Completed Pokemon Descent (finished the story!)

Game Screenshots:

Spoiler: Screenshots

Features:
A hybrid between Pokemon and a 90's DOS game called DESCENT
Follows this Jam's optional theme - ESCAPE!
3 replayable maze-like levels to beat
No random encounters to slow you down, overworld Pokemon will chase after you instead!
If you are caught by an overworld Pokemon, your team will be poisoned/paralyzed, or see their health halved!
Collect keys to unlock colored gates, each key is guarded by a mini-boss
Find Pokemon to help you traverse water, LAVA, and clear obstacles
Use coins (some are hidden!) to purchase medicine, TMs, and evolution items
~1 hour of gameplay

Game Download:
MediaFire - Version 1.3

Made Using:
Pokemon Essentials
RPG Maker XP

Team:
Cryptochrome

Notes:
This was my first time making a game, and I learned so much! I ran into several problems over the course of this game's development, but I was able to eventually figure out solutions or "work-arounds" for most of them myself - which was super satisfying! For the other issues, the wiki and threads from other people having the same problem helped me solve them.

That being said, I'm sure there are going to be bugs. I ran into trouble with the Follow Pokemon script in the final hour before the deadline, as I was doing a "final" playtest. If you find any bugs, please let me know and I'll do my best to fix them. There were 3 things for me to balance the game around: difficulty in evading Pokemon, battles, and the escape timer. In case some part of the game is too difficult, I included cheat codes - see spoiler below.

I think I'm forgetting some of the things I wanted to say, but it's WAY too late for me right now...
Thank you Relic Castle for putting on this event. This was so much fun!

Spoiler: Cheat Codes

To enter a cheat code, talk to the wall behind you at the beginning of levels 1-3. The codes ARE NOT case sensitive.

Spoiler: Chansey

Cryptochrome

Spoiler: Revives

RelicCastle

Spoiler: Full Restores

2020Jam6

Talk to the indentation on the South wall of the Level Select area.

Spoiler: Unlock Levels 1 - 3

Skip

Resource Pack:

Spoiler

https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/433/

Credits:

Spoiler

=========================================================================================
Pokemon Descent credits:
=========================================================================================

Story/Concept – Cryptochrome
Mapping - Cryptochrome
Events – Cryptochrome

=========================================================================================
Audio
=========================================================================================

Music – Descent (1995) by Parallax Software and Interplay
https://www.gog.com/game/descent
Sound Effects – Descent II (1996) by Parallax Software and Interplay
https://www.gog.com/game/descent_2

=========================================================================================
Graphics
=========================================================================================

"Key" Sprites – Cryptochrome
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/433/
Badge icons - Parallax Software and Cryptochrome
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/433/
Gate, Floor, and Emitter tiles - Cryptochrome
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/433/
Lava autotile - Ulithium_Dragon
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=398387
Lava Surf sprite - Ulithium_Dragon
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=398387
Gold Coins sprite – Flex Viper (from Newgrounds)
https://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/flexviper/gold-coins-pixel-art
Title Background - Descent (1995) by Parallax Software and Interplay
https://www.gog.com/game/descent
Intro Background - Descent (1995) by Parallax Software and Interplay
https://www.gog.com/game/descent
Follow Pokemon Sprites - Neo-Spriteman and,
Dewitty, Bulbapedia.Bulbagarden.net, Nintendo, Chocosrawloid, Kymotonian, milomilotic11
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=250115&highlight=overworld+template

=========================================================================================
Scripts
=========================================================================================

Improved color text - VanillaSunshine
https://www.eeveeexpo.com/resources/152/
Scripting Utilities – Luka S.J.
https://luka-sj.com/res
Modular Title Screen – Gamefreak, Luak S.J.
https://luka-sj.com/res
Animated overworld pokemon (from the Follow Pokemon script) - Help-14, zingzags, Rayd12smitty, Venom12, mej71
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/37/
Lava Surfing – mej71
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=342329
Simple Game Corner – Mr. Gela
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/109/
Password in Events – Mr. Gela
https://eeveeexpo.com/resources/18/

=========================================================================================
Made Using:
=========================================================================================

Pokemon Essentials Starter Kit – Flameguru, Poccil, Maruno
https://luka-sj.com/res
RPG Maker XP – Enterbrain
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/35505/

 

[KennyCatches]

I just started playing and I'm already interested in the concept of the game! Unfortunately, there's a game breaking bug:
The game crashes when I collect the red key. I tried this twice and froze both times with no error message :(

 

[Cryptochrome]

The game crashes when I collect the red key. I tried this twice and froze both times with no error message :(

I don't know why the game is crashing. And although I don't have a "fix," I found that saving before and after each boss battle, then loading the save if there is a crash, will allow you to proceed with the game. I've updated the game download with a warning at the start saying the game is prone to crashing, and the player should save before and after boss battles.

Crashes I encountered while trying to figure out the problem:

Spoiler

Tutorial Red Key
Tutorial Reactor
Level 1 Beedrill
Level 2 Yellow Key
Level 2 Tentacruel
Level 3 Pinsir

Things I tried, but didn't fix the crashing:

Spoiler

Removing as many parallel processes as possible (I couldn't remove them all).
Deleting most of the Follow Pokemon script, keeping only the section relevant to the "pbPokeStep" command.

The new version also has the RPGXP project file. So if any more experienced developers wanted to, they might be able to look at what I did wrong. I really did have fun making this game, so it sucks that it's not working very well. The "solution" I found for the crashing kind of makes playing a chore, so I won't blame people for not wanting to play. I would appreciate it if someone could help identify the problem. I am eager to learn!

 

[KennyCatches]

I don't think the ice puzzle is possible? Or am I just stupid...

Spoiler

 

[Cryptochrome]

I don't think the ice puzzle is possible?

I'm glad you were able to get past the tutorial red key crashing!

Spoiler: Ice Puzzle

You need to push a boulder from the blue key room down the hole.

 

[KennyCatches]

Thanks for helping :P I just finished the game and thought it was really good for your first game! I have some thoughts below:

- The overall game play was very fun, the concept is unique and fresh.
- I liked the coin system but I didn't buy much besides medicine and a couple of items, I didn't think it was worth to buy pokemon. (also it would've been better if the TMs showed the move name rather than just the number)
- The pokemon chasing you made the game play much more interesting and challenging! I did find it really hard to not get caught sometimes but when I found some sort of strategy (trapping them or outrunning them) it was really satisfying.
- I did encounter quite a few crashes but I followed your advice and saved many times so it wasn't so bad. I actually ended up restarting the game many times not because of the crashes but because I died many times and didn't want to restart the whole level :(
- I liked how you scattered some story throughout the levels.
- The maps were complex and great for puzzles but I think they can be improved by filling in the black tiles and using a variety of tiles (I know there aren't many interesting cave tiles)
- I finished the third level and expected some sort of ending, I think you should add something at the end!

Once again, I had lots of fun and I look forward to whatever you have next!

 

[Cryptochrome]

Update v1.2

Fixed the random crashing!

Now I can get to work on some of the suggestions made by KennyCatches. If anyone else plays the game and has additional ideas for improvement, please let me know. I'm so happy this problem is solved, I can't wait to get back to game development!

 

[Cryptochrome]

Update v1.3

Changes:
1. Added dialogue after Level 3 to wrap things up.
2. Added a hidden ending to really wrap things up.
3. Reduced the cost of purchasing a Pokemon from the vending machines.
4. Added a list detailing the TMs available, next to the vending machines.
5. Added a cheat code to unlock Levels 1-3. See cheat code spoiler in the original post.
(I changed the name from the default "Pokemon Essentials" to Pokemon Descent, but that could force players to start a new save file.)
6. Improved the credits sections on this thread and the included credits.txt to include links!
7. Added a credits sequence after the player completes the hidden ending.

 

[TheGreninjaxxu]

It sounds great! I'll try it and see if there are some bugs or prolems to fix