Tyris Flare model specific work log. Tyris is a primary player character and so requires a large variety of accessible technique.

Tyris will focus on magic and combining environmental use with advanced attack technique and magic. To place a somewhat more realistic and less cliched’ viewpoint on video game gender, she will not be “weak but quick”, and instead be inferior in all physical aspects (i.e. speed, constitution, strength and reach). But like any clever woman, Tyris has found ways to more than make up for these shortcomings. Advanced players will be able to segue graceful movement, sometimes using walls, allies and even opponents for footing to attack from all angles. This combined correctly with her superior magic abilities and reversal techniques can make Tyris virtually untouchable.

Completed:

2011_08_31

• Combo finish kick replaced with spin kick (inspired by Genesis Golden Axe III).

2011_09_01

• Add somersault to running jump animation (inspired by Genesis Golden Axe III).
• Upgrade running attack (dust, flash, jump/landing frames).

2011_09_02

• Dust effects.
• Projectile hit adjustments.
• Block flash.

2011_09_06

• Attack1 (Whiffed)
  • Motion trail.
  • Hair animation.
  • More frames (Start up and recoil).
• All main entity .gif sprites replaced with optimized .png format.

2011_09_07

• Attack Chain
  • Applied transparent motion trails.
  • Most animations have additional frames and improved animation.
  • Flash/Sound effects.

2011_09_13

• Attackbackward
  • Motion trail.
  • Sound effects.
  • Flash.
  • Hair .

2011_09_19

• Jump landings now have smooth hair animation.
• Jumpattack complete.
• Run Jumpattack complete.
• Jump now has looping hair flow.
• Run attack now has looping hair flow.

2012_01_11

• Rise attack replaced. Is now based on Millan Flare’s upward sword spin attack (Golden Axe The Duel).
• Flip attack replaced. Is now an inverted forward somersault using fully customized sprites.
• Forward Spin attack added (F+A against a wall during a run jump). Tyris rebounds off of wall (real walls only, not screen edge) while spinning weapon in a powerful flying attack. Based on Millan Flare’s horizontal sword spin attack.
• New rise animation. Now performs a cartwheel to feet. Based on Millan Flare’s rise animation.
• Fixed block animation (had accidentally included some jumping sprites).
• Added voice effects (Random voice taunts when knocking enemy down, attack shouts, pain grunts, etc.)
• Auto throw during short range combo is now a trip throw (based on rarely seen alternate throw in Genesis GA 3).

2012_02_07

• Finished Boomerang sword throw. It’s a convoluted mess of script, but works. Seems for projectiles, the engine will only run didhit event once.
• Fixed player control conflict with wall jump. Required reinstating script jump control in place of default engine control.

2012_08_27

• Fix Chicken Leg attack types and knockdown values.
• Set Chicken Leg jumpmove 0 1.
• Chicken Leg sidestep bbox removed.
• Fix Riseattack type.

To Do:

• Boomerang sword throw for charge attack.
• Pogo jump off of enemies.
• Team moves.
• Fix wall jump/player jump control conflict.
• Double jump.
• Counter throw on timed block.
• Replace counter attack (Special when being attacked).
• Side step.
• Magic.
• Normal grapple moves.
• Backward dash.

Move-list Notes (finished only):

Combo (long range): Sword strike*2, Stab.

Combo (med-long): Sword strike*2, Spin kick.

Combo (med-short ): Sword strike*2, Pommel butt*2, Spin kick.

Combo (short): Sword strike*2, Trip throw (alternate throw from Genesis GA3)

Run + A: Flying kick.

A+J: Flipping kicks.

B, A: Back strike.

U, A (when knocked down, can use F or B to aim): Rising sword spin attack.

Hold A, release: Boomerang sword.

Jump, A: Downward strike.

Jump, D+A: Double kick (Genesis GA III J, D+A).

Running Jump A: Downward thrust.

Jump near wall, F+J: Wall jump

Running Jump near wall, F+A: Lunging sword spin attack.

Defense: Parry.

Running Jump

Stab (Combo Ender)

Spin Kick (Combo Ender)

Ax Battler model specific work log. Ax is a primary player character and so requires a large variety of accessible technique.

Ax’s unique abilities will be somewhat pedestrian compared to the other characters. His statistics are good but not extraordinary and he lacks any sort of projectile or evasive capabilities. However, he is equipped with several effective sword techniques and is a proficient wrestler. Players can chain together throws one after another to cause extreme damage, and even grapple two enemies at once.

Completed:

2011_06_27

• Block animation tweaked. Can no longer hit opponents.
• Added A+J special, based on Uppercut/Jumpstrike from Golden Axe II (Genesis).

2011_06_28

• Updated binds to knock down opponents at correct point (see bind0010).
• Double Powerbomb attack added. It is a follow up to Powerbomb (D, F, A).
• Giant swing can be performed as a follow up to Double Powerbomb or Powerbomb.
• Proper turn animation added.

2011_06_30

• Upgraded Double Breaker to Spin Breaker. Instead of a simple repeat of Backbreaker, Ax now carries opponent through a short hop and spin into another backbreaker on his opposite knee.
• Rise and wake up from camping animation tweaked for smoothness.
• Several minor animation tweaks.

2011_07_06

• Added “Hun Suplex” as follow up to Backdrop and future air to ground throw.

2011_07_07

• Add “Melon Splitter” as follow up to Hun Suplex. Allows further follow up of Flying bomb.

2011_07_20

• Add “Ax Destroyer” air to air throw. Inspired by Zangief’s Siberian Blizard. Still needs splash damage effect.
• Minor animation and attack type tweaks.

2011_07_22

• Follow up series for Atomic Drop.
• Short stab.
• Align Shock/Burn flash effects.
• Smoke effect when landing from Shock/Burn fall.

2011_07_20

• Add stationary grabattack (Barbarian Fury, based on Stern Blade’s stun combo from Arcade Golden Axe II)

2011_07_26

• Add counter. If player defends against a running or jumping attack just as it hits, Ax will catch the attacking opponent and perform a Power slam, even from behind or if the attack could not be blocked normally.

2011_07_31

• Add Air to Ground throw (Python Drop – A swing DDT style throw).

2011_08_07

• Add Ground & Pound. Follow up for Powerslam and planned tackle.

2011_08_09

• Add tackle. Fwd or Back + Atk when running very close to opponent. Takes good timing but unblockable and allows follow up ground & Pound, possibly some others in the future.

2011_08_10

• Aesthetic improvement for Backdrop and some other minor sprite touch ups.

2012_08_21

• WALKOFF
• Backstep includes landframe and no longer acts as jump.

To Do:

• Follow up for Backdrop. German whip? Rolling cradle?
• Follow up for Atomic drop.
• Follow up for jump slams.
• Mid air catch slam of some sort.
• Burn/Shock sparks play perpetually after KO.
• Shock flash is not aligned.
• Air to ground throw of some sort.
• Splash damage for hard slams.
• Rolling cradle. Possible follow up for Backdrop or as an otg maneuver.
• Catch and Powerslam when blocking non weapon attacks.
• Wall alternate for Powerbomb.
• Move for Grab, A command. Stunned enemy beating from Arcade GA II?
• AI cancels and patterns.
• Re tool magic effects.
• Bored pose?

Move-list Notes (finished only):

Combo (long range): Sword attack*2, Uppercut punch (Arcade GA II long range combo)

Combo (Med-long): Sword strike*2, Thrust kick (Genesis GA II long range combo)

Combo (Med-short): Sword strike*2, Pommel butt*2, Stab (GA I med-short combo with end from Arcade GA II )

Combo (Short): Sword strike*2, Lift and throw – Can change direction of throw with Forward/Backward (GA I combo with end from Genesis GA II)

Run, A: Shoulder check.

A+J: Uppercut, turn and hop strike (Genesis GA II A+J)

D, F, A: Batter swing (Arcade GA II A+J)

B, A: Back strike (Arcade GA I A+J).

U, A (when knocked down, can use F or B to aim): Upper strike.

A (during Sidestep, Back strike, Batter swing, or Upper strike, can use F or B to aim): Second strike.

Hold A, release: Twirl weapon, hard down strike (Genesis GA III F+A+J)

Jump, A: Downward strike.

Jump, D+A: Dive strike (Genesis GA III J, D+A)

Run, Jump, A: Downward thrust.

Defense: Parry.

Defense (just as a run or jump attack hits): Powerslam (catch and counter opponent’s attack)

Defense (when grabbed or hit): Grab and hurl (GA I short combo end).

Defense (when grabbed or hit, opponent can’t be grabbed): Kick (GA I med-short combo end)

Grappling:

Atomic Drop (B+A with back to wall): 14

Ax Destroyer (F+A or B+A during jump when close to midair opponent): 15 + 20% of target’s remaining HP.

Backbreaker (U, D, A):6

Backdrop (B+A): 8

Barbarian Fury (A): 22

Body Press (Short range combo):NA

Body Throw (Automatic after Body Press, may use F or B to control direction): 10

Flying Bomb (D, F, A): 4

Giant Swing (D, U, A): 12

Ground & Pound (D, D, A): 20

Gutbuster (J): 5

Hun Suplex (D, B, A): 4

Melon Splitter (U, B, A): 4

Powerbomb (F+A): 8

Powerslam (Counter throw; Defense just as an incoming run/jump attack hits): 12

Piledriver (D+A):2 + 30% of target’s remaining HP.

Python Drop (F+A or B+A during jump when near standing opponent): 8

Spin Breaker: (F, U, A): 5

Tackle (F+A or B+A while running near opponent): 12

Throw (F+A or B+A): 10

• Atomic Drop
  • Giant Swing
  • Gutbuster
    • Giant Swing
    • Piledriver
    • Throw
  • Spin Breaker
    • Giant Swing
    • Gutbuster
      • Giant Swing
      • Piledriver
      • Throw
• Backdrop
  • Hun Suplex
    • Melon Splitter
      • Flying Bomb
        • Giant Swing
        • Spin Breaker
          • Giant Swing
          • Gutbuster
            • Giant Swing
            • Piledriver
            • Throw
  • Melon Splitter
    • Flying Bomb
      • Giant Swing
      • Spin Breaker
        • Giant Swing
        • Gutbuster
          • Giant Swing
          • Piledriver
          • Throw
• Body Press
  • Backbreaker
    • Giant Swing
    • Spin Breaker
      • Giant Swing
      • Gutbuster
        • Giant Swing
        • Piledriver
        • Throw
  • Body Throw
• Gutbuster
  • Giant Swing
  • Piledriver
  • Throw
• Powerbomb
  • Flying Bomb
    • Giant Swing
    • Spin Breaker
      • Giant Swing
      • Gutbuster
        • Giant Swing
        • Piledriver
        • Throw
  • Giant Swing
  • Gutbuster
    • Giant Swing
    • Piledriver
    • Throw
  • Spin Breaker
    • Giant Swing
    • Gutbuster
      • Giant Swing
      • Piledriver
      • Throw
• Python Drop
  • Hun Suplex
    • Melon Splitter
      • Flying Bomb
        • Giant Swing
        • Spin Breaker
          • Giant Swing
          • Gutbuster
            • Giant Swing
            • Piledriver
            • Throw
  • Melon Splitter
    • Flying Bomb
      • Giant Swing
      • Spin Breaker
        • Giant Swing
        • Gutbuster
          • Giant Swing
          • Piledriver
          • Throw
• Powerslam
  • Ground & Pound
• Tackle
  • Ground & Pound

Attack types for Golden Axe need rearranging to accommodate addition of fatalities. As of 2011_05_26 I have cataloged the following:

A last issue with my current throwing system was allowing the grappled entity to be attacked or otherwise affected by entities other then the one grappling it. While already possible, doing so caused an offset issue where characters would appear to teleport briefly when taking damage. In addition, it was important to immediately run the @bind0010 whenever attacker damaged defender.

The cause is due to OpenBOR overriding the current bound animation with whatever pain or fall animation an attack would result in. Only by manually reestablishing the bind could this be dealt with. Easy enough to take care of for the primary attacker (adding another @cmd bind0010 directly after the damage command as mentioned above). For outside interference however, the solution is a bit more involved.

My first attempt was to look for an existing bind and reapply it during the takedamagescript event. That effort was a complete failure. Further expermentation reveled something I already knew and had simply forgotten; takedamagescript runs before pain/fall animations are applied. this is in fact the very reason I had added onfallscript and onpainscript events to the engine.

After realizing this I knew it would be easy enough to reapply the bind using onpain/fall events, but it also meant bind offsets could not simply be calculated with math (they no longer exist and the entity has been moved). Ultimately, offsets and animation settings must be stored on the bound entity. So the bind0010 function was given needed modifications to perform the storage and a new function that reestablishes binds during pain/fall events was created.

Overall I am happy with the solution, except for having to establish more variables. I would much prefer to calculate the bind offset via formula and apply it. While theoretically possible to do that, at the very least the anchor entity and defender’s bound animation have to be stored, so best to go ahead and store the rest to ensure the bind will always be set as it was.

On a more disconcerting and extremely annoying note, MS Visual Studio no longer prints or exports code with color formatting . MVPS technicians tell us they didn’t have time to implement it. Funny thing, all previous versions had it. So what, they didn’t have time to not take something out? Adding insult to injury, the line numbers still print in color… really?

bind0010_09182010
bind0020_09182010

Optimizing:

Due to a large amount of new content, this module is larger and more demanding in general than the original. It also requires far more front loading. However, all practical optimizations have been applied, many that were not plausible when the original was made. This new version is thus quite a bit more compact and efficient “pound per pound” then its predecessor.

• All new sprites are in .png format using maximum compression possible with Adobe Photoshop CS4. These are about 30% smaller on average then .gif counterparts.
• Existing sprites for all characters have been replaced with .png, reducing size by about 150KB per character.
• Through use of script and new palette capabilities, many superfluous sprites have been removed outright. For example, Red and Blue Dragons are no longer separate sprite sets, saving about 70KB per character.
• Sound effects have been further trimmed to reduce their size.
• Several loaded models have been eliminated by consolidation and script manipulation.

Presentation:

• All in game sound effects are now played in location based stereo. If you KO someone on the right side of the screen and you have stereo speakers, you’ll hear their death scream from the right!
• All stage music re-mastered with stereo, using OpenBOR’s recently added .ogg vorbis support.
• Simulated transparency via blinking images has been replaced with true transparent motion trails.
• Life bar replaced with blocks as in the arcade Golden Axe, with the added feature of individually changing color as they are depleted ala Altered Beast.
• Nearly every single animation in the module has been tweaked for greater fluidity (fully animated idle stances, more precise timing, transitions for jumps/landings, additional frames for existing moves, etc.).
• Dust effects added for jumping, landing, falls, slams, and so on.
• Almost all particle effects have been retouched or replaced outright to take full advantage of OpenBOR’s transparency capabilities.
• Entities stepping off a platform now assume their jump animation instead of “walking on air”.
• Common enemy KO wails are randomized for variety, and all characters have far more extensive voice sets.
• A multitude of new sounds have been added in general. As the battle rages, characters on both sides goad, shout their war slogans, call for aid, and so on. In addition, all “BOR” sounds used in the original remake have been replaced with samples taken from the real Golden Axe where a version existed.
• Color correcting has been made on several characters whose palettes did not match their arcade counterparts (Amazon for example).
• Player characters can now choose from several color schemes. Gillius for example, can choose between original arcade colors, either of the Gillis Rockhead color sets from Golden Axe Duel, or his colors from the Genesis port.

Gameplay:

General:

• Bizzarians are now much more dangerous. While riding a bizzarian it is now possible to block, perform a wider array of grappling moves, and execute a more powerful version of the animal’s normal attack by holding and releasing the attack button. In addition, opponents being held by a bizzarian cannot immediately special out (it is still possible to escape, but only after a delay). Bizarians also have use of all the new movement options (lateral jumps, dashes, etc.)
• A lot of minor adjustments for balance. Damage, move speed, and other aspects have been tweaked to try and make all characters/moves useful in their own way.
• Overall difficulty increased to compensate for more powerful player characters.

Playable Characters:

• Two new characters added: Alex the soldier and special guest Joe Musashi. These are not just random additions; their presence is explained in game and their mechanics are designed to be unique while still meshing appropriately with the three original heroes.
• Vast array of new techniques have been added to each character’s individual move list. Most are direct takes or inspirations from moves seen throughout the Golden Axe series, but some are new or have new mechanics. Look for chain throws, long range attacks, and so on.
• A variety of tag team moves are available, including tag team magic.
• Characters are now more unique in relation to each other. As a few examples:
  • Tyris attacks are on the whole slower and weaker then Ax’s similar counterparts and she cannot withstand a large amount of damage. On the other hand she can control her magic level, possesses incredible agility, and has a few other surprises for unwary foes.
  • Ax has all around ability and can perform painful chain grabs for big damage.
  • Gilius has the most pedestrian move set, but is evasive as ever, soaks up tons of damage and deals it out in spades with the most powerful and longest reaching attacks.
  • Joe lacks melee range and his attacks require precise timing to land properly. Yet he has speed second to none, striking power on par with Ax, and a vast arsenal of tricks to call upon – inducing powerful magic and help from faithful dog Yamoto.
  • Alex is the weakest fighter in general, but he comes with some unique tricks and is good at supporting others.
• All PCs except Tyris have a lateral “up” and “down” jump command. This allows you to move to a “higher” platform along the Z axis (Tyris only has the “up” version, as she can already move laterally while jumping).
• All PCs have a back dash (A2 Button).
• All PCs can dash laterally (UU or DD).
• All PC’s have a specific charge attack move.

AI Controlled (NPC’s/Enemies)

All:

• Can now get past obstacles and platforms along Z axis by jumping laterally onto or over them.
• Can dash backward or laterally.
• AI now has access to a Bizarian’s entire move list when riding; including all previous and newly added abilities.
• No longer become less aggressive when riding Bizarians (in fact, they are usually more aggressive now).

Amazon:

• More aggressive.
• Can block, and will always do so if player attacks from the air.
• Has counter throw move ala Geese Howard. She will use it whenever blocking an attack or as her breakaway special on any non grapple immune opponent.
• Can toss her axe at distant opponents.
• Lunges forward instead of “treadmilling” during melee attacks, giving them better visual appeal and even longer range.
• Can grab opponents and perform a Neckbreaker slam or german suplex.
• “Dark” version can teleport behind a player and grab them instantly.

All working entities now ensure that throw victims are safely deposited outside of walls.

Wall fail-safe retrofit complete for following:

• Amazon w/Chickenleg
• Amazon w/Blue Dragon
• Amazon w/Red Dragon
• Amazon
• Alex w/Chickenleg
• Alex w/Blue Dragon
• Alex w/Red Dragon
• Alex

Considering addition of wall alternates for Amazon, Chickenleg and Dragon throws. For now will leave as is.

Alex now has all wall throw alternates complete.

Also gains ability to use a bow; ammunition is unlimited and up to three shots can be fired in series. Arrows inflict mild damage individually but cause normal attack stun, making it easy to pin down a single target. For balance, each successive shot results in cumulatively additional recovery time, so it is risky to use during solo play. Should add to Alex’s overall multiplayer oriented character design.

Bow is displayed using Alex’s bound effect model (motion blurs, etc.); fired arrow is part of the general effects entity.

Need to add wall shunting to Alex’s creature models; character should then be complete.

Scripted HUD allows infinite design possibilities, but is processor intensive and requires careful update script coding.

Further refinements made to update.c script. Overall use of variables reduced and some variant retrieval moved out of nested secondary loops. A bit of general cleaning done as well.

Probably just micro optimization, but update.c’s two hundred per second execution frequency makes any trimming worth while.

update_05262010_1200
update_05272010_1416

HUD generation no longer requires alternate weapon models to display correct icons.

The mpicon icon concept was successful, albeit as iconmp. It is now possible for enemy and player versions of any character to use same weapon model. Fitted to Amazon, Longmoan, Bad Brothers, and Henninger models. Will fit to others during individual retooling.

Unique HUD elements seen are now generated by single loop.

Single pass optimizing successful in update script. Separate loops displaying HUD objects for players and enemies are now consolidated, with redundant code parsed into smaller functions. Had added benefit of only needing to check death status instead of “KO” palette for toggling enemy HUD display; dead enemies not yet configured with KO palette no longer clog HUD row. Now need to try mpicon in place of icon for enemy HUD icons. This is due to weapon models requiring their own icons. In addition player and enemy icon images are of differing size and style. Therefore a separate weapon model would be needed for player/enemy versions of every character, resulting in unacceptable levels of bloat and redundancy. Wall shunting also proved successful. When called, function bind0018 shunts binding entity away from wall if any bound entity is current within wall bounds. By calling just before bind release, this will prevent bound entities from being stuck inside wall or infinity juggled by wall bounce function. Main purpose is to make sure grapple moves deposit defender(s) outside of walled area. With some refining, could also be adapted to create specific wall based grapple moves. bind0018_05262010