Super Mario Bros. X Forums

Am I wrong if I use too many NPC variety? (E.g : 10-30 kinds of NPCs)
Opinions?

I tend to use about 8 types of NPCs in my level usually, now that is definitely not a rule to go by or anything but having way too many types of NPCs in your level may make your level feel like a bunch of random parts of different levels just made to use the same tileset AKA it'll lose it's continuity.

I sort of agree with Sanct, despite the fact that I only stick to NPCs that add to the levels atmosphere. I don't care if that means using eight or eighteen NPC types.

Having too few kind of enemies in a level will make it boring, especially if it's long, because you just see only those enemies in every part of the level.
On the other hand, having too much NPC variety will make the level feel inconsistent. I think you should just use about 8 different NPCs in every level, including basic enemies like goombas and koopas (though the number can raise, but 30 is just too much).

It always depends on how well you can utilise different types of npcs in your design, as well as the level's setting. If you don't have a lot of ledges, using the SMW Ninji is a waste of time, while, if you want Ninjis in your level, you can always design areas around them.

RudeGuy07 wrote:Having too few kind of enemies in a level will make it boring, especially if it's long, because you just see only those enemies in every part of the level.

It can also add to the atmosphere of a level. As I said, you shouldn't add NPCs just to increase the NPC variety.

RudeGuy07 wrote:I think you should just use about 8 different NPCs in every level, including basic enemies like goombas and koopas (though the number can raise, but 30 is just too much).

I don't think 8 specifically, I'd say about 10-15 is fine. It really depends on what NPCs fit with the theme of your level

Yeah, generally that would be too much but it really depends on

1. which NPCs you're using, specifically
2. the actual level's design

So there's not much to say without seeing the actual level and how they are used through it.

If this count:
Mushroom
Flowers
Leafs
coins
Toads
....
, then I think: ok.