Homebrew Fireworlds - A DS platformer/puzzle game. (DS Entry)

[Dirbaio]

Fireworlds

Videos:

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About

I'm presenting here my entry for the Homebrew Bounty.
It's a completely original puzzle/platform adventure. The objective is to collect all energy bits from the level and then get to the exit. It has a puzzle feel to it: you need to carry around stuff, activate switches, push boxes. However, there is also a great part of action: jumping, running, avoiding the water.

As you can see, a lot of work has been put into the graphics. Most of things are particle-based. To get the most out of the tiny 66 MHz CPU in the NDS, I had to optimize lots of things. For example, a fun fact: the core of the particle engine has been hand-written in ASM to make it as fast as possible. The result is that the engine can handle nearly 1500 particles at full 60 FPS! This probably makes it the homebrew game with most advanced graphics ever made. Not bad for the Nintendo DS.

Download

Version 1.1 (Latest): http://dirbaio.net/d/fireworlds.zip (Please do not mirror.)
Source code on GitHub: https://github.com/Dirbaio/Fireworlds

Changelog

Beta 1
- First release

Beta 2
- Fixed game launching but crashing later when libfat can't init (for example in no$gba)
- Fixed getting stuck in the insides of corners in most cases
- Added button navigation to menus
- Fixed having another fireball selected when another one you aren't controlling dies or exits.
- Made physics a bit calmer, especially the pink bouncy things.
- Added help on the top screen
- Fixed many tiny graphical bugs
- Completely recoded the collision system. It's waay more flexible now.
- Added Ice Blocks (Used in only one level for now)
- Added hints and help on the top screen!
- More levels. The first ones are supposed to serve as a tutorial.

Beta 3
- Last update before final release!
- Annoying corner bug fixed, now completely!
- Fixed falling through ice blocks sometimes.
- Added intro video
- Zoomed out a bit for more visibility
- Improved the tutorial levels.
- Added speed button! Big levels are no longer boring!
- ROM no longer needs to be in root.
- Added fireboxes!
- Added switches!
- Bug fixes! Collision fixes!
- Added awesome intro video (Thanks to my friend Sorington!)
- Added pause button
- 28 levels!

Final Version (1.0)
- Added lots of levels (36!)
- Fixed lots of bugs
- Finished the game

Version 1.1 (Oct 31, 2012)
- Fixed lag in all levels.
- Improved all the levels: Fixed unintended shortcuts and made those very-frustrating-levels less frustrating.
- Reworked the appearance of the fireball. Now it has a more definite shape and looks more like fire!
- Some random graphical improvements/fixes
- It now has a pause screen!

 

[Rydian]

I was halfway through reading that and was making a grab for my DS and card reader when I hit that it's not out yet.

Well played.

 

[loco365]

I am stunned. That video looks really good and I can't wait to try it for myself. I like puzzle games.

 

[FAST6191]

Looks very nice [insert mention of sonic special stage], I look forward to poking through the source code as well.

 

[ShinyJellicent12]

W...O...W!

 

[Boriar]

Wow, very impresive!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for try it.

 

[pokefloote]

Ahh, the Spanish always make the greatest homebrew-related things.

Can't wait for the release. Looks wonderful.

 

[Sterling]

Nice, very nice. You and the Bullet hell guy have my vote for the competition. My vote sadly doesn't matter.

 

[smealum]

This looks really cool, can't wait to try it.

 

[cosmiccow]

"The most advance homebrew game ever".. pretty bold, man.. But it indeed looks cool.

Now you just have to deliver what you promised.

 

[Dirbaio]

Now it's out

It's a really small beta, since I had no time to make more levels today (It's 0:46 AM here and I'm falling asleep). Only four levels...

Sorry for posting the video yesterday without any download. I was kinda excited to share the trailer with you guys... But I still hadn't coded the level select screen, and I thought releasing something with just ONE level was a bad idea

And I have to say I'm surprised: I didn't expect so positive feedback from only a video! Thank you

I'd like to ask for two things:
1: Suggestions, suggestions, suggestions. For objects, levels, gameplay tricks, and so on.
2: Someone test this in DSi mode because I think the MIDI playback timings will be off due to the increased clock rate... Anyways if it doesn't work and I can't fix it, people can just run it in DS mode, since DSi mode has no particular benefits.

 

[Boriar]

AWESOME!!!!

The game is a bit confusing at the begining because the lack of an explain and all lights floating around but when i asume all of that it's really fun to play.
Some ideas:

1. Add time limit
2. what about teleport blocks to access to other rooms?
3. Can you add motion sense support? I think LibsDS have included all to support that

If you want more explain you can PM and speak in spanish

In level 1 sometimes in the closed angle the bouncing light go out of the level wall and fall forever.

Good work!

 

[basher11]

alright! a beta!

*downloads*

it looks good, hope you continue updating.

 

[jamesaa]

Just given it a go, looking forward to more levels and updates

 

[Sir_Voe]

I gave it a try from Sudokuhax (incompatible) and my DSTwo (works fine). It took me a while to get running because I ignored your readme message to extract the nds to the root, thinking it wouldn't really make a difference. Once I got beyond that initial blunder, I found the abundant and smoothly rendered particle effects quite impressive. A brief message explaining the water hazard would have been helpful, as I was confused by what was happening when I initially encountered it.
In all, I see lots of potential, as there's a lot you can do with the fire theme. A few things I can think of are: Explosives/fuses, maybe floating coals that the flame can stick to and jump from one to the other, interactions with flammable gas and melting ice, the list goes on and on.
Regardless of what direction you take this, I look forward to seeing more. Good luck!

 

[wasim]

the video looks awesome
hope the game too is

 

[Another World]

this game is really pretty so far, but its very confusing. i still don't get what i'm doing, i mostly button mash. there are times when it seems like you can go left or right but you can't, like you hit a wall. and you can't jump over or back up. i hope the next release makes a bit more sense because i feel like i want to play it i'm just not yet sure what the heck is going on.

-another world

 

[iluvfupaburgers]

game is fun, i liked the concept of it, and the graphics. i have a few sugestions though.
1. make menu navigation with buttons aswell.
2. instructions on how to play and objective of the game

 

[Dirbaio]

Beta 2 is now up on FileTrip!
The biggest changes are more levels and hints on the top screen.

Enjoy and please tell me what you think!

EDIT: Oops. I uploaded the wrong NDS file, please wait before downloading!!!!

 

[_Chaz_]

Heads up, Nintendo's gonna call and make you an offer for your own 3DSWare.