In a crusader stronghold based off the Gulf of Riga, Taharial, a Zobenbrāļu is vowed to protect the region of its enemies. After the disappearance of a few brothers, Taharial finds out everybody has slowly started to lose their minds. After the disappearance of Islude, the top ranking brother, Taharial sets forth to unveil the mystery. What lies ahead is unimaginable...
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Dark Flame is a 2D Action-RPG or otherwise known as a "Metroidvania". This game has been in development by myself for a little over a year and a half. I am planning on turning to Kickstarter to hire on a few professionals to polish up this game and get it to the players (you) as soon as possible. Unfortunately, hiring people who are good at what they do, is a bit expensive. With your help, I can turn Dark Flame from a dream, to a reality. I truly need your support in backing this project!
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Update #1: On The Second Day...
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Update #2: Attribute Talents and Magic Stones
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Update #3: Pre-Alpha (Playable) Demo
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Update #4: Stamina
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Update #5: The Final Update
Game Features:
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Large, Themed Environments: Action-packed Metroidvania-style gameplay with personally created rooms and environments.
- Determine Your Destiny: Choose whether to persevere with good faiths, or succumb to the darkness in this diverse storyline.
- Customizable Gameplay: Unique level-up system with unlockable talents and spells.
Original Soundtrack: inspired from old "-vania" titles.
- Hidden Rooms and Secrets: Large, maze-like environments consisting of upgrades and hidden items!
- Progressive Storylines: Obtain new powers to progress through the game and learn of the darkness that dwells within the realm.
- Hidden Spells: Some weapons and items contain an unlockable power via specific inputs.
- Steam Greenlight: Planned to be released on Steam.
NPC Interactions:
You will come across many different characters during your playthrough. You will have the ability to determine what to do with those NPCs. Your choices will affect the outcome of your character development as well as the storyline itself. Make the right choice!
Taharial along with some of the NPCs you will come across during your travels:
Leveling Elements:
As you progress through the game, you will have options to increase Taharial's stats. The game is simplified into three catagories (STR, AGI, INT). Increasing each stat will unlock certain abilities as well as increase the power affiliated with them.
Strength (STR): Increases HP and most melee weapons.
Agility (AGI): Increases AP, projectile damage, and certain weapons.
Intelligence (INT): Increases MP and magic abilities.
Why I Am Doing This:
I have been a huge fan of video games since before I could pick up a controller. I was such a huge fan, I ended up teaching myself how to program and put as much effort into a game engine as possible. I am not merely making this game for profit - I'm doing it because I have a passion to do so. The funding received from backers will directly go towards the success of this project!
Where Will The Money Go?
Better Art:
So far I've drawn everything to be put into this game but I'm no artist. I need funding to create better art and lively (or unlively rather) animations. This will also help with my time management as I won't be spread thin doing all the work on the game!
Music And Sound Effects:
A video game is not complete without music. With proper funding, I can hire a musician to bring you that extra step into the ambience of the Dark Flame. This goes hand-in-hand with the sound effects. If you slay an abomination with a critical hit, you want to hear it wail while the power of your coup-de-grace rings through the hallways! I cannot provide the quality of this without your help!
A Programming Consultant:
I wouldn't have gotten to where I am now if it wasn't for help from other programmers. With the proper funding, I would be able to hire someone who can help implement more features into this game with less time.
Feedback:
This game is still early in development and hasn't received much feedback during the development process. This is where YOU come in! The more feedback I receive on this game, the better! I want to make something that is enjoyable and creative. I have created a basic engine already but the game itself is still in the early development process. Please leave comments and spread the word! I will always be updating with more information throughout the process! Thank you!
If you voted for this game, please retweet: https://twitter.com/BorishDugdum/status/613093250388389888?lang=en
Comments (22)
Update #5: The Final Update
Showing some new images, previews of what to come, and thanking everybody who voted!
Read moreUpdate #4: Stamina
Introducing the stamina attribute!
Read moreUpdate #3: Pre-Alpha Demo
I am releasing a playable "taste" of what's to come!
Read moreUpdate #2: Attribute Talents and Magic Stones
I'm going to go into talents and the use of magic stones
Read moreUpdate #1: On The Second Day...
Talks on the attacking system and introducing polls
Read moreCreated by Warren Smith
Warren Smith
Original Developer - Warren Smith (www.darkflamegame.com) has been a hobbyist programmer since 2005. He has always fooled around with art and music but his passion has always been in video games. Dark Flame is something that Warren has been working on during his free time while holding a full time job. He is now working on taking his dream off the back-burner and creating something amazing... with your help!
Loren Lemcke
Programmer - Loren Lemcke (https://twitter.com/lorenlemcke) is a Mathematics graduate from the University of Arizona, where he studied mathematical simulations and models of crowd based behavior. He has been playing video games ever since he can remember and started programming from an early age as well, since his passion for mathematics went hand in hand with programming. He released his first solo commercial project, Over 9000 Zombies!, on Steam in February 2015.
Bryan Delerson
Musician/SFX - Bryan Delerson (http://www.bldaudio.com/) has been making music in some form or fashion his entire life - from his incessant humming of video game music as a child, to seeing his works performed live on stage. He plays and teaches all styles of guitar, specializing in Jazz, Classical, and Progressive Metal. Bryan also loves the piano, synthesizers, other stringed instruments, percussion...basically anything that makes noise!
i just saw the nice update, wow it is coming along very nice innit, cant wait to get this bad boy, the more systems you put the game on the more people will get to play it, i wish you the best of luck,
Thanks for the kind words, MitchyBoy! I'll do the best I can!
this game is amazing! i really want it for Wii U :( Please take this game to the Wii U, millions of players will be grateful to you!
It looks nice and i'll surely back it if it comes on Wii U and/or Vita ;) But the arts are just.. :/ (I love pixel art, but even in this category there are beautiful games and the others :/). I hope you'll really 'upgrade' them before the Kickstarter launch.
Hey, thanks for the comment, Jibece. I'm actually in the process of upgrading the art. What you see is my current 'programmer/placeholder' art ;)
it always nice to see more Metroidvania games, Castlevania one of my all time favorite series, Dark Flame, will there be cool boss fights, i will deffo support this game, i could see Dark Flame become a series,
Of course there will be cool boss fights! There couldn't be a game like this without them! Unfortunately I wasn't able to implement them in my demo, but not to worry - there will be bosses! Thanks for the comment :)
I think this looks great and I would spend hours lost in this world. Big thumbs up!
Thank you! Big thumbs are great - only if people are not sitting on them! ;)
This is looking awesome. Love the soundtrack, the gameplay seems to capture the castlevania essence very well. If my money would go to improving the artwork, then surely I'd back this up!
Glad you love the soundtrack! Bryan does an excellent job! The funding would absolutely go towards improving the artwork in the game! Thank you for your support!
I didn't mean to sound negative though. I'm planning to back Dark Flame. Your work so far shows both passion and dedication. You have me hyped.
No worries, thank you for your support!
I'm always up for another good metroidvania style game. :)
I was up for one so much that I'm creating one!! I'm there with ya ;)
Great job so far. I'm impressed with how you were able to emulate Castlevania's art style and even some of their effects. It's no easy feat. I'm a professional programmer working on my own similar project which is an (unnanounced) Metroidvania as well. You definitely have my support. The only thing negative I have to say is that it looks a little too much like Castlevania from what I've seen (and heard from the soundtrack). I hope Dark Flame won't be shadowed by Castlevania and Bloodstained.
Hey Seiraniel, thanks for the comment! You're right, it's no easy feat to create this stuff. I started this project awhile back because I just finished playing SOTN and wasn't impressed with any other games that were out at the time. I wanted to have the old Castlevania look but stand out in my own way. I do plan on redoing many of the game's assets (including the player) so if you can look past that part, you'll enjoy this game :)
Well, I have to say, since I'm an immense fan of the Castlevania series, I gotta say I'm really liking the product so far. I hope you get it completed one day. Now, I'm no professional (in the sense that I don't get paid) but I am a composer, and have been doing so for about 18 years now. I have a website (www.reverbnation.com/mkuehling) Maybe we can throw a few ideas around and work together?
Hey mkuehling, thanks for the comment :) I'm not sure how Bryan would think about it, but I'll keep the offer in mind! Thanks!
It's really unfortunate that this got announced in the wake of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. I see potential here, so I wish you the best, but I also don't evny the uphill battle you guys are gonna have to go through.
Thanks Whatthefnu! The funny thing is that I was about to launch a Kickstarter campaign - three days before I did, Bloodstained was announced! Talk about having a rough time! Great and unfortunate news for me! lol. I appreciate the comment :)
Side scrollers are a fail for me.
I'm sorry to hear that. The good news is that it doesn't just scroll to the side. It scrolls Up and Down too! ;)
@indio68 The Dev answered that question a couple of comments below! (how about using the search once in a while? =P) Anyway, here's the answer: BorishDugdum / 8 days ago "...This game will be released on PC first, and XBOX and PS platforms contingent on how well this does."
Ah, thanks for this! I was thinking in terms of gamplay (it being a platformer). Total airhead moment there for me! lol
platforms?
I'm not sure if I understand this question. Would you be able to elaborate?
Assuming you're asking about what this will be released on, "...This game will be released on PC first, and XBOX and PS platforms contingent on how well this does." I would love for this to be available on console as this was my first intention when I started this project. It currently has full gamepad support!
New video is hawt.
Thanks!
i just though of a idea how about having your sword surround in a dark flame that could destroy an enemy in one hit , how about a counter system? what is the dark flame is it some kind of power?, what platforms are planning to put the game on?, best of luck, cant wait to see more
Hey MitchyBoy, I can't make weapons that will 'one hit' enemies. As you progress through the game, you will increase your damage and can one hit certain enemies due to the increase in power. Some weapons will have enhancements to them while others dont - so a weapon incased in a flame is something you might see! I'm planning on a counter system for agility-based players (more to follow on that). This game will be released on PC first, and XBOX and PS platforms contingent on how well this does.
Agreed on the "dude" part now. My intention on the informal approach was to make like a friendly environment. Guess it backfired :/...my bad. But honestly, careful with the artwork. when this goes viral (and it will), community and hardcore SOTN fans will eat you alive, straight up? Once u polish all of it, u got my money fo sho ;). 2d side scrollers r the stuff that i crave.
Agreed! Polishing stuff up costs time, money or both. That's why my project is on here and why I'm going for Kickstarter. I need the funding to pay others to work on parts of the game (like polishing up the characters). I would love to be able to do everything myself but that would take me like 10 years :/ I'm quite a fan of these type of games too!
@Stoicity - Read it. it is fairly difficult to figure out a tone when commenting or posting. i get that.. there was no disrespectful intention or notion toward the project. i really posted it politely as i could. even when u pitch the game with placeholders/artwork from other authors it generates bad publicity.. the worst. no hate here what-so-ever, only love.. but tough love .. i'm pitching my project here soon. i hope that someone will give me the courtesy of harsh truth. smiley face
Thank you for maintaining a respectful intention - I think the CAPS, the informal greeting "dude", and the repeated ellipses are misrepresented. I make posts that are misrepresented sometimes as well. I'm sure everybody has done it at least once in their lifetime. It's ok ;) I appreciate the 'tough love' and the fact you like Mr. Strife.
@CrucialUpdat3 - did you even read the pitch? "So far I've drawn everything to be put into this game but I'm no artist. I need funding to create better art and lively (or unlively rather) animations." Sounds like placeholder to me.
You are correct about this :)
dude... this is a first time i'm actually saying anything negative about any indie game... sprite sheet is a complete ripoff of Castlevania : Symphony of the Night... character movement is identical down to a pixel... if this is just a placeholder for your art, then ok... if not... then ... dude... lame move on your part.... change it ASAP... u got a big NO this time...
@CrucialUpdat3 I'm sorry if my current art for this game offends you. By no means am I trying to ripoff another game by breaking Copyrights. You are right in noticing that it is quite similar to the artstyle of Castlevania: SOTN, but it actually isn't a copy and paste/recolor/rip/etc. I had referenced Alucard's and Soma's sprite sheets when I was drawing Taharial for the first time. Not to mention my animations have quite a few less frames to them than the Castlevania counterpart.
Ah yes, they will be redone as well. So there will be more of a significant difference between the sprites ;)
Greetings fellow June 22nd SEC Launch Partner (we're the Legacy of the Copper Skies guys)! :) Your game looks pretty rad. We voted yes, and would totally back it. Good luck! Your music is pretty sweet.
wow, very nice, i love these kind of games, i love Metroidvania games, deffo a yes from me, how are you going to tell the story and around the character Taharial, i wish you the best of luck, and looking forward of seeing more
Hey MItchyBoy, thanks for the comment! The story starts off around Taharial's current mission and talks about his backstory (as well as others) throughout the game. You'll be able to choose what path Taharial goes down to achieve his goals (when prompted during cutscenes). Your storyline decisions will have no affect on the power of your abilities or anything, though - so not to deter you from your own choices!