Spotter Challenge!

When Megaman found a new ruin site to explore, Roll had him running errands instead. This was a perfect opportunity for Tron to sneak in, grab the treasure and lay in ambush. However, the ruin is populated by several new Reaverbot types, none of which are in Tron's database. Can you help her to identify them?



EDIT: Revealed the source sprites.


The 3DS, Kid Icarus, and MML3 announcements all came as a surprise to me. I often complain about 3rd person 3D games and how their inability to present clear spatial information to the player can hamper certain game design verbs. For example, in the game Space Harrier, aiming can be a bit tricky. In the new 3D Mario games, there aren't a lot of complex destructible block situations, precision jumping, and things which we saw Mario do in the early 2D games.

However, I'm cautiously excited about the potential of the 3DS to address these issues. Even older games where 3 dimensional spatial relationships are important can become much more playable... if the 3DS is as effective as advertised.



So, naturally I'm curious about how MML3 will utilize the 3D screen. Just how it will affect immersion during dungeon crawling, or dog fights? Could a line of reticles meeting up with the enemies give the player a better aiming experience? Will the 3D screen be used for something quite unexpected and great, or will it end up being a forced gimmick?

I'm also curious about this 'new development approach' mentioned by Inafune, and how MML3 somehow would be a game 'for us'.


I'm very tempted to revisit my own Reaverbot Legends project now. I've linked it below, in case anyone is interested. The part which was most appealing to me about MML was the enigma of the Reaverbots, the Digger community, and of course the Tron Bonne character. I really liked the MML series and I hope MML3 turns out great and Inafune has fun making it (he did seem pretty excited). Edit: Wait. He quits and becomes indie?

Edit: Also.

Edit: I've actually been updating my MML page a little recently.

14 comments:

Linkeltje said...

Nice I'm also very exiting to see what 3DS can do. I did pre-order it already.

I must say you've been a busy guy with that project!
It's always nice to see lots of your ideas popping up on one page like bubbles in a soda drink :)

Arne said...

The project is actually 1.5 years old now. I don't remember having touched it since. I probably started drawing Reaverbots when the games game out, but I wasn't very good at it so I none of those designs survived.

I'm tempted to get the 3DS. Apparently it won't be released 'til after Yule though. Well, there's no point in getting it too early anyways. I'll wait for the good games. The first generation of new hardware can be quirky too. Remember the dark GBA screens?

Dooder said...

A GIRL W/O LOWLEG PANTIES?! blasphemous!

Arne said...

Well, she does have a steel thong.

Anonymous said...

I'm interested to see what Inafune and his team come up with -- I liked your Reaverbot Legends ideas so much that I think it'll actually be tough for them to top it, should they go in a different direction. I remember reading it a while back and thinking, "damn, I'd love to play that game."

I think #4 is one of the spiky enemies from Metroid? Or maybe a tiny Lavos from Chrono Trigger? Either way, it's cute as hell. I want to shoot it until zenny comes out.

Derekh said...

I cant figure out the first two, but 3)eggplant guy from Lid Icarus, 4) Already mentioned in the previous post, and 5) Diglett. Diglett was a little hard. I thnk the cyclops thing is what threw me off, but it would lose a lot of the reaver vibe if it was any other way.

Ooh! Brainfart while I was typing. 2 is Ridley from Metroid. Still gapping out on the first. I keep thinking back to some Chtlulu creature.

Arne said...

It's indeed a Zoomer and Eggplant Wizard, but Diglett is incorrect.

Hints:
My Reaverbot designs here are all from Japanese rpg-action games, circa 1985+-2. Interestingly, one of the games may very well be the source of inspiration for the monster designs in games such as Zelda 1, Kid Icarus, and quite possibly Pokémon (and Diglett).

More hints:
One of the games started a big franchise. Another was a sequel to that game, and it sold quite well (400k copies, irrc). The last game was turned into an anime maybe two years ago, with Ugetsu Hakua as a concept artist.


Apparently the ZX series now links with the Legends series, but I don't care much for that. Legends stands nicely on its own. I liked the Zero and ZX games though.

Arne said...

Also, these are pretty close to the original sprites in terms of color and detail, so it's not Ridley either (who is purple).

Derekh said...

yea, thouhgt ridley was a long shot .. 2/4 isn't so bad, even though I was late on the zoomer :( Should've known better before saying diglett. Definitely not your style of designing to stray so far from the original.

I'm still pretty stuck on these. #5 kind of reminded me of a zora from zelda, so I had a look at that sprite comparison you posted recently on your CA sketchbook. I don't really see an resemblance though. And I guess one of hte others is related to tower of druaga or something, but screenshots are scarce.

I hope someone else can pick up the slack.

Anonymous said...
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Algebra librarian said...

God, I hope someone makes one of these super Americanized versions of games you keep doing covers for.

Patchwork536 said...

Finally, I found your blog !!!
I'm a big fan of your workn your drawing style is so class.

Hope that, one day, I can reach your level.

Thanks for putting so nice art in front of my eyes and sorry for my bad english, I'm french.

duep said...

Hi Arne! It was nice to meet you in the pchat today! I'm loving your megaman work! XD - In middle school Megaman Legends and The adventures of Tron Bonne were two of my favorite games! woowww - nostalgia C:.

Arne said...

Thanks guys!

I guess I derailed a bit and started on other projects. It will be interesting to see how MML3 turns out for sure. I'm tentatively pleased that it's on the 3DS because I don't have room for a console. When I was a kid I could spend 7hrs in a couch in front of the TV playing, but now the mobility of handhelds and shorter gaming sessions suit me better.