Ok my inital review of this.
(Beta .05 review)
Wow. ^_^
I expected a clunky interface, or lack of things. Nope, was VERY cute interfaces, nice menu screens with different chaos, interesting layout, even basic music support!
It does need work, Ill give it that. I did get it to crash a couple times too where it said couldnt find image or something like that and had to restart. However.... when I tried again, it worked fine. (Like saving crashed once, but 2nd time it was fine)
The AI is simple, the Chao DOES move around, I even got it to evolve on me.. even tho I dont know why the head looks like it has a shell on it with black eyes.. odd..
The weeds I think grow way too fast to be honest.
The feeding of the chao is cute indeed. However can I suggest you make a sprite that shows him sitting with "x" item for a min? Right now, you just drag it over him and it vanishes with little to show for it.
I would like to add, maybe you could add a small pond in the map? All that grass heh.. nothing to look good.
Also maybe add some buttons to make it feel like GBA. Using L trigger to open the store, and maybe use R Trigger to display extra chao info. (Like its stats)
I would like to add, would be nice to use the "O" button for "Cancel or exit of the menu screens or the shop, just habit and was trying over and over by mistake to close things out that way.
Additions, kinda got used to them on GBA. Maybe a text dialog for your chao. =) Where it could talk about its needs, and how it feels on occasion. =)
Also what is "Collision"???
Finally, I would like to suggest that you find a different midi file, one more full and better sounding. I got annoyed with the "short" tracks.
So I did some hunting and I think you will be VERY pleased with these.
http://www.darkmystics.com/chao/
Has CLASSIC chao music, Nights into dreams and couple sonic adventures that would make for some awesome additions to increase the game. =) So coveres tiny garden, SA and SA2 should help some. Cause I noticed the wav files could lag at some parts of the game. Hope you can use them.
Which made me wonder.. imagine if you added a dir midi support in your app. Think about it, drop mid files into the dir, program in the options menu will see it, and you can choose the midi you want to play in the background. That would be cool. =) This way people could choose their song to play or even later on a playlist. =) Just a thought.
Anyways, out of all the apps ive seen, this one looks like it has promise and hope to do something GOOD. Just depends how it gets developed and if it will have features to help a chao grow. Rem a tamigotchi maybe basic.. but it had a purpose and it had gameplay to it. Gotta make sure this least has that basic form.
Oh yes, you need to add a button to "pet" the chao too. I do like tho that we can move em. =)
Anyways good job so far. =) Very promising indeed! That and I wouldnt keep it LUA.. I just KNOW someone would rip this project off and try to pawn it as their own. So dont release it unless its in C. Would hate to see a good project go to waste. Hell.. keep this up and Sega will wanna talk to you too. =) If your lucky... and they are forgiving in a kind way. So may I suggest HIGHLY you make a small footnote in the main screen, that Chao is owned by Sega or make some MENTION of sega there so this way they cant say they dont have any credit posted? Just a thought. That and sonic team maybe, not sure who is owning that.
Anyways good work so far! Tell me what thoughts here could be done and so. I cant wait to see the next one. =) Enjoy the midi file. It will enhance the games music alot.
Edit: Fyi, Ill put my review posts on the 1st page under my credits for easier access to see, so anytime I make a review of "x" version, 1st page will have the updated link to easier findings in this massive thread.
lol...
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