Piecemeal Jack - post 1 - progress on bosses

My goal for Piecemeal Jack this week was to finish implementing the initial design for all 5 planned bosses into the game. 

 

My last few attempts at this project (Punch in the Dark) all began with implementing the basic enemies first. I find the design of bosses intimidating generally, if only because I'm always certain my designs aren't interesting enough. This time, I decided I would tackle my unease head-on and later build basic enemies from the behaviors established with each boss.

 

I've failed my goal for this week, but I don't see this as a bad thing. The 3 bosses I managed to finish all possess unique behaviors, which I consider impressive as my old design documents include a boss that just spawns lesser enemies endlessly. I cut 1 boss after realizing I might not have enough time as it is to finish this game in 1 month. This leaves 1 boss unfinished.

One of the implemented bosses, still a little buggy and of course without art. A fat, 2-leggeded cat that directs a weapon at you without moving itself.

The final boss I have to work out is also the final boss for the game. Originally, I intended this boss to be a mad scientist, and in Piecemeal Jack I had originally pictured this mad scientist following gopher-like logic. The scientist would dive into and pop out of holes throughout the room, and would throw things like knives and beakers at the player. Trouble is, I don't like this design.

I've been on the fence about the mad scientist ever since Punch in the Dark. I feel like mad scientist bosses can be alot of fun, especially in B or C-referencing horror-oriented schlock. Unfortunately, that's not what I'm making. So, after spending a day on trying to figure out/find something to like in the scientist, I gave up and went back to the drawing board.

I've settled on a design I'm calling the Alchemist. I'm abandoning the idea of a weak, squirrelly character who will run from you in favor of someone who still throws beakers and knives but brings along a bladed staff. The character is something like a warrior-monk, an occult experimenter who spends the game meditating in preparation to face you at the top of the house. Your final test is to defeat her in 1 on 1 combat.

Basically, I took the ideas behind the scientist character and converted it to something closer to my own interests. Weird to type, given these are all my own ideas, but there it is.

Turns out, I have next week off from work too and somehow forgot. So, there's a small chance in hell that I might actually finish this thing on time!

Until next week.