IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
After three years, it's finally done.
bonus:The video presents a detailed overview of a significant update to a Super Mario 64 ROM hack project, focusing on numerous gameplay, graphical, and interface enhancements. The creator highlights the resolution of a long-standing bug related to the castle grounds not loading and showcases extensive improvements compared to the previous version.
Key Updates and Features
- Bug Fixes and Major Visual Improvements
- Fixed the castle grounds loading bug.
- Castle grounds now feature vertex shading instead of world lighting, resulting in much higher texture quality.
- Added hedges from Super Mario 64 DS for improved environmental detail.
- Red coins and other objects now cast accurate shadows.
- The environment has been redecorated to visually align better with Bob-omb Battlefield.
- New File Select System
- Completely redesigned with the ability to name save files, including support for spaces and backspacing.
- Naming was a major technical challenge but successfully implemented.
- Camera Enhancements
- Camera movement is now completely smooth with full pitch control.
- Camera does not auto-rotate by default but includes an auto-rotate toggle feature that smoothly follows Mario's movement.
- Optional pan-ahead mode keeps Mario centered instead of panning in his facing direction.
- Camera settings include inverting axes, adjusting speed, zoom, and camera shake.
- Pause Menu and Settings
- New pause menu with multiple settings pages.
- Options include HUD modes (dynamic or toggleable), input display for button presses (useful for speedrunning), and photo mode settings.
- Extensive camera control options and player skin toggles (modern Mario and high-quality Nintendo 64 Mario textures).
- Settings for visibility toggles: coins, enemies, friends (Koopa the Quick, Bomb Buddies, Yoshi), effects, shadows, and player model.
- Photo Mode
- Advanced photo mode with full camera freedom and multiple poses (66 total), including ground and air poses.
- Customization options for Mario's body parts (hands, head, body rotation), facial expressions (eyes and mouth), and power-ups (vanish and metal caps).
- Adjustable field of view and precision camera controls for slow, precise movements.
- Various frame options for screenshots: cinematic, full screen, square.
- Player and world visibility controls allow toggling different elements for creative shots.
- Gameplay Changes
- Introduction of a P switch that spawns blue coins for a timed 100-coin star challenge in the castle grounds.
- Updated box designs with cleaner, higher-quality textures, though original beveled edges were preferred aesthetically.
- Reintroduction of classic Super Mario 64 mechanics:
- Punching and diving restored.
- Spin jump is now performed by pressing A in the air, with improved animation and sound.
- Health system overhaul:
- Health mushrooms replaced with hearts that heal two health wedges.
- Special crowned hearts in rare pink boxes fully restore health but are single-use.
- Enemy interactions:
- Heavy attacks cause enemies to drop more coins.
- Enemies can drop hearts with a higher drop chance when player health is low.
- Bomb Battlefield enemies respawn, providing ongoing chances to collect hearts.
- Signs provide gameplay tips and mechanics explanations, including enemy drops and ledge grabbing.
- Big Bomb Fight Improvements
- The Big Bomb enemy now blinks (a feature missing in previous versions).
- Mario shows different mouth expressions based on actions (e.g., shocked when grabbed).
- Bombs are thrown individually by the Big Bomb instead of spawning static bombs.
- Bombs flicker red before exploding.
- Players cannot pick up bombs once they begin chasing Mario; only bombs not chasing can be picked up.
- The star and other collectibles have accurate shadows, enhancing visual fidelity.
- New clean message display when obtaining stars.
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