(WIP) The Curse of Kaizu Castle

[_Luxen_ 3]

(Note: I read the submission rules, but didn't fully understand. If I'm posting in the wrong spot please let me know)

 

The Curse of Kaizu Castle.

A horror game that takes place in the "legendary" Kaizu Castle.

The castle's back-story is similar to that of "Corpse Party"

 

When the castle was still a king's home, it was a place filled with smiles, fun, and happiness. That is, until the king's dark side began to show through. His guards, butlers, and maids didn't live there long, mainly because they were abducted and killed by the king and a monster that he created. Some had tried to escape, but it was no use. Anyone who had any connection to the castle was doomed to live there even after death.

The castle has been abandoned for centuries, but rumors state that the castle is still operational.

That's where our three protagonists come in.

 

Oturo Kitura

The smartest of the three. His personality can relate to Hiroshi's from "Ao Oni"

Although he puts on a tough face, he really does believe in the rumors and is actually quite scared of the castle.

 

Rei Ozaku

A delicate flower with a love for adventure. When she heard her classmates talking about going to the castle she was instantly on board. She isn't very brave by herself, but when she has an ally by her side she's ready to take on any challenge...until her life is on the line

 

Teito Kuzuko

The main protagonist. He was the one who decided to go to the castle. He was going to make a report on what he found in the castle for a school project. Unfortunately, he had little knowledge on what really lies within those ancient stone walls.

 

Kai Kuzuko

Teito's "Very great" grandfather. He was once a royal guard at the castle, but his life wasn't the best there. What's worse is that he later finds his family tortured and murdered in the cellar of the castle, and only a few days later, he was doomed to share thier fate.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The castle consists of three floors, a roof, and a basement (or cellar)

So far, I only have 1/4 of the first floor done. If I had to estimate, I'd say I have around 15%-20% of the entire game finished as of now

                                                                                                                                       

(some shots of the first floor)

 

Some of the (as far as I know) unique features of this game is the map system

 

As well as the ability to turn into a spirit and talk to other spirits in the castle

 

I already have the game planned out in my head, but I am open to suggestions if you have any.

I could use an artist and someone with good scripting skills (maybe someone with music making skills)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Credits:

The bloody tilesets I got from here:

http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/508-completed-blood/

It was a bit confusing finding who to credit, but I saw "Rainbow Jello" and "Recife" named. If I'm wrong or leaving someone out please tell me.

 

All of the audio (excluding the default sounds and voice-overs)came from the "Giygas Theme" from earthbound (I just chopped it up into different parts)

 

The "Tile swap" script came from Tsukihime

http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/12684-event-easy-tile-swapping/

 

The light script came from Khas

http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/4917-khas-awesome-light-effects/

 

Download the betas here:

(2.0)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/76zt5t6s1177qv3/Kaizu+Castle+%28beta+2.0%29.rar

 

(2.3)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/eay55cso07ekwtl/Kaizu+Castle+%28beta+2.3%29.rar (headphones/earbuds recommended) 

 

(2.5)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/s3op74dtw5b6z1o/Kaizu+Castle+%28beta+2.5%29.rar

 

(2.5 will be the last beta until I finish (at least) 50% of the entire game)

Edited January 22, 2014 by _Luxen_

[zachman57 1]

Ooh, I cannot wait to see how this will turn out. Horror games tend to have a certain vibe that entices you to play.

[CrimsonKunoichi 5]

Oh I love horror games and spooks, I will keep my eye on this for sure

[_Luxen_ 3]

*Just an update to keep the post alive*

I have started working on extra stories that reveal more about the castle's backstory.

There will be five total

4 will star each member of Kai's family:

Aisuka Kuzuko

Koiya Kuzuko

Suki Kuzuko

And Kai himself

The fifth will star a maid named Sona

 

Each story can be accessed by finding a hidden "Magic Phrase" inside the castle (excluding Sona's story which can be accessed by completing the other four)

 *spoiler* The truth will shock you...

You can get a demo of Kai's story (as well as the 2.5 beta...They're combined...) here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/52xbtpz8zsz2pfh/Kaizu+Castle+%28beta+3.0%29.exe

It's very short, but it introduces the characters a little

(The demo phrase is "Demo")

*side note* Yay! I learned how to compress the game data!

Edited February 20, 2014 by _Luxen_

[Nouin 5]

This looks fairly interesting! I'm going to keep an eye on it for sure

[_Luxen_ 3]

(Again, just trying to keep it alive)

 

For those of you who are wondering how much has been done, here you go:

 

Main Story

Level design- 13% (almost finished decorating the first floor!)

Dialogue- 10%

Eventing- less than 7%...

 

Extra Stories

I'm not even going to bother with details...its a total of 1%

 

As you can see, there's still much to be done with this (working alone is a hassle)

[_Luxen_ 3]

*Another update to keep this thing living!*

So i've taken a bit of a break from this game to do other stuff, but i'm back to working on it

Things i'm working on as of now:

*Monster appears randomly

*More ghost powers

*Split parties you can switch between

*The rest of the map

*Continuing the first extra story

And there's still so much to do...

[_Luxen_ 3]

Sadly, due to a map corrupting everything I've been set back a bit (not much, only about a week's worth of data)

Hopefully it won't take long to get everything back 

[Tsarmina 2,612]

Man, data corruption is like the bane of all devs. *sympathy* It's great that you didn't lose everything, though. Hooray for backups~

[_Luxen_ 3]

So school's back in for me (yay T_T)

Because of this, I'll have much less time to work on the game that's well over due (almost a year old but I'm not giving up)
I'm hoping that everyone can be patient with all of the delays occuring

 

However, if you do happen to get bored, I can always create another updated beta test (I won't if no one demands it, it'll be easier that way)

 

I haven't stopped yet so just keep checking here for updates

 

And remember to let your dark side out!

[_Luxen_ 3]

Here's another update to keep this post going

 

I've been working on a few visual updates to the maps

 

(First scene in the main story)

 

(Kaizu's Throne Room)

 

I've also decided to change the music to give it a more creepy feeling
(I have an idea on how to work this into a randomly spawning monster. It'll be great in the end )

 

I've added a few more early bad endings you can get, as well as having the choices you make affect your gameplay

(how often the monster spawns, how many angry spirits attack you, the items you obtain)

 

I've been considering making visual updates to the character portraits, but i'm not sure i have the time (or skill) to pull it off

 

I've also been considering adding an option to toggle character voices during the game

(i'd need to find voice actors for the female characters and maybe a few of the guys, but i can do some of them myself)

 

that seems to be about it for this update

I still have alot to do before this comes close to being finished

 

You must be patient with me, i'm doing what i can

 

And remember

Let your dark side roam free!

[Genten 18]

I enjoyed Ao Oni; I'm looking forward to what you can do in your game! I'm especially looking forward to your monster design--any ideas you have so far you feel like sharing? I also think the ability to turn into a spirit and communicate with others is really cool--I think if Corpse Party had had an option like that it would have made the game experience much more engaging. Keep working hard on your game, fellow horror lover! 

[_Luxen_ 3]

Why must files become corrupt so easily?
Yeah, it happened again, it doesn't sound as bad, seeing as everything i lost was done in 2 1/2 hours with multiple breaks

but it's bad, it was a lot of copy/paste of events in all of the rooms (i made a change to the monster)

Welp, that's all gone now, and it'll be time consuming again to get it back ( there are so many rooms ;~; )

But i'm working on getting it back up to date

Edited November 12, 2014 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

Due to school work becoming too much a hassle, this project will be not be worked on again until Christmas time.

sorry for the inconvenience 

 

Okay, not entirely true

I'm taking the little bit of free time i have in between classes to do a little bit

However, I won't be able to make much progress until Christmas break comes along 

Edited November 12, 2014 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

Little update for those who are interested:

 

I got a new computer, so I have to move all my stuff from the old one to this one

So there will be a little bit of a break until i get everything ready again.

 

I'm currently working on more abilities to use as well as making the monster better and adding a choice of playing with BGM or without it.

And of course, I still have A LOT of the map to make, so I'm still pretty far from completion.

 

Thank you all for the support so far!

[_Luxen_ 3]

I am sorry to say, but this project will be lying dormant for an unknown amount of time.
School has gotten a bit overwhelming, so I'm going to put more focus on that first. (I'll still make little changes to the game from time to time, but nothing big)
When I finally get through it all, however, I will begin working on this game again, so don't get too disappointed.

[_Luxen_ 3]

Great news everyone!

I've managed to find some time to work with RPG Maker again!
However, I've gotten a bit bored with this specific project, so while I'm not abandoning it altogether, I will be working on a couple others I've had in mind and focusing on this one a little less.

But, again, I'm not giving up on this one, updates will still come!

 

I do hope to finish it soon (as it's been around unfinished for almost a year and a half) but, in time, it will

I thank you for your patience
 

And as always

Let your dark side roam free! *rawr*

[_Luxen_ 3]

Guess who made a big change to TCoKC (best abbreviation ever btw) 

 

I've implemented the following into the game (in one day at that!):

• Added pieces to a picture scattered throughout the castle (who knows what's on the picture? you may want to look)
• Journal (has character biographies, journal entries (still in progress), and photo pieces (all of which are scattered throughout the castle))
• Visual update: Made all of the current maps' walls and boarders look nicer, another update to the throne room
• Added an info book in the starting room (just explains how the game is played, most is explained in-game as well)
• Made some changes to the monster's chase sound
• Can only save at blue candles (did I already have that?)
• Protective charms can be found, each protects you from a red candle death one time (might make it once per room)

 

And this is what I'm hoping to add later (bold = in progress):

• A third pentagram power that I've had in mind for a while: (only one can be active at a time) activating a pentagram will save your location and you can quickly teleport to that pentagram from anywhere in the castle. There are no plans to have this stop the monster from chasing you (actually had it implemented but then files got corrupt)
• Creepier music
• Losing a party member alters the ending you get (kinda got this already but it's not finished)
• Journal entries in the journal
• Extra stories (postponed until the main story is done)
• Lit candles cause the monster to temporarily stop chasing you
• Timer to stop the monster when chasing you (beds and closets still stop it)
• If the monster is in the room you can still hide, but you'll get caught (idea directly taken from Ao Oni, but may not be implemented)
• Voice acting (still in need of a female voice actor, I can do almost all of the male voices myself)
• In-game option for voice acting (can turn it on or off from the menu)
• Special matches needed for red/blue candles (may not be implemented)
• When in spirit form, can move through debris and special walls, but not all walls
• When in spirit form, can't go through other spirits (it's annoying trying to talk to them the way it is now)
• Second floor of the castle
• Basement of the castle
• Spirits have unique sprites (most likely won't be implemented to save time)

*whew* So as you see, there was some progress made, but much more needs to be done. Now that I have more time I can focus on rpg maker much more.

Once I get 100% done with the first floor (the maps and such) I'll release another demo so you can test the new stuff 

 

Thanks to those who have been so patient since this project started. It makes me happy to know that people are actually interested in this game

[_Luxen_ 3]

*Update time*

 

 

Thanks to the xas system I've made the monster deal damage by touching you instead of instantly killing you (the tensions of being low on health

will be so great in the long run) but don't worry, you can save yourself from death.

• Standing near normal candles will slowly heal you as you sit there and blue candles will fully heal you instantly when interacting with them (only when lit of course)
• Rooms with unlit red candles will slowly damage you the longer you stay in the room (or the longer you go without lighting them)

This is mainly to promote the use of candles and drive players to look for matches as well (what's the point of candles if no one will use them?)

 

I've added a "Cursed" status

• While Cursed, you will move slower and take damage as you move (this will make the monster more difficult to avoid)
• Interacting with lit blue candles will still heal you, but it won't remove the curse
• Rooms that have red candles have a chance of inflicting the Cursed status
• For now, blue candles will remove the curse, but I'm working on rare Golden candles that will remove it

I've been thinking of more ways to make the players panic in the game, so the monster and curse are perfect

 

I have also implemented the Journal Entries that i mentioned in the last update

 

One thing I'm a bit concerned about is this: I want to add fights in the game but I also want to keep the Ao Oni feel (kinda like "The Crooked Man" had some fighting scenes in it, I'd like to try this).

It wouldn't be hard since I'm using the xas system but I'm not sure how to keep the horror during these fights (They seem too action packed and not very horrifying)

Now, of course you can't kill the monster so the atmosphere isn't killed completely (though I'm thinking of adding an item that allows you to do so later on) 

 

 

*End of update*

Edited April 19, 2015 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

Taking another break from the game due to school stuff again, but it shouldn't be as long this time

In other news, I've already implemented the full journal, I'm still working on the normal candles healing you when near them
also these things happened:

• Added the library, as well as the rest of the right wing to the castle
• For further creepiness, I added paintings of Kaizu to the tileset and put them on random walls
• Did some voice acting for the monster (i can make an interesting croaking sound and gave it that)

That's it for now, I'll be back with more once I'm through with school

[_Luxen_ 3]

I'm (kinda) back!
now for an update
 

• made a neat little animation for the extra stories (it's poorly made, but i did what i could with such little skill i have)
• Fixed a little bug with the paintings that look at you
• MAJOR UPDATE: It's always been intresting to me to see multiplayer horror games so I copied the game folder and i'm currently working on a two player version of the game

that's it for this update

I'm loving this game so far

 

*tiny update* ( at 3 A.M.)

There's too many events to keep up with on the maps already, so for the extra stories I'm going to make a copy of the maps for each story. It'll take up more space and cause a larger file, but it'll be easier to manage (the demo for Kai's story will be kept on the current maps, but the maps after the demo's end will be copies)

Edited June 3, 2015 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

Another update! (this one's bloody!)

 

 

 

made some graphic edits for this one

• The monster deals less damage now (it dealt around 122 per hit before, now it deals around 26 per hit)
• When the monster hits you, the damage applies to all party members (before it only affected teito)
• As your health depletes, the actor graphic in the menu will change (shown below)

 

 

• Made edits to Teito's character graphic so he changes on the map as well

 

 

             -100%hp

             -75%hp (hard to see, there's a cut on his left arm)

             -50%hp

             -25%hp

 

 

• Made an edit to the monster's sprite to make a death animation before the gameover screen (it's a bit choppy but i'm working on it.)

 

 

 

 

I will make changes to the other sprites as well (excluding spirit Kai and spirit Kaizu, they're spirits so they don't need to bleed)

Edited June 5, 2015 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

UPDATE! (i'm pretty proud of how often i can do this)

 

• Finally implemented the normal candles' healing capibilities

(red candles that turn into normal candles will not heal you)

• I decided to leave the red candles as they are instead of having them deal damage over time
• started working on the cellar
• The monster will show up randomly, but it still has some flaws
• fixed the running speed while cursed (it wouldn't let you move before)
• Multiple endings begin here

The choices and actions you make finally have a noticable effect on the story (ex. losing or saving Rei will alter the speech that is said, items you find/how you find them, and areas the you can visit/how you access them)

• The first floor of the castle is nearly complete (just a little decoration and a few events left)
• Not sure if I mentioned this but, a common event now takes care of the matches (before i had an event on each map that did it)
• Decided to change the method of removing the Cursed state

Blue candles no longer do it, I'll be adding a new item that can be found throughout the castle and after getting enough of them, you can choose to use them to remove the curse

 

That's it!

This game is still wayyyy overdue, i know...

[_Luxen_ 3]

I'm moving again!

I recently got a faster laptop to work on, so i'll be moving my stuff once again

 

But more than that, I'm taking another break from this game so I can start working on another that I've had in mind for a while

Edited June 16, 2015 by _Luxen_

[_Luxen_ 3]

Sorry for the long wait, i've been procrastinating...alot

I finally got to re-downloading RPG maker on this laptop, but i have yet to move the other files

 

I'll get around to it soon enough, however