, and ranged's power would depend upon the cost.

This is an good idea Thanks.

Let's put it this way. I had a much easier time beating Megman X4 with Zero than with X.

:lol

 

[Xevren]

I'd rather use a mini-gun that shoots swords.

 

[D3VI0US]

Find weapons on the ground.

 

[Umino]

:lol Yes!
Just making sure we're on the right tracks.

Cool. I guess I vote for melee.

 

[segarr]

Weak default ranged weapons with unlimited ammo. Stronger guns can be picked up but with limited ammo. Focus is on melee. Think Hunter:The Reckoning.

 

[NotWii]

Both

 

[Odrion]

Throwing knives.

 

[favouriteflavour]

if i have to buy guns then I would hope to still have them when i died in a level. This is more applicable to the contra/metal slug variety of scrolling shooter than megaman style of course. Having to get through a level with a really lousy gun cause i died at the start is no fun. Either I keep what i bought as my new default weapon or i pick stuff up.

 

[rezuth]

I'd rather use a mini-gun that shoots swords.

Find weapons on the ground.

Yes, I'll think that will work out the best.

Cool. I guess I vote for melee.

It's very nice of you

Weak default ranged weapons with unlimited ammo. Stronger guns can be picked up but with limited ammo. Focus is on melee. Think Hunter:The Reckoning.

Great suggestion.

Both

Thanks.

Throwing knives.

:lol I'll be sure to name them "Odrion Throwing Knifes"

if i have to buy guns then I would hope to still have them when i died in a level. This is more applicable to the contra/metal slug variety of scrolling shooter than megaman style of course. Having to get through a level with a really lousy gun cause i died at the start is no fun. Either I keep what i bought as my new default weapon or i pick stuff up.

I think we'll skip buying stuff, it's really a hassle in the end for the player and kinda disrupts the action-age.

 

[USD]

Shinobi III uses both, and everyone knows how awesome that game is, so you should use both. On that note, you must include the obligatory vehicle stage.

 

[Narag]

Shinobi III uses both, and everyone knows how awesome that game is, so you should use both.

Came in here to say this!

 

[Powerslave]

I HATE HATE HATE ranged weapons because the amount of it they give you is sooo limited. So I end up saving it and stocking it all up until the end of the game and still don't use it.

 

[rezuth]

I HATE HATE HATE ranged weapons because the amount of it they give you is sooo limited. So I end up saving it and stocking it all up until the end of the game and still don't use it.

So I'll guess that is a hint for melee only?

 

[Powerslave]

You see right through me.

 

[Aalyx]

I say Melee with usable/throwable melee weapons like Little Fighter. Maybe then have special ranged weapons with limited ammo that you can use when necessary.

 

[Oldschoolgamer]

Both, ftw.

 

[Gowans]

I like the mix of both for different situations but if I could only choose one it would have to be a sword to slice & dice fools

 

[Brobzoid]

take that shit about cacti seriously!!! Don't think your game is gonna be good unless there is some sort of spike shooting cactus! Obviously it doubles as a spiked club....

 

[..pakbeka..]

set in Mexico??? THEN YOU MUST DO IT LIKE SUNSET RIDERS!!!!!!!!!1111111111eleven




tons of bullets coming out of your gun and cowboys wearing questionable colors

 

[Ranger X]

Just make sure i can shoot in 8 directions. Have a lock option too. It's always the best combo for longe range stop. ( lock movement and lock direction )