Rescue Reidman IV

This is a game 12-13 years in the making (I quit keeping accurate track). Originally a throw-away project to be completed in a few weeks it ballooned into this massive ordeal with seemingly no end.

It has a main storyline you follow but you can basically veer off the path at anytime and go exploring in some of the many optional dungeons. I've gone for an old-school feel so be careful wandering into territory that may be overpowered for your current state.

What's so great about this?!
Here's the part of the page where I try to entice you to download it. I'll briefly go over some of the features that I believe make this game pretty fun.

Custom Default Battle System


The game uses a specialized version of the default battle system. Basically it's the shell of the default battle system but everything is done via scripts through common events. Here's what this means for the battle system:

1. Ability to program exact damage formulas, which means I'm able to balance the game easier
2. Enemy battle animations; get the shit beat out of you from the perspective of the protagonist
3. The mind stat now plays an integral part in defending against magic attacks
4. Ability to have unique/bizarre skills, such as a Life 3 (FF6) where you revive upon death when casted, an immortality spell, a regen spell, elemental barriers and lots more

There's more but we'll move on to the gameplay of the battle system now. The battle system borrows heavily from the simplicity of the first Dragon Quest game, where it's typically just you and a single opponent, although in this game you'll usually have a helper recruited with you. To make up for this most of the enemies are considerably powerful, so every battle is like a miniboss.

The advantages to the simplicity allow you to avoid situations of running into 5 trash enemies and groaning as you realize you don't have enough MP for an area attack, resulting in the mashing of the enter button for attacks or a failed escape attempt and then further mashing of the enter button as you scroll through all the shrugged off attacks.


Customization
The game allows you to customize you or your helper with a myriad of different systems. You can also attempt to recruit any NPC you run across to be your helper. All helpers retain the skills they've learned from the Forum System (one of the main methods of customization) and those skills carry over to any other helpers you recruit. Helpers also retain their level or are advanced to your current level (whichever is higher) so feel free to play around with the 60 or so helpers that are able to join you.

You can also level up weapons to alter your stats or teach you new skills or even get some rare items.

Optional content
In the full game there are only about five mandatory dungeons that you need to complete (only two in the demo), everything else is optional and mostly open from the start. Feel free to explore wherever, just don't be surprised if you get your head handed to you in territory you probably shouldn't be in yet.

More stuff here as I come up with it