I have a page dedicated to Jolly + Roger HERE
The default way to play Jolly + Roger would be the arcade mode where
the
players will get to select and play levels in any order they wish.
Completing levels will unlock even more levels and each new level will
be harder compared to the previous. The main objective of arcade mode
will be similar to a time attack, where the player has to collect all the minerals (or any other loot) on the map and
reach the dropship waiting at the surface of the planet.
Apart from the
time attack mode there can be another arcade mode somewhat similar to Digdug's gameplay where the player has to kill
all the enemies to complete the levels. However I
don't want the player to use (if any) weapons because the more power you give to the
player
the less skill it requires to tap a button and blast enemies. This mode
should be similar to a puzzle game where the player should think of
alternate ways (like dropping a limited number of stones on the enemies, operating traps or using alien plants and other native life forms) to kill the enemies.
I hate games that include story modes for the sake of having a story
mode, where you play a normal arcade game with annoying text bubbles before and after the action sequences so its better to include it only if there is enough spare time to achieve a good presentation and
quality material to squeeze a proper story. We do plan to add a story mode but arcade will be our first priority.
But what good is a story mode if there are no boss fights? Its kind of hard to use mechanics from digger and boulder dash games to make proper (well, not to say proper but any other than dropping stones on peoples heads) boss fights. We managed to implement the first boss of the story mode. (which we dont seem to focus on but still seem to work at the same time :)) Its an indestructible tank that is supported by a bomber plane.
The main
boss is a tank, impossible to damage. The tank keeps going left and
right and has a gun that fires bullets at the player. (lots of slow
bullets but easy to dodge by careful movement) Every 10 seconds a
reticle locks on the player, and a plane comes to drop bombs on the
reticle location.
What the player has to do is dodge the bullets and wait near the tank till the bomber plane locks, run away before the bomb drops and pray the bomb hits the tank, eventually killing it. After repeating this for a couple of times the tank will be destroyed. Easy said than done.
Ok, I assume you get the idea. Now lets take a few screen shots and see how things work in game...
What the player has to do is dodge the bullets and wait near the tank till the bomber plane locks, run away before the bomb drops and pray the bomb hits the tank, eventually killing it. After repeating this for a couple of times the tank will be destroyed. Easy said than done.
