Link to Part 1:Young Mokou Link to Part 2: FINAL MOKOU (I recommend visiting both parts, especially part one as it explains the whole Game Jam)

So, FINALLY, the last part is here, part 3. Really wanted to show off this boss I made on the last 6-7 hours of the game jam. The level design wasn't really complete, so this was the "design" at the time, which was a level where the the player was continuously pushed ever closer towards the river, which would instantly kill you (as it was cursed)

Originally we were thinking of some sort of Youkai bear, then I considered the actual "Phoenix" of Mokou herself, but it was probably would be too early for a "first boss" (if we ever expanded on the idea). Hand of Doom suggested a Nue, and I thought "well we have a Nue already in lore, how about I grab her colour scheme and blend it into a really Japanese interpretation of said design" (And therefore I sort of consider this a more monstrous youkai like interpretation of Nue Houjuu directly)

And, with my ambitions, I wanted to make it on the scale of a full blown Bloodstained or The Messenger boss. Something that stands out immediately and looks bloody awesome. A tough task for such short amount of time.

So I went about trying to emulate the shrine statues for the guardian lions, implying sort of as if it's a twisted interpretation of it. And I felt it hit the feeling I was going for right on the mark.

For a first sketch, it looked pretty solid already.

So I started styling it, making those swirls really look nice, adding more details and cleaning it up, but still trying to keep it "animator friendly" to a minor degree. And I really got that angry expression on point. And reworking the snake a little bit. At this point I also had added a non paletted version of the colours, just so I had an idea what it would look like. And I used those colours to give it stylized shading, blue was a great color to use for it. I tried to make each part have a "dominating colour" like the head being red, the claw being blue and the snake being green.

Then I radically changed the snake, because I felt it wasn't resembling a snake enough.

The snake looked a bit more like a proper snake now at that point.

Finally, I change the colour palette to make it game accurate and added some minor details, and it was finished. Which is what you see as the front image. Man was it intense to make in such short time, and it looks damn good for such a small period of time.

But of course, I had to animate it, so I tried to do as much as I could within that short time. I could only do 3 attacks, and as you can see, even with the time crunch it still looks cool

So, what's technically the last attack I made (but the first I want to show) is the snake strike. The snake moves to the back, really tensing itself and strikes forward, with tremendous speed, before recoiling off the screen. It's a bit more goofy than I would of liked due to the starting phase, I'd rework that. But the strike itself is mostly fine, but needs some frame adjustments such staying a bit longer when it strikes, and then slowly slithering back into it's position.

This was done right before there was like 1 hour left. Which meant I was cutting it REAL CLOSE to the edge at this point.

First one I made (second to show) was a "Nue Lighting". I chose red and blue rather than red and yellow because of the background, though looking back on it, might not of been the best idea. But damn does the lighting strike itself look cool and intense. If I were to go back to this, I'd make the expression change rather than this static head. Make the eyes look like they're focusing with a tight glare (as if it's concentrating on trying to do such an insane lighting strike) before making the eyes REALLY WIDEN for that lighting tearing out of the eyes. Wouldn't change the lighting itself though.

Second was the Nue Fire (and the final boss attack to show). I had to essentially grab the bottom of the mouth and rotate it, though you don't notice that so much because I made it mostly smooth blend. It was a compromise due to the time. Then I generated the fire ball, which looks okay if a bit rough. And the fire rips right out as a quick stylised form, though it's incredibly rough, I actually think it works weirdly enough. Makes it seem more like an inky swirl of flames as it moves organically. If I go back, I'd like to refine it a bit and make the head move as it's spewing that fire because that would really fit. Really like the idea of it though.

Unfortunately there were attacks I couldn't get done in time, but I would really love to animate if we go back to this idea and clean it up. Especially a "Earthen Pillar Ground Pound" which would essentially be a pillar from the ground SMASHING UP when the Nue smashes it's Claw down. That would be fucking awesome.

And also I want a "instant DEATH" move that the Nue can do if you get too close to it's head, a Viscious BITE. It would bite at you with really small range and a long build up, but it would be very intense. And who knows what else after that. I'm sure I could do even more.

But anyway, let's finish off with some un animated enemies because they need some spotlight.

So one of the first enemies I made, the "Little Sprite of Flames". Wanted to make it feel like a sad spirit who can't really do much, so feels saddened due to it. I think I conveyed the look well, and the shading looks nice. Gives me a chance to do designs like these that I usually don't do. Also I like the way I did the fire, it looks like weird horns almost.

Next is the "Sprite of Heart" which I feel like is more of an "evolved" sprite from the flames one. Like one that has learned to grow from the situation it has, but in a unexpected way. Trying to emulate fairies, perhaps to be like one with the ability to live.

And finally, a fairy. Not happy with this one tbh, it really needed more work and it shows. Wings are weird, shading isn't really too focused, looks very static and just rough all around. But if I do go back to this idea, I will clean it up for sure. Because it deserves that at least.

Anyway, that's all parts done, I hope you enjoy, it was really fun to work on this game jam. I'd like to do another one in future, though maybe after a long rest hahaha. Need to focus on my more important projects anyway, I get too distracted.

Have a meme.