SORX - Mixing Arcade+Rebellion modes

[Kratus]

Hey friends! I was thinking about mixing both Arcade+Rebellion into a unique game mode. The select screen has changed several times since the first SOR2X and is currently consolidated in two separated formats. In case both are mixed, it will be changed once more to accommodate all playable characters.

So far I listed some pros/cons and I would like to know your opinion, I confess that I'm divided about this topic:

Pros:
- Every playable character available in the same mode, allowing to play with heroes and bosses together.
- Allows you to play as enemies/bosses in the Survival mode.
- Easier to update and add more characters.

Cons:
- Unbalanced multiplayer playthrough in case one player chooses a hero and other chooses a boss (or some weak enemy too).
- The aesthetic of the Arcade select screen mode obviously will be lost, turning the "X" layout into a simple grid system (I can add at least a hero's portrait behind them, but there's no portrait for every enemy/boss).

The bike stages remain not working for playable enemies/bosses.

Feel free to put suggestions or more pros/cons that I may have forgotten to enlist.

 

[lanyer]

I support Rebellion mode being independent from arcade. The reasons are as follows:

1. Compared with sor2x, sorx is closer to Sega's vanilla flavor. The design is closer to the origin. An arcade mode that retains Sega's vanilla flavor is necessary.

2. The Rebellion's characters conflict with the main Storyline.

3. The operation experience of rebel characters is quite different from that of the original 6 characters.

4. Although many modern players who don't totally understand the Universe of Sor think that more characters more fun, just like many sor2x revision Mods. But at the same time for them, more usually means worthless, and many characters are just to be tasted. It will reduce the depth of participation of the SORX.

5. Rebellion mode can be used as a superset that includes all arcade stages and all characters. Here, there is no Storyline, only combat!
Or, we can call it Arcade+ .

 

[danno]

I agree with Ianyer

 

[O Ilusionista]

I agree with Lanyer too.
Keep things separated is the way to go. This will avoid having your game to look like one of those many crap edits with thousand of characters.

 

[DCurrent]

I voted to combine, but on reflection the main reason is I really just wanted to see a mode where everyone is available (including main PCs) as either AI or players.

Also, on mash up modules, they don't suck because of too many characters. They suck because they suck. They tend to throw in stuff from disparite sources, have no story coherence, poor level design, bad sprite work, boring mechanics (usually BOR syndrome and or a stupid gimmick), and so on.

This in no way, shape, or form describes SORX.

DC

 

[machok]

I agree with Lanyer here but before take a vote I still need think about it first since this is a huge change

 

[machok]

Ok after think about it I personally choose both are separated however for casual players, they will prefer when the two are combined
this will make it easier for them and more variety of choices for them

I haven't play the latest version also I rarely play Rebellion modes because playing them is not as full as playing the main characters (they don't have special button)

- Every playable character available in the same mode, allowing to play with heroes and bosses together.
- Allows you to play as enemies/bosses in the Survival mode.

even so, both of these features would be great interest to me

 

[NED]

Very hard to decide...
Because I don't like when material is lost or unavailable...

I like the X select screen... sure...
But I also like the idea to have all characters available in acade mode. (Particularly the idea the extra incoming characters..., customs etc...)

Sooooo hard to decide.
But I think I would more easily give up on X select screen than availability of all characters for arcade.
But I like the X select ^^;

 

[Kratus]

I support Rebellion mode being independent from arcade. The reasons are as follows:

1. Compared with sor2x, sorx is closer to Sega's vanilla flavor. The design is closer to the origin. An arcade mode that retains Sega's vanilla flavor is necessary.

2. The Rebellion's characters conflict with the main Storyline.

3. The operation experience of rebel characters is quite different from that of the original 6 characters.

Yeah, I agree with you in all points but these 3 are the main ones. To be honest I always prefered games with less characters but very well balanced/polished, not only for Beat 'em ups but for VS fighting games too. I usually prioritize quality over quantity.

5. Rebellion mode can be used as a superset that includes all arcade stages and all characters. Here, there is no Storyline, only combat!
Or, we can call it Arcade+ .

The only thing I forgot to say is, in case I mix both modes, obviously all the playable enemies/bosses/customs will be locked at first, then gradually unlocked after some playthroughs. And maybe it doesn't make sense in case I put the 6 heroes in the Rebellion mode because it will automatically turn the Arcade mode into some kind of duplicated and "nerfed" game mode, estimulating people to always choose Rebellion instead.

This will avoid having your game to look like one of those many crap edits with thousand of characters

Totally agree with this point. And I will add different hero's versions too, so the Arcade mode will not end with only 6 characters.
- Axel 1/2/3
- Blaze 1/2/3
- Max default/beta
- Sammy 2/3
- Adam Current/BKM/other versions in plans...
- Zan default/beta (maybe...)

the main reason is I really just wanted to see a mode where everyone is available (including main PCs) as either AI or players

Yeah, I completely understand your point. But in the CPU partner mode everyone is available, however only 1 player is allowed.

however for casual players, they will prefer when the two are combined
this will make it easier for them and more variety of choices for them

Good point. But even if I mix both, the playable enemies/bosses will not be available at the first playthrough, in the end it will be the same as if they are playing Arcade and unlocking Rebellion in order to use the other characters.

(Particularly the idea the extra incoming characters..., customs etc...)

Don't worry friend, even if I do not mix, the Rebellion mode has a secondary purpose of receiving all the custom characters too, I only separated from the Arcade mode to make it clear that this is an unbalanced mode just for fun.
To be honest, this mode started as a test place only, where I first create a playable version of every enemy and after everything is correctly adjusted I convert him to the proper enemy version. It's easier and quicker to test them as playable characters, the A.I. controlled characters sometimes do not make the moves you want to see in action.


Thanks everyone for all the feedback, they are very important to help me to decide
I will wait until the pool deadline to see if more people will vote, but certainly my vision is more clear now.

 

[16-bit Fighter]

Because of the unbalanced aspect I think separating is better. A polished Arcade mode like it is makes me feel the game is very well tought.

 

[Kratus]

Because of the unbalanced aspect I think separating is better. A polished Arcade mode like it is makes me feel the game is very well tought.

Thanks man. To be honest everything was planned only for the Arcade/Survival, the other modes are just a plus to add a replay factor and more options.

 

[Wood Oak Citizen]

If you can make the bike stages to be skipped if any player has chosen a rebellion character, then I vote to merge both modes. If you choose to merge, I would mantain the grid for the enemies and put the big portraits for the heroes in the top.

I think the main factor here is polishing, and in this factor you have to take into account the bike stages.

 

[Die_In_Fire]

I don’t think balance is very important when you play with “bonus” characters like some powerful enemy boss. The player already finished the game, so it’s not the important for the player if the new chosen character is OP or not, in fact, being an op character will give another incentive to replay the game as it’s very fun to play the game in a different than usual, just to have a quick play fun time.
Balance is mandatory with the original characters imho.
With all that said, I’m not able to choose if merge modes or not. But if you merge, yeah it should skip the bike stages as somebody already commented.

 

[Kratus]

I don’t think balance is very important when you play with “bonus” characters like some powerful enemy boss. The player already finished the game, so it’s not the important for the player if the new chosen character is OP or not, in fact, being an op character will give another incentive to replay the game as it’s very fun to play the game in a different than usual, just to have a quick play fun time.
Balance is mandatory with the original characters imho.
With all that said, I’m not able to choose if merge modes or not. But if you merge, yeah it should skip the bike stages as somebody already commented.

Yeah, it makes total sense in single player but for multiplayer things change a bit. I did some experiments with my friends and when I mixed heroes+bosses the playthrough looked too unbalanced, there's no cooperation and no strategy during the playthrough, in addition everyone selected only the same strongest bosses to kill everyone faster.

But let's see how the poll result will be at the deadline, thanks for your feedback