Zero Cross - New shmup! Now free!

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Udderdude
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Zero Cross - New shmup! Now free!

Post by Udderdude »

http://rydia.net/udder/prog/zerocross/index.html

So I posted about this in the XOP thread, and in Development, but it doesn't seem many people read those anymore, so I'm making a thread for this game I recently finished.

Zero Cross is an arena shmup made in Flash. Now I can already hear people leaving the thread in droves, but hear me out here. It's definitely not like your typical twin stick or mouse+keyboard arena shmup. You can play it entirely with a pad or stick. Also, I hate the crappy design decisions made in most arena shmups just as much as everyone else here, so I definitely made sure not to copy those over.

It also has Gryzor's art and Tim McFarland's music, who also worked on the music for XOP Black.

The level progression is similar to my other Flash games, in that you play each level at a time and need to complete each level with one life.

There's also an arcade course that starts on level 20 and plays through the rest of the game with limited lives. Total play time for that is about 20 minutes. Each level lasts about a minute and there's varied objectives in each level.

Also, the skill levels are all merged into the same highscore table. The difference is that on Normal, your score is x10 and Hard, your score is x100. So even if you beat the game on Easy, your score will still come nowhere close to Normal or Hard.

Screenshots!

Image

Image

http://rydia.net/udder/prog/zerocross/index.html
Last edited by Udderdude on Tue Oct 28, 2014 4:36 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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DJ Incompetent
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by DJ Incompetent »

Looks like Toaplan freshness
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moh
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by moh »

looks sex. keep up the good work :B
GaijinPunch wrote:Ketsui with suction cup.
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Udderdude
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by Udderdude »

Thanks, guys.
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BPzeBanshee
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by BPzeBanshee »

BUMP

I need to buy this. I remember testing this and thoroughly enjoying it when I was running one of my better computers. Haven't even got $5 to spare at the moment though. D:
PC Engine Fan X!
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by PC Engine Fan X! »

The Zero Cross gameplay mechanics reminds me of the classic Disney/Bally Midway's Tron arcade upright from 1982 and the unreleased Atari Inc. arcade game prototype, Nightmare (from 1985), with their 8-way digital joystick and rotary knob combination scheme setup for that unmistakable two-handed gameplay affair. I'd imagine using such a tried and tested control scheme like the two above mentioned arcade game titles, Zero Cross would be even better.

I recall buying a Logitech Wingman Warrior controller with an 8-way digital joystick and a digital optical-based spinner combo setup back in the day just to properly play the DOS version of Tempest 2000 -- this PC controller would be ace for playing with Zero Cross, indeed. The WMW controller is one of those old-school PC gaming controllers that uses a dedicated PC joystick interface though.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
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Udderdude
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by Udderdude »

Never heard of this unreleased Nightmare game. I just read about it on unMAMEd and it seems pretty interesting. Arcade games back then certianly weren't afraid to be creative with their gameplay and try something different. I try to do that with my own games as well .. the next games I have planned should have a similar feeling.
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by PC Engine Fan X! »

This Atari Inc. arcade prototype of Nightmare was first shown at the 2010 California Extreme show...got to try it out and it plays surprisingly well.

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Udderdude
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by Udderdude »

For those interested, I've updated the game with a few new things.

Shrapnel added
Harder skill added - 10% faster enemy firing rate and faster enemy spawn rate
Arrow keys can now be used to fire
Green levels automatically unlocked
Keyboard menu navigation added
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DJ Incompetent
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by DJ Incompetent »

How do I get this update?
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Udderdude
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by Udderdude »

Re-download it from the BMT Micro site. If you lost the eMail, I can re-send you it .. just PM me the eMail you used to purchase with.
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Re: Zero Cross - New shmup!

Post by Udderdude »

Bumping this because I've updated the game and it's also now 100% free. Download away!

http://rydia.net/udder/prog/zerocross/index.html

Updates (slightly abridged)

Changed vector effects to pixel based effects
Added star zoom effect to background
Added config screen
Added widescreen fullscreen option
Settings are now saved when changed
Added new variety of fonts
Added new boss background w/ scrolling
Basic mode now only has Survive as a goal
Basic mode no longer has constant firing
Made several game objects, bullets, player, smaller enemies larger
Player now gets more life on Easy/Normal/Hard
Added animation to small/medium sized enemies
Added highscore list for Arcade Course
Added level intro animation
Added option to disable in-game messages
Added Black Hole ready indicator to player
Added organic level background
Green levels now progress faster
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