Bit Blot Forum
Aquaria => General => Topic started by: xander on May 31, 2007, 10:04:45 pm
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John "MagnusApollo" Champlin has posted a preview of Aquaria over at Ambrosia Software's Sneek Peeks for Geeks (http://blogs.ambrosiasw.com/weblog/ambrosia/SneekPeeksforGeeks/2007/05/31/DivingIntoAquaria.html). There are pictures in the original, but I have posted the text below. Just in case anyone was interested. ;)
I have to be honest, having this job is good, especially when I get to test out all the game before the public release. The job is only the better when this 2D scrolling fanatic got his hands on the underwater adventure game Aquaria.
Like Ulysses, in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, you too might have to be tied to the mast when you hear of Ambrosia's newest singing aquatic heroine. Because this game is amazing, addictive, and unfortunately not available.
Like the sirens from that great tale, this little character uses songs to get what she wants. It's no surprise that this is the Winner of the Independent Games Festival's Seumas McNally Grand Prize. From the moment you start the game you are swallowed up by the sea, the sounds, and the stunning visuals.
Aquaria is a non-linear side-scrolling game that is extremely easy to pick up and learn. The game progresses gradually, so you don't have to worry about combat until you're prepared. You play as Naija, a lonely sea creature who has led a simple, feral life - never questioning the strange world around her. That is until one fateful day, when a mysterious figure appears - inspiring Naija to begin a journey to undercover the history of Aquaria.
The ruins of this once great civilization are everywhere, and as you play through the game you uncover abilities and songs to help you move through the entire world of Aquaria.
Each song is sung by notes you access while holding down a single key or mouse button. Some songs interact with the environment itself helping you lift boulders, open doors and affect the creatures around you...
...while others actually change Naija to different forms to battle baddies, swim faster, or simply light the ways in times of darkness.
The levels are vast, with tunnels, caves and seemingly endless corners to explore. Each area has such a distinct look, that it's hard to imagine that this was created only by two determined individuals.
This is the truest nature of what Ambrosia Games are meant to be: Fun and unique - with additive, elegant game play. The developers are working as quickly as they can to finish this game, and I know the public will be extremely excited about getting their flippers, fins, fingers on this underwater fantasy adventure.
xander
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It's a good look at it. I was disappointed by the lack of details, though. (since we already know basically everything he said there)
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No you didn't. :)
P.S.
These aren't the droids you're looking for.
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Eh, not to be arguminitive Alec, but...
I have to be honest, having this job is good, especially when I get to test out all the game before the public release. The job is only the better when this 2D scrolling fanatic got his hands on the underwater adventure game Aquaria.
Like Ulysses, in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, you too might have to be tied to the mast when you hear of Ambrosia's newest singing aquatic heroine. Because this game is amazing, addictive, and unfortunately not available.
Like the sirens from that great tale, this little character uses songs to get what she wants. It's no surprise that this is the Winner of the Independent Games Festival's Seumas McNally Grand Prize. From the moment you start the game you are swallowed up by the sea, the sounds, and the stunning visuals.
Aquaria is a non-linear side-scrolling game that is extremely easy to pick up and learn. The game progresses gradually, so you don't have to worry about combat until you're prepared. You play as Naija, a lonely sea creature who has led a simple, feral life - never questioning the strange world around her. That is until one fateful day, when a mysterious figure appears - inspiring Naija to begin a journey to undercover the history of Aquaria.
The ruins of this once great civilization are everywhere, and as you play through the game you uncover abilities and songs to help you move through the entire world of Aquaria.
Each song is sung by notes you access while holding down a single key or mouse button. Some songs interact with the environment itself helping you lift boulders, open doors and affect the creatures around you...
...while others actually change Naija to different forms to battle baddies, swim faster, or simply light the ways in times of darkness.
The levels are vast, with tunnels, caves and seemingly endless corners to explore. Each area has such a distinct look, that it's hard to imagine that this was created only by two determined individuals.
This is the truest nature of what Ambrosia Games are meant to be: Fun and unique - with additive, elegant game play. The developers are working as quickly as they can to finish this game, and I know the public will be extremely excited about getting their flippers, fins, fingers on this underwater fantasy adventure.
Italicized is the stuff we already could tell from the trailer and the various teasers/discriptions.
Bold is the new info.
New info ; "That is until one fateful day, when a mysterious figure appears - inspiring Naija to begin a journey to undercover the history of Aquaria." <---New info, even if not very significant
and "Each song is sung by notes" <--- okay, well , that sounds interesting. It sounds like you have to play a certain tune/notes to sing a song, not just press the "cast sonic burst" button
"... created only by two determined individuals. " <--- I thought it was a couple of people, but, that's just me not paying enough attention.
...Basically, nothing really new. (Example ; OMG, ELVIS LIVES)
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Hmm its new info, it hasn't been released before. There's one other tidbit in there that hints at more unreleased stuff.
Its just more that you don't think its significant. ;)
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Eh, which piece of infomation would that be?
If you're in the mood to tell ^_^
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whistles innocently
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....HE's CASTING A SPELL!
SWIIIIIIMMMM!
::)
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rofl
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"As you play through the game you uncover abilities and songs"
Cool, not only do we get new songs, but abilities too. I guess the Leeches-Off-Spin
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You can spin from the beginning. :) (move the mouse around Naija while holding LMB, or spin the X360 analog stick) But there are other things you can get...
And there's actually a couple new features in the game that Ambrosia doesn't even know about yet, because we're adding them RIGHT NOW. ;)
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LMB? As in the keys, or is this shorthand for a modifier key that i don't know of? Like "Opt" for option?
And you know, the more i read here, the less i can wait...
Oh, i just thought of something: Will you be able to use a Reg code for the windows version on the Mac version and Vica Versa?
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LMB = left mouse button, sorry that was pretty vague. :D I say LMB because of my Blender heritage.
As for registration, we haven't had a chance to talk too much about it yet. More info later. :)
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Ah, ok. That's easier to do. I'm thinking *L, M, and B, just to do a spin? Wow, complicated controls...* But left mouse button is much easier. This game will OWN if all the actions are that easy to activate. But then again, it'll own if they aren't.
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How many abilities does Naija actually have? We've seen the spin, wall pounce, some pretty cool swimming maneuvers... i understand if it's confidential at this point 8)
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The way swimming works is you hold the left mouse button down to start swimming. If you start holding it when the cursor is far enough away (the cursor changes its graphic to show you how far you are) then Naija will do a little speed burst. If you start holding it close, she'll just start swimming normally.
So if you click and aim at a wall at the right distance, she'll leap towards and attach to the wall. You can hang out on the wall as long as you want. Then you can click on/close to Naija to detach, or click far to do a wall jump. Its a good way to dodge certain enemies quickly.
If you hold it and rotate the cursor around Naija fast enough she'll start rolling.
There's a bunch of other lil' tricks you can do, and most have a couple different effects/uses. But I don't want to give too much away. :)
I was thinking of making a gameplay video. Not another story trailer, but straight up gameplay footage with info on how the controls work. But I wouldn't want to do that until near/after release.
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Yeah, I wonder how much you are planning to spill..
Like, how many spells are going to be easy to get? (bascicly, the obvious ones to get)
Abilitys?
Foes?
But It's too early to find that out, I suppose.
Since you are going to be adding stuff until the game is released ;D
Oh, Alec....?
You're posting too much. Back to work ya' little Sea monkey!
(http://faq.sea-monkeys.com/gpx/showSM.gif)
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Just out of curiosity, but in the Mac version, are you taking into account that many Mac users don't have multibutton mice? My understanding is that you can also use the keyboard to navigate. Is that correct?
xander
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Yeah, we're aware of that. ;)
PC version supports: MOUSE, KEYBOARD and X360 CONTROLLER FOR WINDOWS currently.
Mac version will be tweaked to work well with one button mouses. But we won't be looking into that full time until the PC version is done.
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Yeah, we're aware of that. ;)
PC version supports: MOUSE, KEYBOARD and X360 CONTROLLER FOR WINDOWS currently.
Mac version will be tweaked to work well with one button mouses. But we won't be looking into that full time until the PC version is done.
No worries. And I don't mean to pester. You can always tell me to enjoy a nice cup of Shut the F*ck Up. ;)
xander
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?
The CAPS were just for emphasis. ;)
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?
The CAPS were just for emphasis. ;)
Oh. Sorry. Nevermind, then. I thought you were yelling. Though you are still free to tell me to be quiet anytime you like.
xander
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I enjoyed the screenshots more than anything else in this preview. Always happy to see more of Aquaria.
You're posting too much. Back to work ya' little Sea monkey!
(http://faq.sea-monkeys.com/gpx/showSM.gif)
I'll take your Sea Monkey... and raise you a recreational Space Monkey:
(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8589/smtv8.jpg)
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(http://www.commfree.org/thumbs/SMART_Monkey.jpg)
Owned.
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(http://www.fishodyssey.net/charliethechimp.jpg)
This monkey pwns all other monkeys by its sophistication and fishing skillz.
On topic... What kind of an interaction can we except from the other sea critters and the scenery?
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(http://www.fishodyssey.net/charliethechimp.jpg)
This monkey pwns all other monkeys by its sophistication and fishing skillz.
On topic... What kind of an interaction can we except from the other sea critters and the scenery?
[pedant]
That is a chimpanzee. Chimpanzees are apes, not monkeys.
[/pedant]
That being said, that ape pwns.
xander
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*Snort*
No, i'm afraid i have absolutely nothing more to add. Sorry.