One way scrolling game == shame?

Denine · Post by **Denine** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:20 am

Hi.
So, I'm developing new game.I have scrolling engine almost done, it can scroll in two ways(right and left).Everything nice and blah, blah, blah...
But in my game I want to make only 1 way scroll.Like SMB, only scroll in right.There's no technical problems.I just wonder if making a platform game that scrolls in 1 way only is a shame? What do you, guys, think about games like that? Any thoughts?

thefox · Post by **thefox** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:33 am

It's purely a design choice, so no shame in doing it. I doubt anybody is going to disagree with me.

3gengames · Post by **3gengames** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:45 am

I don't think it's that bad, just annoying when you miss an item and can't go back. What ever you want to do Denine, you're game.

UncleSporky · Post by **UncleSporky** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:55 am

It depends on a lot of things. If it's a game like Adventure Island where the goal is to move forward at a breakneck pace, then it's no problem. It's not a problem in a scrolling space shooter, or otherwise auto-scrolling levels.

If it's exactly like SMB, that might annoy some people, but if your game is properly designed around that limitation then it shouldn't be a problem. It might be looked down upon by some nesdev developers for not using the most advanced coding techniques to get around limitations like this, but guess what? You're doing this to make the kind of game you want to make, and if you succeed then you'll have made more progress than a lot of the people here!

So do whatever you feel like.

Dwedit · Post by **Dwedit** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:27 am

Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers was one-way scrolling, and I never saw anyone complaining about that part of the game.

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:56 am

Uh... Super Mario Bros (1) isn't a shame... is it?

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:56 am

I think designing a solid game is more important than one silly "feature" Any homebrewer who complains should either write their own better game or stfu.

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:21 pm

There aren't much (completed and released) homebrew games with any scroll at all, so even one-way would be a major improvement.

Denine · Post by **Denine** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:34 pm

Thanks, guys.I'll (try) don't give up:)
@Zepper
Of course SMB1 ins't a shame

rotInMilc · Post by **rotInMilc** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:17 pm

Yeah, no problem with one-way scrolling here, either. Missing items is annoying, but as long as the design is good, such things can be blamed squarely on the player.

Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers is awesome, by the way. One of the few Disney games I've owned in my lifetime (apart from Kingdom Hearts, but KH just isn't as fun as Rescue Rangers).

tokumaru · Post by **tokumaru** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:37 pm

I have to agree with everyone... As long as your game is designed for that kind of scroll, it's OK.

I personally prefer games where you can explore the level, go back and forth looking for things, rather than follow a straight line until the end, but both kinds can be fun if done right.

UncleSporky · Post by **UncleSporky** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:07 pm

It's one of those things where you ask yourself, given the choice of going backwards, do I really go backwards that often? Depends on the game, of course.

A lot of Kirby's Adventure levels are quite linear and wouldn't suffer much from not being able to backtrack. In fact there are points in most levels where you actually can't backtrack, due to a star that warped you to your current screen, etc.

Now, some Kirby levels are maze-like and let you go all over the place looking for the exit, and that's fun too, but if those levels hadn't been present I don't think making it a one way game would've caused much uproar.

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:35 pm

I don't like Chip&Dale NES games.

tokumaru · Post by **tokumaru** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:50 pm

I love the Chip & Dale games! =) They are great in 2-player mode!

Bregalad · Post by **Bregalad** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:17 am

Sorry to not agree with everyone, but unless you have a really good reason for scrolling only one way, like memory constraints or something in the like, or if your game is a space shooter (which I don't think it is), you should allow backtracking.

Now if there is any good reason to not allow backtracking exept your own laziness, then I'm all fine with it. But if there is no reason, I guess it's best to implement it.