The Banana Mod

Here is where to post about the latest Commander Keen fangame or modification you've finished, a new website you've made, or another Keen-related creation.
Herry Jerry
Vortininja
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:38
Location: Canada

The Banana Mod

Post by Herry Jerry »

Hey there, everyone! It appears Keen Day has rolled around again, and with it another couple weeks of cramming to get something Keenish done. Those of you who are longtimers on #pckf may remember my perpetually-in-alpha Banana Mod, which I had intended to release on Keen Day 2010. Obviously, that didn't pan out. Then I started disappearing for long periods of time, and long story short I never got around to completing it.

Until now, that is. I decided in the past couple of weeks that I wasn't going to miss another Keen Day, and got to work on finishing this mod. So, ladies and gentlemen, may I present the first release of the Banana Mod!

Now, in part because I was determined to get this out the door for Keen Day, this is a remarkably unfinished product. There's no ending, the world map is a joke, and the point placement is rather schizophrenic. But I promised myself I was going to release something on Keen Day, and dammit I'm going to release something on Keen Day. So let me apologize for the state of this mod, and hope that you enjoy it to whatever extent is possible. (Also note that this is most certainly not the final version, so please don't hate me too much. :o)
User avatar
StupidBunny
format c:
Posts: 2155
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 19:19
Location: The Centre of the Moon
Contact:

Post by StupidBunny »

First of all, this is a genius idea. I love it. Please don't let it go unfinished.

Second, my biggest problem with the gameplay is that Keen's windup jump makes it very difficult to make quick high jumps, and most of the times I've died it's been because I started the jump cycle a fraction of a second too late and Keen careened into a wall or hazard or whatever. That might just be because my timing sucks but you might patch Keen to jump a bit faster.

I like how the levels loop. I didn't notice that on level 2 for a while, and was like, "wow, this level is repetitive..." :)

That said, the graphics are pretty repetitive and I hope you put in more visual variety, decorations, etc. in later releases. Sliding through one gunmetal room after another gets a bit old.

Also the story is hilarious.

If I come up with anything else I'll let you know. There's obviously a lot left to do with this but by what you have so far I think this could shape up into something really unique (as I guess it already is.)
Image
User avatar
troublesomekeen
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 1245
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:01
Location: Three-Tooth Lake
Contact:

Post by troublesomekeen »

Wow! Auto-scrolling! Wasn't expecting that! This was very frustrating at first, but then I read the patch file and found that SPACE makes Keen duck. Ducking is...like.. the best thing ever. Very creative!
Image
Commander Keen in... Canteloupe Quest!
Benvolio
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 976
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 12:43
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Post by Benvolio »

FANTASTIC!!! Unbelievable, I was not expecting to see anything as dramatic as this from a Keen mod any time soon! I mean KeenRush has done this kind of thing before, with *sways nauseously* where was I - yes KR has used patches to put you under pressure, and his levels are more complex and mentally taxing. But these levels are EXHILARATING. (well I got as far as level 3 so far)!
Stupidbunny wrote: very difficult to make quick high jumps
True. But I think this is one of the key points on which this game challenges the player.
troublesomekeen wrote:read the patch file
Typical Keener!!! Herry Jerry has written an exemplary helpfile as well as a readme.

The graphics (well the Keen sprite) is amazing.

But.. am I the only one who finds this dizzying to the point of nausea? I actually feel unpleasant in my head and stomach after ten minutes of playing!! PLEASE MAKE IT REVERSE DIRECTION!!!!!!
User avatar
Lunick
Vortininja
Posts: 283
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:37
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by Lunick »

So good, soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
Lunick is Here
User avatar
MoffD
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 1220
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 17:30
Location: /dev/null
Contact:

Post by MoffD »

argh... can't slow down... This mod is making me hyperactive and twitchy
:rollin :pogo :spot
mortimermcmirestinks wrote: Now I wish MoffD wasn't allergic to me.
Levellass wrote:You're an evil man.
Image
User avatar
DoomJedi
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 888
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:22
Location: Israel

Post by DoomJedi »

Went bananas with this one :)
Very nice idea, nicely implemented.
Agree with previous remarks
User avatar
Roobar
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 3267
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 16:12
Contact:

Post by Roobar »

Very cool indeed! I liked the secret levels.
Plasma Captain
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 336
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 18:46

Post by Plasma Captain »

Just completed this. Wow, what a fun and unique mod. I never realized how much I wanted a Keen skating game, hahah. Also, I'm loving the new Keen sprites.

On a side note... Billy's town really needs a city ordinance on death spikes.
Herry Jerry
Vortininja
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:38
Location: Canada

Post by Herry Jerry »

Wow, I never expected the reception to be this positive! Thanks, guys! :)
StupidBunny wrote:my biggest problem with the gameplay is that Keen's windup jump makes it very difficult to make quick high jumps
As Benvolio said, that is one of the main challenges of the game, so unfortunately there's not a whole lot I can do about that. That being said, maybe an optional "easy mode" patchfile that makes Keen jump quicker could be a good idea. I'll look into that.

As for the graphics, yeah those could still use some work. The grey backgrounds actually used to be patterned, but I deemed it a little too loud to be the most common background. You can actually still see the tile pattern in places, most obviously in level 9. Modified, of course, but the basic outline is still there.
Benvolio wrote:am I the only one who finds this dizzying to the point of nausea? I actually feel unpleasant in my head and stomach after ten minutes of playing!! PLEASE MAKE IT REVERSE DIRECTION!!!!!!
I think the best advice I can give you there is to make it run in as small a window as possible. (Maybe even unscaled 320x200, if necessary.) But I don't get motion sickness from games, so my advice is probably worthless and you'd be better off listening to someone who knows how it works. :P
Plasma Captain wrote:On a side note... Billy's town really needs a city ordinance on death spikes.
My personal theory is that Keen's town is headquarters to the largest producer of death spikes in the world, and some of the levels take place in the DeathSpike Inc. ("Dispensing Galactic Justice with an Iron Spike") storage warehouses.
User avatar
Levellass
S-Triazine
Posts: 5265
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:40

Post by Levellass »

It's simple enough to slow the game speed, that should help with any nausea.


This mod has mediocre graphics, no enemies, and little story. And yet, and yet... its core idea, it's unique gameplay is just so... so... different from pretty much all Keen mods. It's quirky, unique and frustrating all in one, and something that makes for a truly outstanding game experience.
What you really need, not what you think you ought to want.
Benvolio
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 976
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 12:43
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Post by Benvolio »

Levellass wrote:simple enough to slow the game speed
See, the speed is what makes the game fun. I don't know how many 2D games run at that speed. When you think of fast games you think of 3d racers where the direction if forward and thus it doesn't bother your vestibular system.

So I wouldn't dream of changing the game speed as the speed was calibrated by the modder to give the best gaming experience. Instead, perhaps short bursts is how this game needs to be played by some or all players. Or alternatively if it could be patched so that every alternative level goes right-to-left!! :P

Actually running it in a window helps. But fullscreen is king!!

Edit: I noticed a problem just there when playing again, this didn't happen me before but when I exit level 6, Keen dies despite no hazard present. Just though I'd let you know!
Keening_Product
Kuliwho?
Posts: 2167
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:02
Location: Tied up in the Oracle Chamber's basement
Contact:

Post by Keening_Product »

SOMEONE GIVE THIS KID A BANANA!
Keening_Product was defeated before the game.

"Wise words. One day I may even understand what they mean." - Levellass
User avatar
MoffD
Vorticon Elite
Posts: 1220
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 17:30
Location: /dev/null
Contact:

Post by MoffD »

Keening_Product wrote:SOMEONE GIVE THIS KID A BANANA!
Just don't give him a MarioCart
mortimermcmirestinks wrote: Now I wish MoffD wasn't allergic to me.
Levellass wrote:You're an evil man.
Image
User avatar
KeenRush
Android Dummy
Posts: 2560
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 20:57
Location: KEEN1.EXE
Contact:

Post by KeenRush »

Man, this mod is so amazing. The concept is so funny and crazy, makes me prouder day by day to be part of the Keen scene, where else are people
making unique ideas like this into completed (ok, this is unfinished I know, you get the point) products? Seriously, name any. This has some of the best patch hacking ever seen. As Benvolio said, this is exhilerating, the gameplay is something entirely new. The change one needs in one's thinking of level design must've been interesting. This is so well executed that there is nothing else to say but: I'm going to play it again at some point (I've already played it through 3-4 times (but still can't find any exit in the last level)). :yorp Hoping to see a polished version with all the 16 levels. The graphics are ok and Keen animation looks natural. The dodging adds an interesting element, as said already (and I can just visualize a skateboard under his shoes). There is much more potential to this idea than this mod utilizes, I feel like stealing the patches and making a bootleg mod. :evil Awesome work, I'm glad that you got it released for Keen Day.
My newest mod - Commander Keen: Sunset: viewtopic.php?t=8568 | codename H.Y.E.N.A.
Post Reply