Topic: Final Fantasy IV Heroes of Light & Dark

[Spindaboy]

So I've started on a new long term project I'm calling Final Fantasy IV Heroes of Light & Dark (temporary name?) and I was looking for some feedback. This hack is going to provide a completely new story with new characters, and will take place in an alternate universe of the FF IV world. The story thus far is as follows, a group of children have been taken from the real world by the Crystals and brought to the world of Final Fantasy to fight against the evil that threatens the world once again. The game alternates between 2 parties, one of light and one of darkness, which each are on a quest to save the Crystals and recover their lost friends. Also, this hack is meant to have a brutal difficulty that will provide a challenge even for veteran FF IV players. So yeah that's all I really have for now, but it would be greatly appreciated if you could check out the first trailer and let me know what you think of this idea! Thanks :)

Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgAcI5xQCFE&feature=youtu.be
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This week's update is coming out early! The prologue is now finished! (woot!) :) Should take roughly one hour to complete (assuming no game overs). I've started fleshing out the game progression so I have a pretty good idea of how to order of story events will unfold now.
Also, if anyone's noticed I have changed the title of the hack to Final Fantasy IV Heroes of Light & Dark to better fit it. It's likely only going to be a temporary name and so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! As always feedback is more than welcome as it helps to create a better game in the end so don't hesitate to comment!

v0.2.1 Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3oeke2imbzucx0q/Final%20Fantasy%20IV%20Redacted%20%5B0.2.1%5D.zip?dl=0

[chillyfeez]

I've already talked to you about this on RHDN, but how's it coming along?

You had a pretty long list of stuff you were going to try to tackle this morning.

[Spindaboy]

I've already talked to you about this on RHDN, but how's it coming along?

You had a pretty long list of stuff you were going to try to tackle this morning.

Pretty good! Eventing and setting up flags is kind of difficult (and time consuming), but I'm getting the hang of it. Still no luck on graphics though. I forgot I actually had TLP haha. But I couldn't figure out how to switch the palettes to white & black like you said. When I get home from school I will do the quick fix from GP to Gil, I just need to figure out which value represents the squished "il". Haven't tried 8 letter class names yet, but I plan on working on that today as well. A bit stumped on the 6 letter spells though as I can't seem to find anyway to insert a new one. I may just have to over right the first few skills after that.

[Bahamut ZERO]

http://slickproductions.org/forum/index.php?topic=2097.0

First post in this thread has a list of graphics offsets, and my first two posts have zip files with a bunch of FF4 ZSNES savestates that you can load up in YYCHR to see the correct palettes. I figure it could help others get into FF4 sprite editing with a lot less hassle than I went through haha.

Also, I recommend YYCHR for sprite editing. It has a lot of neat pattern features, and you can keep a 2nd instance of the program open to use as a work area (makes things MUCH more fun to mess around with). I keep a 2nd instance of YYCHR up with a random rom that's been blanked out using the first palette color (the first color's the "invisible" or "transparent" color) so I can test out different concepts or keep backups of graphics in case I change my mind on something later.


EDIT: attached an FF4 table file so you can view text in the rom using Windhex or whatever hex editor with table file support that you use. This will help you track down the "GP" text locations when you go to change them to Gil (use an "il" squishtile for that). You can also change text that FF4kster can't, like menu names, the Mysida Legend IN SPAAAACE text (I turned it into a mock star wars text crawl in my project lol), the credits, and certain messages (like the text on the Namingway and Fat Chocobo screens, and shops).


Uhh I hope that wasn't an overload of information.

[Spindaboy]

Even with the table file for some reason I am having trouble locating the Prologue and Mysidian legend sequences...

[Bahamut ZERO]

By prologue you mean the text crawl with the scene of the castle, right? if so, that one FF4kster can edit: it's message 465 in Bank 1.

And if you're talking about the normal Mysidia Legend (the one you see when you talk to the elder in Mysidia after becoming a Paladin) : it's message 363 in Bank 1.

Now, the version on the Mysida Legend that plays during the "Mysidia Legend IN SPAAAACE" is a separate text and isn't viewable in FF4kster. Currently searching for a thread I made asking about it, but to no avail. If I stumble across it I'll post a link (as I'm 85% sure the offset was given).

[Bahamut ZERO]

Found it! This should have all the info you need to edit the IN SPAAAACE version of the Mysidia Legend:

http://slickproductions.org/forum/index.php?topic=2031.msg22946#msg22946

[Spindaboy]

The first alpha release of the project is out now! Everything you see in the video is what has been completed thus far. I will try to have an update out every Friday so expect more to come soon!

Footage #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Jlpl2nHFw

Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/27onrh0u5mn87iu/Final%20Fantasy%20IV%20Redacted%20%5B0.1.1%5D.zip?dl=0

[thepatirckinator]

It may be off topic but if fedorajoe wants an Americanized Final Fantasy IV logo for his Playable Golbez project, you'll have to check out the coding of Project II: Final Fantasy IV dealing with the American Final Fantasy IV title saying IV instead of II.

[Bahamut ZERO]

Nice work on the Mysidia text! Last time It tried editing that text I ended up seeing it display with piss-yellow tiles. 

[Spindaboy]

This week's update is coming out early! The prologue is now finished! (woot!) :) Should take roughly one hour to complete (assuming no game overs). I've started fleshing out the game progression so I have a pretty good idea of how to order of story events will unfold now.
Also, if anyone's noticed I have changed the title of the hack to Final Fantasy IV Heroes of Light & Dark to better fit it. It's likely only going to be a temporary name and so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! As always feedback is more than welcome as it helps to create a better game in the end so don't hesitate to comment!

v0.2.1 Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3oeke2imbzucx0q/Final%20Fantasy%20IV%20Redacted%20%5B0.2.1%5D.zip?dl=0

[thepatirckinator]

Final Fantasy IV Heroes of Light & Dark may have nothing of Final Fantasy IV: Playable Golbez Edition, but it'll be a great Final Fantasy IV hack regardless.