One thing I would've loved to see...a "boss rush" mode.

[Fenizrael]

Chibi, your idea made me laugh heartily.
Also, do I have my game on easy mode or something? I keep getting the impression from people that it was meant to be challenging. Simon took me a while, but it's not like he kills you or anything.

I'd love to see a hard mode version of this game (maybe with a few save points before bosses though).

[Chibi]

Haha!  Lots of people have different opinions - some want a hardcore experience (like you), while others simply wish to swim through Aquaria's beautiful waters without battling a belligerent enemy every few minutes. I would like difficulty modes too - easy when I'm doing aerial acrobatics and difficult when I'm playing the game linearly. There are save points before every boss.

[silverflagon]

SS isn't a killer but if like myself you are not very good at memory games then he becomes impossible Most of the bosses while hard are not impossible and still challenging because they all have to be faced in differing ways. I find the Thunder lobster quite hard, and the Gollem also takes a bit of beating, but for sheer exhaustion nothing beats the Gauntlet lol

[Chibi]

Yeah - the Gauntlet was definitely the hardest "boss" in the game - closely followed by the Mantis Lobster in the Ice Veil. The latter was the only boss fight during which I died.

[Titch]

I might do a boss rush mode once I'm done with my form mod/assault course level work. I'm not sure right now as it seems like it might be frustrating to get the bosses into a single map without breaking too much AI and not enough of a chance to stretch my coding muscles. We shall see.

[Align]

Gauntlet?

[Chibi]

The Gauntlet is a difficult series of caves before the final boss filled with hundreds of powerful enemies that either take a long time to kill or deal a lot of damage. I found it harder than the final boss. 

[Edwards]

I might do a boss rush mode once I'm done with my form mod/assault course level work. I'm not sure right now as it seems like it might be frustrating to get the bosses into a single map without breaking too much AI and not enough of a chance to stretch my coding muscles. We shall see.

Personally, I wouldn't bother putting them on a single map- just take the existing maps from the Copy of Native mod, delete everything that isn't important to the bosses (no, this isn't as hard as it sounds!), and add a few nodes (and maybe a new "in between" map) to link everything together.  That way, you won't have any trouble with scripts breaking, and you won't need to worry about re-creating the terrain around each boss.  Admittedly, it would be a bit harder to set up a timer if you're working across multiple maps, but not that much.

Also, I personally would prefer that it be optional whether you fight the bosses with all forms, or just the ones you could have when you reach them in the main game.  Yes, it would be fun to go after Mithala with Dual Form, but it would also be fun to have some limitations imposed.

- Edwards

[Hiro]

Lol. Mithala with dual form? Hahaha xD

I know its possible to give form songs to people with nodes. And I'm sure Edwards could come up with a way to make a timer go between maps. So really, with the Native mod there is no reason why this can't be done relatively easily.
I mean, all you have to do is make each boss map link on to the next one when you win. Although you'd have to edit the boss AI script for that since its the script that fires when the boss dies not a node (note: you'd want to cut out the story sequences the show after some of the bosses I think. They are actually separate maps so you could use that same line to go to the next boss instead of showing the krotites or something ).
And you give the player the new forms they should have on entering each map with some special nodes. It shouldn't really be that hard. The hardest bit would be removing the lead-up to the boss (some of the bosses have quite a bit of map in front of them, like the one in the icy veil). Removing that area could mean drawing a new map template, which we dont have the original copies of so it could be tough. The other (simpler) option is to just remove everything dangerous from the map the boss is in, and fill it with bright, easily travelled water so you can get to the boss as quick as possible.

(Oh, and thanks for the mention Zeke (I made that Energy form battle) )

[Align]

The Gauntlet is a difficult series of caves before the final boss filled with hundreds of powerful enemies that either take a long time to kill or deal a lot of damage. I found it harder than the final boss. 

So it's part of the final stage and not something you can miss? Dual form + jellyfish armor ftw, I guess.

[Titch]

It's not necessary, but I think it would be important for a slick mod. Load times break flow, so it would be nice to fit them in between bosses where you needed a proper breather. Plus it would be interesting to try mixing things up a little (fighting Nautilus Prime in the dark anyone XD)

I was thinking for Boss Rush mode you could almost have a package of upgrades between big bosses. Like after beating Mithala you automatically get a health upgrade/pet or something. Fighting the final boss with only half the max health bar would be no picnic.

[silverflagon]

The Gauntlet is a difficult series of caves before the final boss filled with hundreds of powerful enemies that either take a long time to kill or deal a lot of damage. I found it harder than the final boss. 

So it's part of the final stage and not something you can miss? Dual form + jellyfish armor ftw, I guess.

Yes you can't bypass the Gauntlet it has to be taken or you can't finish the game, but at least you can swim back a way to get a breather, once you have cleared a few enemies, but they will soon come looking for you if you stay too close. The first time you run it it is the biggest rush of adrenalin in the entire game, and it only gets slightly easier with past knowledge and there is still a great adrenalin rush at the most hectic moments.

[silverflagon]

Yeah - the Gauntlet was definitely the hardest "boss" in the game - closely followed by the Mantis Lobster in the Ice Veil. The latter was the only boss fight during which I died.

That is the boss I meant Chibi, I just didn't recall it's proper name

[Chibi]

Is "Mantis Lobster" its name? I just chose the creature that looked similar to the boss. 

[silverflagon]

Is "Mantis Lobster" its name? I just chose the creature that looked similar to the boss. 

I don't know Chibi lol