A Dragon Named Coal - Metroidvania

A small team and I have been working for about 8 months on a metroidvania RPG and just launched our game's demo. It still has a few bugs and is missing some content we want to add, but we would love your feedback. You can play the game in a webplayer at the link below (includes native download links).

http://ashblue.github.io/adnc-website/

Screenshots




Game Details
Not all fairy tales end happily. A Dragon Named Coal is a dark fairytale with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night style gameplay and branching story mechanics of Dragon Age: Origins. The game is primarily being created by a husband and wife game studio. Currently we're actively developing for Mac, Windows, Linux, and console platforms.

• Explore a dark fantasy open world that reaps what you sow
• Cleverly composed levels that reward exploration and experimentation
• Your decisions drastically change how villains and heroes develop
• Upgrade your skills with a Skyrim style system reworked for metroidvania mechanics
• Flexible companion system with characters that change based on playstyle

Storyline
Civil war hollows out a legendary kingdom to a husk of its former glory. In a last effort to save his people a king embarks on one last quest. But a young outcasted dragon named Coal may be able to accomplish what the king’s great armies and sorcerers cannot. For his decisions will echo throughout generations to doom or save everyone.

Gameplay
As Coal you’re put in the shoes of a young dragon who’s been outcasted for his odd obsession with humans. During your adventures you’ll make decisions that dramatically influence characters in the game. Some of these changes are immediate and others can be seen when re-encountering characters (as the game has a time lapse). While adventuring you’ll acquire a legendary sword known as the Soullass. The Soullass, Coal’s scarf, and other equipment can be upgraded from specific materials acquired throughout the environment. Write your dark fairytale, change the world, and explore a world that responds to your decisions.

 

Looks really great from just few screenshots. Besides I really like sidescrolling games, I am amazed with the art style. Like everyone forgot about that kind of graphics these days... Keep it up, I want to see it finished!

 

Other than the obvious gameplay issues, the game does work. I doubt that you can convey your story and characters to the audience properly if the narrator seems to speak like he's part of the medieval fantasy world, whilst your characters will speak as if they're part of the contemporary real world. It totally clashes (makes me cringe, personally).

 

I like the atmosphere and presentation very much. Good interaction too! I don't care much for the controls though. I find it bizarre that I cannot simply jump and instead must attack for a couple of seconds and then my character jumps up. It's just really odd.

 

@Boris1998 Thank you so much for the kind works

@ANTMAN0079 Interesting, I haven't heard anyone describe the dialogue that way. The narrator is more poetically aimed at breaking the third wall, whilst the characters speak directly to one another.

@GarBenjamin Are you unable to jump at all unless you attack? If you jump then attack in the air, the player does bounce a little. But it isn't a double jump. More of meant for juggling characters in the air. If you are looking for a double jump that will be an unlockable ability down the road.

 

I went the through really quickly to further my feedback. It's really hard to believe people in a world of dragons and fantasy would say "Shackle the lot of them" (referring to locking people up) while also saying "Ah, S***" like 80s movie profanity. That's what I meant. The narrator is fine... unless he starts saying things like "F*** it. YOLO, Coal!" or whatever. Then I would want to stop playing this game entirely.

 

My bad. I gave it a quick test and assumed it was the XC (maybe Z or V keys that did actions). Just played again and discovered that space does indeed jump. Previously, I was using the C attack key and after several attacks the character jumps.

I really like this kind of flip screen game you are doing. Interestingly, it is the same approach I am taking in my current game. Areas of just a few scrolling screens each. I think it has a good feel to it. The presentation in your game is excellent.

 

@GarBenjamin Thank you, I would love to check out your game. Do you have a Twitter handle I can follow for more information somewhere.

Yeah the controls are slightly tricky. We tried a few things and this seemed to stick the best for keyboard. We've had incredibly positive feedback from people using controllers though.

 

I prefer game pads too. I'll have to try your game using one.

No twitter or anything else yet. I have a website that I intend to fill with information including development logs. Just haven't had time to get to it yet. I keep development logs inside my project tracking software. So one day I will just copy and paste those logs over.