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Monochrome is inspired primarily by Legend of Zelda, where you are dropped into the middle of the world and exploration is the primary focus, in addition to fighting monsters and discovering equipment and treasures buried deep within dungeons. There are also hints of Ultima and Fallout in its general design concept.

Artwork is very retro. We're talking atari level here. Simplistic with only 2 colors: black and white. But gameplay and exploration will be deep and complex. This is going to be made for NaGaDeMo 2012.

Latest Blog

After almost 4 years on hiatus, Monochrome is back in development!

I won't go into too much detail, but let me just say I've had to focus on work since I paused this project, but now that it has slowed down, I'm happy to be back doing what I love!

Here is the current to-do list and features I want to add:

  • First and foremost, I HAVE to fix the balance issues in the late game. I was reaching the NaGaDeMo deadline, and literally started throwing enemies and maps around at random and hoping it worked. The last 3-4 dungeons will be likely getting a complete redesign with new enemies and better care for balance and making sure the end-game isn't impossible.
  • Updating the engine from VX to VX Ace. I hope this is a smooth transition, otherwise I'll have to hurt someone.


  • I plan to add companions/party members that you can obtain through various quests, planning on an Ophidian, a robot, and another 'human', but this may change down the line. If they die, however, they can not be revived. Their death will also affect how people treat you and impact certain quests.


  • I plan to add more areas and ruins that can be explored and contain useful treasure, but are entirely optional. These will also coincide with optional sidequests that the residents of the various towns can give you. In addition, I want to add a lot more sidequests and optional missions.


  • Thoroughly expand the crafting system. As such, there is only ONE item you can craft, and that's at the very beginning of the game. When enemies only drop spoils of war, never money, I think it's kind of required that you can turn those drops into usable items like potions, weapons, and accessories.


  • An ongoing item-collection quest that provides an excellent reward at the end, by collecting X of a certain item spread all around the world. Completing this quest will also reveal a great deal of in-game lore.


  • A fast travel system to let you quickly move between cities or other areas, somewhat akin to the Moon Gates in Ultima or the warps in Legend of Zelda


If you'd like to help with development, you're in luck! I'm looking for people to help test the game and report and bugs or balance issues to me using the following Google form: Monochrome Development Report Form
  • Production
  • testzero
  • RPG Maker VX
  • Adventure RPG
  • 06/05/2012 10:46 PM
  • 01/22/2017 11:15 PM
  • 09/22/2016
  • 54463
  • 12
  • 692

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Posts

Pages: 1
testzero
1066
06/07/2012 12:29 AM
To all people playing this game during the NaGaDeMo Review Drive, Please let me know if you discover a game-breaking bug or a non-progression and I will work to fix it immediately. I had to rush this game out without proper testing in order to make the deadline, and a lot of content is still unfinished.
Darken
3626
06/07/2012 12:49 AM
might wanna have less blurr...
testzero
1066
06/07/2012 12:59 AM
There is no blur in the actual game. The screenshots were taken from a video, and it didn't encode quite properly.
Marrend
Guardian Ghost of the Description Thread
21129
06/07/2012 09:47 PM
These screens remind me of Wasteland, only with less color. I'm guessing this has nothing to do with that, but Wasteland was among my favorites back in the day.
noellechan
529
06/30/2012 09:28 AM
I'm currently playing through your game. Took me a bit to get going. I think I died... three times before finally staying alive long enough to advance. I'd like to do an LP of this in the future if I can figure out all the places to go to and in what order.
testzero
1066
06/30/2012 10:00 AM
author=noellechan
I'm currently playing through your game. Took me a bit to get going. I think I died... three times before finally staying alive long enough to advance. I'd like to do an LP of this in the future if I can figure out all the places to go to and in what order.
That would be great, but please wait until the version I'm actually proud of is out.
Tau
RMN sex symbol
3278
07/13/2012 03:30 AM
Ok seriously wth do I do in this game. I couldn't kill a horned beast and I couldn't find a desert, had no money to buy things,I had no idea where to start the game?

Beautiful presentation and polish though, I can tell a lot of work went into it. Consistent look and feel through out.
noellechan
529
07/13/2012 03:38 AM
author=Tau
Ok seriously wth do I do in this game. I couldn't kill a horned beast and I couldn't find a desert, ha no money to buy things,I had no idea where to start the game?


It's really hard to get started at first. In order to get money you need to kill horned beasts by taking their horns to the mayor in Centerville. But before you do that I'd recommend taking two beast horns and using them to make an offhand weapon. A weak weapon is better than no weapon at all in the beginning. As you collect more bounty you'll have enough money to buy things from the shop.
Seeric
2155
07/13/2012 04:02 AM
I'm not sure if you've already received feedback on this, but, unless I'm missing something, Barus in Centerville seems to currently trigger a nasty bug. Knocking on his door will make him walk over and open it, but talking to him still just leads to a lecture on barging into people's homes.

However, if you take a step back and choose to knock on the door again while he's standing near it, Barus will turn to face 'south' and you won't be able to do anything other than manually shut down the game. Judging from Barus's 'reaction' to this second knock, I think the event for him to walk to the door is still trigger, but since he is already at the door he simply faces the wall and the event cannot complete.
testzero
1066
07/13/2012 10:14 AM
author=Seeric
However, if you take a step back and choose to knock on the door again while he's standing near it, Barus will turn to face 'south' and you won't be able to do anything other than manually shut down the game. Judging from Barus's 'reaction' to this second knock, I think the event for him to walk to the door is still trigger, but since he is already at the door he simply faces the wall and the event cannot complete.


Okay, it seems Barus isn't working quite correctly. He should return to his spot after he talks to you every time. For now, if he doesn't return to his spot after talking to you, leave Centerville and come back. He should be back to where he's supposed to be. Avoid knocking on the door when he's not standing in his default location to keep from freezing the game.
AtiyaTheSeeker
In all fairness, bird shrapnel isn't as deadly as wood shrapnel
5424
12/03/2016 06:56 AM
Been in a very retro mood as of late; I may give this a try sometime, and throw in a review to boot. :3
ForgottenDawn
2364
01/22/2017 11:15 PM
This game looks interesting, I might give it a try someday. Given I've also been developing a monochrome game myself, I have to say I'm quite curious. :)
Pages: 1