Armalyte getting a pc remake!!

[fumanchu]

The old c64 shooter armalyte is getting a new coat of paint.
news and screenies from psytronik.
http://psytronik.blogspot.com/2009/04/a ... h-yes.html

[Lloyd Mangram]

I'll reserve judgement until I play it.

not too sure what to make of Smila's smooth airbrushy style of graphics either. maybe I'm too used to seeing it in fat c=64 pixels.

what a negative nellie I am.

[jochen]

I loved " Armalyte " on the C64 - so I am really looking forward
for this release.

If they only change graphics and sound and the gameplay stays
intact ... in other words .... if the game is treated with the respect
it deserves .... I will be a happy customer for this product.

Maybe games like IO, Katakis, Apydia, X-Out, Z-Out, Zynaps
might see releases on PC ( or as Download-games for Wii,
X-Box 360 or PS 3 ) ... nice little dream.

I am a little curious if Armalyte will see its release before
DUX on the Dreamcast .


Jochen.

[Fenrir]

Cool. Now where's my damn Apidya 2002?

[neorichieb1971]

This needs to go on console really. Would buy it then.

[IronGiant]

That looks really nice - here's hoping that the gameplay holds up too.

[Mr_Staypuft]

Armalyte.. such an amazing game on the C64.
I still remember opening "that" issue of Zzap 64, seeing the screenshots, and thinking MUST HAVE!

If anyone's interested in some more info on the Armalyte remake,
I've got an interview with the 3 guys working on it.
http://justonemoregame.wordpress.com/20 ... up-my-life

[Herr Schatten]

Those background graphics look downright atrocious. I don't think Armalyte's peculiar art style transfers well into hi res. The ship and boss graphics are kinda nice, though.

They could take the opportunity to make some much needed tweaks to the gameplay, but considering how much and how widely loved the original game is, they'd be stupid if they changed anything, as the fans would hate their remake, even if the changes were for the better. I hope they'll get at least rid of the dodgy hit detection and the floating explosions, though.

Even though I'm not really a fan of the original, I might buy the Mac version hinted at in the interview, just to support the cause.

[admith]

Yummmmm...

[Mr_Staypuft]

They could take the opportunity to make some much needed tweaks to the gameplay, but considering how much and how widely loved the original game is, they'd be stupid if they changed anything, as the fans would hate their remake, even if the changes were for the better.

HS, just wondering... what sort of gameplay tweaks you were thinking of?
(If you were remaking the game, just for your own amusement.)

Gameplay tweaks is something I personally struggle with...
I can always tell if Game X "feels wrong" but I.. just have difficulty working out
what you'd do to Game X or Game Y to make them better.

PS: Hot off the press... Armalyte remake game footage...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pV4Ajr19IQ

[IronGiant]

Love the game footage, very nice. Some great music there too.

[emphatic]

They should have "original mode" as well as "arrange mode". Arrange mode should have the hitbox fixes, button reassignment etc.

[mr_m0nks]

This is great. got to love Psytronik for keeping these old classics alive

[neorichieb1971]

Would have preferred Katakis myself. Loved that game. Armalyte is great too, but I still prefer a console version.

[Herr Schatten]

HS, just wondering... what sort of gameplay tweaks you were thinking of?
(If you were remaking the game, just for your own amusement.)

I'd tie distinct enemy behaviour to distinct enemy appearance. The player naturally expects that enemies that look the same behave the same. If an enemy has the same shape as another one, but a different colour, the player expects that it's a modified version, maybe a stronger one, but that it's somewhat similar in one way or another. Normally, the player also expects that no two different enemies attack him in the exact same way.
I do think that this is a very basic rule of game design, really, yet Armalyte fails to meet the player's expectations. The shapes and colours of enemies in Armalyte are completely arbitrary and in no way tied to the attack waves.
Maybe I'd throw in a few additional enemy formations that actually actively attack the player or at least react to his actions in some way. In Armalyte I always get the impression that enemies largely mind their own business without really taking notice of the player. There's just no feeling of urgency involved when "fighting" them.

The levels themselves have a similar problem. It always seemed to me as if the artist just couldn't decide which colours suit each level the best, so we see each of the stages cycle through a couple of shades. Since this was impossible to do on the fly on a C64, the level structure consists of several monochromatic "islands" with stretches of empty space inbetween. This makes the levels feel disjointed and repetitive, as it takes away from their uniqueness, and they tend to blend into each other. For a game relying as heavily on memorization as Armalyte, it sure gives the player very few landmarks to orientate, and in the end everything looks more or less the same.

Another problem with this is that since the levels are all so similar in their structure, there's no real sense of progression. You don't really get the feeling that you are progressing on your journey. Two other factors also weigh in on this issue: 1. You get stripped of all your powerups at the start of each level. That makes you wonder why you even bother to collect extra weapons instead of going straight for the batteries. 2. The difficulty is quite level throughout the game. It starts rather hard, but then it doesn't change much. All this makes you feel like you're not really getting anywhere and just have to start over several times. A real difficulty curve would make the game better.

The bosses definitely are the biggest weakness of the game, so I'd improve on their attack patterns. Unfortunately, they take a while to kill unless you've stocked up on batteries earlier. These don't make the boss fights easier, though, only shorter. (The only way the boss fights could get any easier was if they'd self-destruct as soon as the player comes in sight.) I'd either make the boss fights more worthwhile or make it less necessary to rely on the battery powerups. After all, the boss fight should be the highlight of a level, not a tedious chore.

First of all, though, I'd get rid of those stupid floating explosions. They've always been the game breaking flaw of Armalyte for me. I know that they are there because of the technical tricks used to get the unusual high sprite count on a C64 screen, but there's really no excuse for keeping them in the remake. Well, at least they made them change colour, so you can't confuse them with unharmed enemies anymore.

Well, that's what I'd do. Whatever. Emphatic's proposal of two different modes would probably be the best solution.

[stuntman]

Music sounds like it's inspired by the Delta in-game tune.

[it290]

Uh, if I'm not mistaken, that music is a Philip Glass composition - probably just put in for the video. Either that or it's just very Philip Glass-esque.

[IronGiant]

Yeah, I thought that the music was just chucked in for the video, but whatever, it's a nice piece.

[Lloyd Mangram]

Music sounds like it's inspired by the Delta in-game tune.

Actually, the Delta tune is inspired by that music.

(In other words, yes, it's some of Philip Glass's music from Koyaanisqatsi.)

[K-J N.]

Here is a one level demo

First of all, though, I'd get rid of those stupid floating explosions. They've always been the game breaking flaw of Armalyte for me.

In the remake they can be toggled in the menu.

[mr_m0nks]

Been playing the demo for a couple of days now, I really like it. Its like putting on rose tinted spectacles and playing the orig

Well worth a purchase for any Armalyte fan

[Lawfer]

What is this music put over it on the trailer, 2001 A Space Odyssey? Seriously I hope it is only a trailer tune and that the music in the game won't be like that. Anyway great game, Will be pre-ordering it!

[Lawfer]

Those background graphics look downright atrocious.

I know what you mean, 95% of Indie/Homebrew game have that kind of graphic style the exceptions are Aquaria and such...

At least it is not as bad as Steel Saviour fake-looking background graphics.

Okay just finished playing the demo, it's freaking hard but I managed to get past the mini-boss after 5-6 tries.

[dcharlie]

played demo and preordering.

The backgrounds though, as said by others, are a little weird looking.
It'd be nice if they could provide some filter to "dirty" the look up a bit - it's a bit too clean, like a bit too direct of a copy of the C64 look.

Still, nice to see it remade.

Wonder if there's any other plans to update some old C64 classics?
would kill for an updated Uridium.

[MJR]

would kill for an updated Uridium.

I'm not sure if I would. Bas relief graphics are peculiarly unsuitable for hi-res. I think Uridium 2 was disappointing enough. If it were semi 3D like R-type dimensions, then it might be worth a shot.

Io would probably fare better, but it would need exceptional artist to match Bob Stevenson's style.

[Observer]

I'm seriously tempted to preorder this. Downloaded the demo and I'll try it as soon as I get back from work. Reading this thread, seems like it'll be a nice update.

[jochen]

Some news about the release-date for this game ?

Maybe some of those who preodered this got some news from the programmers ... ??

[mr_m0nks]

I've heard nothing (not that I have pre-ordered) but I have been keeping a close watch on the website

[Square King]

Looks cheesy/awesome.

[Mr_Staypuft]

We must be close to a release date now.



New screenshots have been released.