Eric Ruth, an independent developer who more than proved his prowess with Pixel Force: Left 4 Dead, recently showed off the fruits of his latest labor: A completely renovated, high-definition version of Mega Man 9. Ruth managed to recreate every single character, enemy and background by hand, programmed the game, and used a number of fan-made remixes of the original game's tracks. You can check out a video demonstration of Galaxy Man's stage just past the jump.
Ruth has decided not to complete the game for a number of reasons; the fear of a C&D from Capcom being a substantial one of them. He's already working on his next project -- and after making an HD game into an 8-bit game, and then an 8-bit game into an HD game, we can't wait to see what he does next.
agreed. HDing something that was purposefully made in 8-bit seems kinda silly. Kudos, because it looks nice and probably was a lot of work, but kinda goes against the whole mood and reason behind the game
The resolution isn't nearly as important as the aesthetics. This project is fugly independently of its resolution. Most HD remixes look terrible, but it's not because of the medium, it's because the people who make them don't have enough talent, time, and funding. I don't know why someone would work so hard to make something so garish.
Not exactly. It isn't just 8-bit. It's very good 8-bit. The specific sounds and art style of Mega Man within that 8-but realm are perfect. It could have just as easy still had the same graphical level and still look like crap given different style music or characters.
I won't rule out there is a modern style out there that captures the same energy NES Mega Man has, but we haven't seen it yet. And this is certainly not it.
Sometimes it seems like people who argue over whether graphics matter aren't even sure which side they're on. I suppose some people honestly don't care about a game's aesthetics or visual quality and see the game as a cold set of rules, but I think most people actually mean that advances in technology don't improve games' visuals. In others words, of the gamers who (correctly) think a lot of Xbox 360 games look worse than a lot of NES games, half might say it's because graphics don't matter and half would say it's because they matter a whole lot!
So anyway, there are a lot of reasons (that I won't go into) why Mega Man is probably best left in his original 8-bit form, but I would also be excited by and open to a well-made hgih-resolution Mega Man game. Graphics ARE important because they're one of the only ways that you interact with the game, and these graphics look terrible regardless of their resolution. Anyone who calls them "upgraded" is hurting video games.
First of all, "I bet -you- can't do any better" is one of the most stupid things you can say in a discussion like this. What the hell does that have to do with the fact that the art on display here is, -objectively-, of a technically low quality level? A high profile developer like Capcom is never gonna hire anyone who draws like that, the end, no matter how many random posters go "oh company x should hire this guy!" Don't give me crap about opinions and how everyone's art is great because because of them, it's bullshit.
And second, no I'm not gonna show you my art, lol. Although I will tell you drawing is kinda... my job. So uhh.
Anyway, I don't know what drives someone to try to make an HD version of MM9. Maybe it was one of those idiots who bawwed about the graphics when it came out, and either were too stupid to get what capcom were going for, or were too busy jerking off to their HD screen resolutions to find any respect for it.
Argue the quality all you want, I have seen much worse make a lot of money. This guy needs to get on the INDY circuit with MS and make his own game because he clearly has talent. Look at I MA3D A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBI3S 1NN1T!!!. It was cheezy, but in a really awesome way and the company that made it made a good chunk of change off of it. This guy could do the same.
Making a video game from scratch is not easy. Even a silly little 2D game like Mega Man. That this guy did it on his own and it's this accurate and smooth is brilliant in it self, regardless of what anyone would think of his art.
Somewhere in the world is a man that decided to make this project and show it to the world, and the best thing that a lot of you can say is that his drawings suck. Thanks for breaking someones spirit...way to go...thinking positive and all...f*cking douchbags!
o lol I missed a lot of posts there, and a lot of butthurt. Cry for him, guys!
Just for clarification, I wouldn't even have said anything if it wasn't for the content of the game itself. I already explained what I think about anyone trying to HDify MM9, I'm not gonna type it again.
Steve, I can make pencils disappear, but that's a private trick, I'll show it to ya for free, I just need to get table...and a pencil of course.
Blight, My mother one night goes crazier than usual, my father picks up a kitchen knife to defend himself, my mother doesn't like that one BIT, she goes at me with the knife, why so serious she asks, LET'S PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACE!
Don't fight. Just flow with it. Eventually you're comment will be found- either how it should be or the bottom dwellers of Joystiq- DON'T SCROLL DOWN TO FAR!
