Update 2015-06-13: The original article was confusing regarding what the video was meant to represent, and I've updated the text a bit to rectify this. See the comments from the developer below the article.
Side Scroll Studios have released a video to show off their engine, 2DEvolved, with some preliminary in-game footage from their upcoming metroidvania Corpses 'N Souls.
Note that the video is of an early build made to show off what the engine is capable of, and is not meant to represent the final visual direction.
Their in-house engine has been built to be cross-platform and has some very interesting features. One of them is a free form camera system that is meant to be less restrictive than those of most 2D platformers. The most interesting feature though, is that every item and enemy in the game is implemented as persistent objects. This is to enable a system of harvesting corpses and souls (hence the name) and picking up items to use or craft into new objects, like in the action RPGs that have inspired parts of the gameplay.
Visually the game reminds me a bit of Symphony of the Night, and the game will include several of the elements that are a staple of the metroidvania genre. That includes a large multi layered world where you have to revisit areas to open up new paths as you progress in the game. There will also be several playable classes to choose from and tons of loot, spells and a stealth system.
No release date has been announced yet, but if you're curious to learn more about this metroidvania/ARPG hybrid, there's a ton of info about the game on the official website. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Side Scroll Studios have released a video to show off their engine, 2DEvolved, with some preliminary in-game footage from their upcoming metroidvania Corpses 'N Souls.
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Note that the video is of an early build made to show off what the engine is capable of, and is not meant to represent the final visual direction.
Their in-house engine has been built to be cross-platform and has some very interesting features. One of them is a free form camera system that is meant to be less restrictive than those of most 2D platformers. The most interesting feature though, is that every item and enemy in the game is implemented as persistent objects. This is to enable a system of harvesting corpses and souls (hence the name) and picking up items to use or craft into new objects, like in the action RPGs that have inspired parts of the gameplay.
Visually the game reminds me a bit of Symphony of the Night, and the game will include several of the elements that are a staple of the metroidvania genre. That includes a large multi layered world where you have to revisit areas to open up new paths as you progress in the game. There will also be several playable classes to choose from and tons of loot, spells and a stealth system.
No release date has been announced yet, but if you're curious to learn more about this metroidvania/ARPG hybrid, there's a ton of info about the game on the official website. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I'm not sure where you're seeing the SoTN in this. Judging from the video, I think the visuals are messy and the different layers tend to blend into each other which makes it hard to see what's what. The lighting effects don't help things either. The harvesting and crafting side to it doesn't really appeal to me either and I hope that they don't make it too tedious. In fact, I'm a bit skeptical of the so-called arpg elements working well in general. Guess I'll wait and see how it turns out, but I can't say that this looks too promising.
The title threw me off if I'm honest. I expected this to be a Ghosts 'n Goblins type game which I think is a niche that hasn't been fully exploited.
The title threw me off if I'm honest. I expected this to be a Ghosts 'n Goblins type game which I think is a niche that hasn't been fully exploited.
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Quoting: BTREI'm not sure where you're seeing the SoTN in this.
I was thinking of the silhouette effect on one of the attacks and the light effects on several of them. The changing weather also reminded me of that, but that's probably not unique to SotN. I agree that the environment looks a bit messy and blends together too much, but it's an early build and hopefully they improve on that. The ARPG elements is what interests me the most about this game, but it remains to be seen how well it will work in practice.
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FutureSuture Jun 11, 2015
I am digging the colours but at the same time it's difficult to tell what is going on. All the action also seems floaty and slow. This is an early build, however, so I expect this to be resolved by the time the game releases.
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Sorry to say that but I think the looks of this game are absolutely horrible. To me it looks like nothing but a mess of randomly spread out pixels and it's difficult for me to even make out the players' character, let alone noticing what is actually going on. From this video I would never buy this game. And while I'm at it: I think the background-music doesn't fit in. And it sounds rather much as if it would get on my nerves very soon. So all in all: There's not a single thing in this video that appeals to me. :-/
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The YouTube compression turn the graphics messy, here is a .png
But yes, is still confusing. I think this is a tech demo of what they engine cold do, not the final game.
Let's hope that all that little details don't ask for a high end machine to play a 2D game.
But yes, is still confusing. I think this is a tech demo of what they engine cold do, not the final game.
Let's hope that all that little details don't ask for a high end machine to play a 2D game.
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Quoting: MGOidBut yes, is still confusing. I think this is a tech demo of what they engine cold do, not the final game.
Thanks, but yep, still quite messy, imho.
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iensensama Jun 11, 2015
Yeah, I concur. I love the genre to bits, but... The art style here is going to make it very difficult to discern the background from the foreground, and all the bright particle effects and neon colours make it look quite ridiculous TBH.
But, I'm optimistic that there would be other locations than "acid trip swamp". I could easily imagine how great the very detailed artwork would look in a castle setting for instance... I'm hoping that the neon look is just for this one level, to make it low visibility and therefore harder than the rest. But something tells me that this is going to take precedence throughout the game. Hopefully it changes, but I don't really think it will.
But, I'm optimistic that there would be other locations than "acid trip swamp". I could easily imagine how great the very detailed artwork would look in a castle setting for instance... I'm hoping that the neon look is just for this one level, to make it low visibility and therefore harder than the rest. But something tells me that this is going to take precedence throughout the game. Hopefully it changes, but I don't really think it will.
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Who thought it was a good idea to go that overboard with obnoxiously bright contrasting colors? 
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Hello, I am the single person that created this game engine and is making the game Corpses 'N Souls, our team is made up of my self and a Composer Michael Kelly who does the awesome music. The video above is a engine demo running the current state of the game. I have finally gotten my engine to a state that I am able to show it off for the first time in motion and everything is working. I only mentioned E3 in the video cause I love video games and always wanted to be part of the show and it is the favorite time of year for me. I am not going to be at the show and clearly the game is in very early development and no where near being finished.
The game Corpses 'N Souls will not be ready for probably more than a year(at best) this is extremely early development. My efforts now will be focusing on the game, since the engine is in real good shape so a lot will change. I have already completed a lot of the base systems for my game so that is why I used the current state of Corpses 'N Souls in the engine demo than rather script something for that would be wasted time and work.
As for the comments about the player being lost in the backgrounds and everything blending I am aware of this and have already started on a solution(this is not final):
Light theme
Light Theme 1080p
Dark theme
Dark Theme
This FX will be optional like DOF, this is of course a WIP and a lot will change as development goes on, things are very early right now.
Also keep in mind this game has a base line of 1080p it is not meant for lower resolutions, YouTube destroys the details in videos @ 1080p that have high detail. Here is a link to some direct footage videos captured in the engine demo if interested:
http://www.sidescrollstudios.com/images/video/
Anyways a lot will change over time, the video above is very early footage, I will release a proper gameplay video down the road.
Thanks for your time.
The game Corpses 'N Souls will not be ready for probably more than a year(at best) this is extremely early development. My efforts now will be focusing on the game, since the engine is in real good shape so a lot will change. I have already completed a lot of the base systems for my game so that is why I used the current state of Corpses 'N Souls in the engine demo than rather script something for that would be wasted time and work.
As for the comments about the player being lost in the backgrounds and everything blending I am aware of this and have already started on a solution(this is not final):
Light theme
Light Theme 1080p
Dark theme
Dark Theme
This FX will be optional like DOF, this is of course a WIP and a lot will change as development goes on, things are very early right now.
Also keep in mind this game has a base line of 1080p it is not meant for lower resolutions, YouTube destroys the details in videos @ 1080p that have high detail. Here is a link to some direct footage videos captured in the engine demo if interested:
http://www.sidescrollstudios.com/images/video/
Anyways a lot will change over time, the video above is very early footage, I will release a proper gameplay video down the road.
Thanks for your time.
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