I like your enemies for each area. Well thought out, really liked the Cave part.
The attacking pufferfish, the mantis that shoots sickles at you, so many animal enemies are large and well represented. Unfortunately,i am the year of the dragon, I kind of wish I was cooler like them. LOL. Where is my spread shot? Where is a random heart in the heat of battle? Dragon starts off pretty lame, although I appreciate the mega-man style powers.
The enemy bullets are a little hard to see on certain backgrounds.
Reviews for "Dragon and the Zodiac"
EvanEGibbs responds:
Ah cool, most of my friends growing up were dragons! I am a hare. :)
I'm so glad you liked the game! Yeah if I were to go back and change one thing, I would make it so you can get some of the first power ups a bit faster. There is a spread shot in the game however!
The idea grabbed my attention, but the execution feels a little off, I guess. For example, why would a dragon from the Asian Zodiac look an awful lot like a Western dragon? But then again, that's an artistic choice, so that's alright in the end. I just want a smaller hitbox, I suppose.
EvanEGibbs responds:
Thanks for the comment!
There is a reason why you play as a western dragon which I hope comes across on the completion of the game. :)
Also thanks for pointing out the hitbox. I think that's one thing that I found surprisingly difficult to design. The smallest change can make all the difference and it'll be worth spending as much time as possible making it feel 100% right in the next game.
Dragon and Zodiac gets a hard to rate 4 stars.
As in..i had trouble rating this >.<
Let's break it down:
Presentation: Great graphics, characters are cute and look nice hand-drawn. Animals are smoothly animated. Music was catchy (kinda wish i had a download) but probably not the most fitting, despite it growing on me.
Gameplay:
Gameplay was classic. Each stage was short but hard. Many attempts were spent but it never felt unfair. I had a good time..took me an hour or two though.
Story:
This story is so cute. The adorable-looking zodiac animals are captured for whatever reason. (you don't know yet.) You rescued tiger, but the others drifted off...time to go save them!
There's a choice of which animal to save. Upon saving him, you get some awesome life advice and a new power.
Ending (SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS. DO NOT LOOK SPOILERS.)
After rescuing them all, we head to the river and learn we're not the zodiac dragon, explaining why we weren't captured. It seems cat was mad about not being a zodiac beast. Take him down, and he drops his age old grudge. (after dropping from the sky.)
Then, you are given a fortune cookie based off of your animal choices (i think, or it may be randomized.) Neat way to end.
FINAL VERDICT:
This game has a certain charm to it. Cute graphic, nice music, borderline excuse plot, and solid life advice. Plus good replay value. Well done all around. HOWEVER: it could have used some shading and more suiting music..perhaps a song for each world.
All the same..i'd take a soundtrack please.
DRAGON AND THE ZODIAC GETS A GREAT 4/5. (above average.)
EvanEGibbs responds:
Your review made me super happy. I loved your rundown from beginning to end. Thanks to everything you wrote I really feel like people are getting something from the game, from the gameplay to the story. I can tell you connected with it and had fun along the way! Thank you so much for taking the time to write your review,
Loved it :3 But sometimes music stops. . . Story is nice, everything is nice c: The stories of the animals are nice :D The animals are above cute :3 Eyes are super cute especially when they look at you. Maybe one day, when you improve, you should make a remake of this game. Bigger game, more enemies, little more hard, better graphics and music :3
really, not bad, and I don't even care for vertical shooters!