this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2024
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Horn of Balance - an indie 2D zelda-like (cdn.masto.host)
submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
31 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Horn of Balance - an indie 2D zelda-like

I'm developing 'Horn of Balance', a 2D zelda-like featuring 12 non-linear dungeons, 2 interconnected worlds and a TON of secrets.

Right now, the project is live on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hornofbalance/horn-of-balance) and we've almost hit the funding goal with just 24 hours left!

There's also a free demo on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2738140/Horn_of_Balance/) and Itch.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have!

@games

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What engine does this use or was it built from scratch?

Limitless Peace

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

@MichaelTen I build it from scratch, across many many years in the Zelda fangaming community. Using Gamemaker.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

I wish that the N64 and GameCube era of Zelda got more love. 2D Zeldas are great and all (especially Link's Awakening and Minish Cap), but most of my adolescent gaming memories were formed in the early 3D era so that's what I cherish most. Yet most indie devs seem to be Gen-Xers who trying to cater to Zoomers who really seem to have a thing for the 2D era, despite having no memory of it. But I would love nothing more than an indie title inspired by Majora's Mask or Wind Waker.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think early 3D graphics is just painful to watch nowadays. 2D pixelated arts can be wonderful, despite the obvious limitation, but when you switch 3D is just easy to ends up with something simply ugly. Cell shading and a good art direction can help, thought.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Well I don't necessarily mean copy the graphics, but more of the gameplay of that era. A N64/GameCube-like title with modern graphics is what I'm looking for.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

@Psythik You should check the interviews on my Kickstarter. Specifically "Seed of Life" (and maybe "No more fathers") might be interesting for you. SoL is inspired by the early 3D Zelda's.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

Tried it out. Liking it so far, but I might have soft-locked the demo? I think I got into a state where I can't get a key to progress. Or at least I can't seem to find it. Happy to send pics of map or copy of save file if it would be valuable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The pots and stone walls look the most derivative. I'd tweak those to look less-Zelda-like

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

@morphballganon Will do. I plan to give as much dungeons as possible their own walls, pots, doorways and so forth. (Actually have a few more biomes in the works, but it was too late to include any of it in the demo)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Any plans to port to Android? The artwork looks great but I would suggest to invest some time to un-Zelda it so you don't get the Nintendo curb stomp.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

@RustyHeater Not currently, but maybe later. After console ports.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago

I see a lot of people saying nintendo will take action against you, but they are young and do not know about Graal Online, which is your actual competitor. Link to the Past style games are fun and interesting, but graal has dominated the space against any similar game for decades now, especially those in the same visual style. Tunic had a good solution (unique visual style) and I hope people don't have the same initial reaction I did upon seeing it (that this is a graal world)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

@HornofBalance @games I do like the concept but the art, even if original, is a little bit too similar to the actual game assets. I am all for inspiration and I hope you do well.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I hope you reach your goal, I helped! LTTP was one of my favorite games as a kid (tho i relied heavily on the guidebook lol) so I’m really excited about this

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

That looks awesome! Can't wait to try it out!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I have only one question.

Can you move and swing your sword at the same time?

In most 2D Zelda games you can't, and it helps with positioning so you don't run into the enemy when you try to hit it.

Most of the 2d Zelda clones I've played let you move and swing at the same time and it takes some time to get used to.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

This sounds like it could be an accessibility toggle, unless certain gameplay requires moving while swinging

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

@Godort
You cannot move and swing at the same time. The sword would be too powerful if I allowed that.

You CAN however move while shielding, using your flamethrower, and so forth. 😉

[–] [email protected] 32 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Think you need to work on your assets, it looks too identical to Zelda. I don't know that I could play that without constantly thinking about how every asset is just from Zelda.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

You can't copyright an art style.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 8 months ago

Not sure it bothers me tbh. I really enjoyed Zelda and having a chance to revisit that theme in a new way with novel adventures is welcome to me.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 8 months ago

None of the assets are "from" Zelda, they've all been redrawn, but they sure are quite clearly heavily inspired by A Link to the Past.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (3 children)

@gibmiser
Fair enough if that's how you feel, but the assets are actually all different. Literally. It's just your mind playing tricks on you I'm afraid.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Uh huh. That's what Palworld said. You got a good lawyer?

Seriously, tracing over A Link to the Past is not "hand drawn".

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Uh huh. That's what Palworld said.

And Nintendo still hasn't filed a lawsuit against them, despite years of development time, millions of copues downloaded, and millions made in profit

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Like I said, they are so similar that it feels like a knock-off. Why play a clone of an awesome game?

I'm not saying your game isn't good, I have no idea. But it does not look different enough to grab my attention.

Just my hot take.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

You'd play it because you liked the other one, wanted more of it, but there isn't really more of it to play.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

He's 100% right. You gonna get slapped with a CnD for assets that similar.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

@Splatterphace @HornofBalance naw it's probably fine. "Zelda Online" got a cease and desist back in the day, but they were able to keep going after doing a paint over on all their sprites and tile sets and renaming the game to "Graal Online". It was still very obviously a Link To The Past clone after the paint over, but they never got shut down for it. Horn of Balance's art is much more divergent.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

...which is why we're suggesting altering the assets

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

They don't need to if the assets are just similar instead of straight-up copies