[1.4.5] Super Mario: Quest for the Gem Shards (Demo 2 out now!)
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:47 pm
Lungi proudly presents...
(Logo by electro-kun)
An episode I've been working on for a few years, Quest for the Gem Shards features plenty of bite-sized levels following the same classic design philosophy of SMB3, SMW, and the NSMB series, new and creatively themed worlds, an original setting and story, and much more. Explore the wild and wonderful Spectra Island, search its colourful and diverse biomes for Star Coins, and recover the fabled Gem Shards before Bowser and the Koopalings can get their claws on their awesome power!
Features
Story
It probably goes without saying that this is a 1.4.5 episode, and it won't work on 1.4.4 or lower or on 2.0.
P.S. If you haven't downloaded 1.4.5 yet and when you do your antivirus thinks it's a Trojan, don't be alarmed. It's safe.
Worlds
Overall progress
44/90 levels have been created.
Old screenshots:
These screenshots are outdated and all their levels have since been redesigned. There's not much reason to see them unless you're curious about the first demo.
Development team/credits:
Level design: Lungi (myself)
Graphics: Prism Emerald, Aaron 3-B, electro-kun, and many more (see YouTube or "Graphic Credits.txt")
Scripts: HengShao, Lx Xzit, Marchtinal.Wesker, Starshi, and many more (see YouTube or "Graphic Credits.txt")
Beta testing: Reintendo0
Known bugs:
The episode has been thoroughly tested for bugs, but if you do spot any, please let me know. The only ones still left are:
-Rarely, one tile on one of the purple mushrooms in 1-5 does not spawn. Restarting the level fixes this.
-The second Star Coin in 4-3 sometimes spawns a few tiles higher than it should. You can still easily collect it if this happens.
-If you jump while using the Mega Mushroom and are still holding jump when you land, you can't jump until you transform back to normal. This is a universal 38A bug. There is only one level with Mega Mushrooms, and they all respawn, allowing you to try again if this bug occurs.
-If you enter a level with a Starman active, the Starman music doesn't play. This also seems to be a universal 38A bug.
-Yoshi cannot get secret exits (touching a keyhole with a key in his mouth does nothing). This is a quirk with the Star Coin script. In the one level with both Yoshi and a secret exit, there's a sign telling you to dismount.
-If Yoshi's fireballs hit the grounded saws in 3-FT, they make the "boss hit" sound effect. This doesn't seem to actually damage them though.
-Not a bug, but the episode doesn't support 2-player mode.
Links
For level-by-level updates on the episode, see this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... JgLY9Gn0zE
I've also created a Discord server where you can chat with me about the episode: https://discord.gg/7rHJacmGUC
Download
Demo 2 (Worlds 1-4, 132 Star Coins):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jwojj1v8 ... gl8mr&dl=0
2.0.1 update (01/07/24):
-Converted most music from mp3 to ogg, reducing filesize drastically.
2.0.2 hotfix (01/07/24):
-3-GH P-Switch now respawns, preventing softlocks if you run out of time.
-Sound effects in end-of-world cutscenes no longer start on the loading screen.
2.0.3 hotfix (03/07/24):
-Fixed a bug where you can move and die in the opening cutscene.
2.0.4 hotfix (06/07/24):
-Iggy can no longer kill you before his pinch attack.
-Fixed a broken warp from W3 to W2.
2.0.5 update (06/07/24):
-All P-Switches required for secret exits respawn, allowing you to try again without dying.
-Propeller effect no longer appears in cutscenes.
-You can't jump/swim over blocks at the top of levels anymore.
-Added silver coins to show where to go when activating P-Switches.
-Most music now loops, reducing filesize even more.
2.0.6 update (07/07/24):
-Replaced looping music due to timing bugs in most tracks.
2.0.7 hotfix (09/07/24):
-Fixed a bug where getting a Game Over moves the cursor to "erase data" in the menu.
-You can no longer jump over the train at the end of 3-WB.
-Morton's drilling machine can no longer hurt you if you jump off the top of the screen in the first phase.
-Fixed a bug where Iggy's pinch mode sprite is visible at the beginning of his second phase.
2.0.8 update (16/07/24):
-Added a script to improve Yoshi's flutter jump (credit to HengShao and Omega02).
-Warps in the secret section of 2-3 are now two-way, preventing softlocks if you don't pick up the key.
-The conveyor in the 2-FT boss room now correctly switches permanently to right when the boss is defeated.
-Most, if not all, visible cutoff has been removed.
-The platform that takes you to the second section of 3-A now descends if you miss it, preventing softlocks.
-Removed the animation for the controllable (blue) carpets in 9-4, preventing them from flickering when moving vertically.
-Most stage hazards using blocks have been changed to liquid events, preventing unintended instakills and phasing through blocks.
-Removed some garbage pixels from Mini Mario's spritesheet.
-More generous timings for rotten ropes in 3-2 and chain explosions in 3-4.
-Yoshi can no longer eat the grounded saws in 3-FT.
-Fixed one of the saws in 3-FT not respawning.
-Added invisible blocks to a section of 4-1 with multiple Pokeys, preventing softlocks.
-Z-positions of Fire Snakes in 4-6 are now correct.
-Shard sparkle effects in WB levels no longer affect Raccoon/Tanooki Suits and iceballs.
Demo 1 (Worlds 1 and 2):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zjgsd275qrlyl ... 1.rar?dl=0
(This is an old demo; when I released it, the episode was called Super Mario Rainbow. I changed the name to avoid confusion with another episode.)
(Logo by electro-kun)
An episode I've been working on for a few years, Quest for the Gem Shards features plenty of bite-sized levels following the same classic design philosophy of SMB3, SMW, and the NSMB series, new and creatively themed worlds, an original setting and story, and much more. Explore the wild and wonderful Spectra Island, search its colourful and diverse biomes for Star Coins, and recover the fabled Gem Shards before Bowser and the Koopalings can get their claws on their awesome power!
Features
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
P.S. If you haven't downloaded 1.4.5 yet and when you do your antivirus thinks it's a Trojan, don't be alarmed. It's safe.
Worlds
Spoiler: show
44/90 levels have been created.
Old screenshots:
These screenshots are outdated and all their levels have since been redesigned. There's not much reason to see them unless you're curious about the first demo.
Spoiler: show
Level design: Lungi (myself)
Graphics: Prism Emerald, Aaron 3-B, electro-kun, and many more (see YouTube or "Graphic Credits.txt")
Scripts: HengShao, Lx Xzit, Marchtinal.Wesker, Starshi, and many more (see YouTube or "Graphic Credits.txt")
Beta testing: Reintendo0
Known bugs:
The episode has been thoroughly tested for bugs, but if you do spot any, please let me know. The only ones still left are:
-Rarely, one tile on one of the purple mushrooms in 1-5 does not spawn. Restarting the level fixes this.
-The second Star Coin in 4-3 sometimes spawns a few tiles higher than it should. You can still easily collect it if this happens.
-If you jump while using the Mega Mushroom and are still holding jump when you land, you can't jump until you transform back to normal. This is a universal 38A bug. There is only one level with Mega Mushrooms, and they all respawn, allowing you to try again if this bug occurs.
-If you enter a level with a Starman active, the Starman music doesn't play. This also seems to be a universal 38A bug.
-Yoshi cannot get secret exits (touching a keyhole with a key in his mouth does nothing). This is a quirk with the Star Coin script. In the one level with both Yoshi and a secret exit, there's a sign telling you to dismount.
-If Yoshi's fireballs hit the grounded saws in 3-FT, they make the "boss hit" sound effect. This doesn't seem to actually damage them though.
-Not a bug, but the episode doesn't support 2-player mode.
Links
For level-by-level updates on the episode, see this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... JgLY9Gn0zE
I've also created a Discord server where you can chat with me about the episode: https://discord.gg/7rHJacmGUC
Download
Demo 2 (Worlds 1-4, 132 Star Coins):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jwojj1v8 ... gl8mr&dl=0
2.0.1 update (01/07/24):
-Converted most music from mp3 to ogg, reducing filesize drastically.
2.0.2 hotfix (01/07/24):
-3-GH P-Switch now respawns, preventing softlocks if you run out of time.
-Sound effects in end-of-world cutscenes no longer start on the loading screen.
2.0.3 hotfix (03/07/24):
-Fixed a bug where you can move and die in the opening cutscene.
2.0.4 hotfix (06/07/24):
-Iggy can no longer kill you before his pinch attack.
-Fixed a broken warp from W3 to W2.
2.0.5 update (06/07/24):
-All P-Switches required for secret exits respawn, allowing you to try again without dying.
-Propeller effect no longer appears in cutscenes.
-You can't jump/swim over blocks at the top of levels anymore.
-Added silver coins to show where to go when activating P-Switches.
-Most music now loops, reducing filesize even more.
2.0.6 update (07/07/24):
-Replaced looping music due to timing bugs in most tracks.
2.0.7 hotfix (09/07/24):
-Fixed a bug where getting a Game Over moves the cursor to "erase data" in the menu.
-You can no longer jump over the train at the end of 3-WB.
-Morton's drilling machine can no longer hurt you if you jump off the top of the screen in the first phase.
-Fixed a bug where Iggy's pinch mode sprite is visible at the beginning of his second phase.
2.0.8 update (16/07/24):
-Added a script to improve Yoshi's flutter jump (credit to HengShao and Omega02).
-Warps in the secret section of 2-3 are now two-way, preventing softlocks if you don't pick up the key.
-The conveyor in the 2-FT boss room now correctly switches permanently to right when the boss is defeated.
-Most, if not all, visible cutoff has been removed.
-The platform that takes you to the second section of 3-A now descends if you miss it, preventing softlocks.
-Removed the animation for the controllable (blue) carpets in 9-4, preventing them from flickering when moving vertically.
-Most stage hazards using blocks have been changed to liquid events, preventing unintended instakills and phasing through blocks.
-Removed some garbage pixels from Mini Mario's spritesheet.
-More generous timings for rotten ropes in 3-2 and chain explosions in 3-4.
-Yoshi can no longer eat the grounded saws in 3-FT.
-Fixed one of the saws in 3-FT not respawning.
-Added invisible blocks to a section of 4-1 with multiple Pokeys, preventing softlocks.
-Z-positions of Fire Snakes in 4-6 are now correct.
-Shard sparkle effects in WB levels no longer affect Raccoon/Tanooki Suits and iceballs.
Demo 1 (Worlds 1 and 2):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zjgsd275qrlyl ... 1.rar?dl=0
(This is an old demo; when I released it, the episode was called Super Mario Rainbow. I changed the name to avoid confusion with another episode.)