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  • Hop! 2D : a simple yet not-all-that-easy 2D platformer with 2 control keys !

Hello everyone !

beta 22 version of Hop! 2D is out ! (links and details updated in the 1st post)

Hop!2D beta 22 (french/english latest WIP version, 85% done)
- download Hop!2D beta 22 (Windows/Linux/macOS)
- play Hop!2D beta 22 online (itch.io, not from mobile phone)

For this new beta, I switched to Godot 3.5 and will use some of its features in future versions. Some (quite unexpected) bugs were spotted thanks to feedback I had about beta 21 version, obvious changes were made (Hop's ship is visible at the end of each world, tip arrows now move) and, of course, new levels were added. By the way, you can now reach a new secret world if you look in crannies and nooks...

More detail below...


Hop's spaceship


moving tip arrows


dead boss

changelog

  • switch to Godot 3.5
  • 3 new playable levels (84 in total)
  • many levels reworked
  • access to a new secret world functional
  • Hop's spaceship visible at the beginning of each world
  • new visual effects (moving arrows)
  • "boss key" assignment changed (shift key)
  • code modified and longer hurt state for bosses
  • hazard collision masks reduced (lasers)
  • complete bonus review
  • many sprites reworked and new ones (reinforcements, scenery)
  • additional sound effects (fire, moving platforms, idol)
  • minor display modifications
  • sound adjustments
  • new thanks
  • new functionalities in developer mode

bugs fixed

  • no crash if Hop dies after boss 7 dies
  • boss 5 attack now functional
  • death of boss 2 corrected (frame, shock)
  • Hop's mood modified in CONTINUE menu
  • Hop's high ranks corrected
  • signal translated into english in level 5
  • minor scenery fixes

coming up

  • new regular, secret and boss levels !
  • new types of enemies
9 days later

Hi !
Some news about Hop 2D's developpement... All is going well (BETA 23 will be available by the end of september and it will be a massive update) and I wanted to show you 2 new enemies of Hop. The first one uses camouflage to look like a block and unfolds when Hop gets near and the second one is a Hop-looking robotic boss.

Compared to the BETA 22 version, 1 secret world is now complete and 4 new levels are already working but I hope to build some more by the end of the month. for those who like numbers, here are some :

  • 88% of planned levels are built and working
  • 80% of planned levels are fixed and won't be modified
  • 2 enemies and 3 bosses are still to be made
  • considering my own best times, completing all existing worlds and levels takes me more than 1 hour
  • I really hope to release the final version of the game by the end of 2022

See you soon !

9 days later

BETA 23 is on the way and will be out on the 25th of september. I'm currently polishing some details but I took some time to record a new demo which now covers both world 1 and world 2. A trailer will follow soon. Enjoy !

One extra option may come with future versions of the game : loading a saved game from the end of any explored level.

What do you think about it ? Do you think it is necessary ? Will this bring you to the game if you don't feel like restarting a whole world to go further in your quest ?

I'm all ears...

    Asthalis This will have the same effect as removing lives altogether. Personally, I think it's needed. I mean, when you look at modern games that try to feel "retro", they usually remove the life system in normal mode, while providing an old-school mode with lives involved. These options are kind of a standard nowadays since most players don't have the patience to go through the same thing again and again. Not to mention that it will allow more experimentation. Examples include "Streets of Rage 4" & "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time".

    However, I saw that you provided a practice mode already... I haven't tried it myself, but you might want to consider how it plays out along with the rest of the modes (i.e. with lives, or with no lives). Remember, having too many modes that are very similar could confuse players. So end note: make things concise and clear for the player.

    (Btw, I checked out World 1 and half of World 2, and I'm planning to "officially" try all the levels available in the upcoming BETA 23... I'll be looking forward to it!)

    Thanks for your message and tips !
    The practice mode is limited to the 9 first levels of the game (so no encounter with an enemy or a boss), I thought of it as a first step for the player To handle Hop's jumps.
    The saving system I intend to add to future versions will allow to save a game after any level is completed. I think I will get back to 3 lives instead of 5 currently.
    This way, some players won't be bored or discouraged anymore starting the same séries of levels over and over.
    Beta 23 will hopefully be out next sunday but work has already begun for beta 24.

    Hello everyone !

    beta 23 version of Hop! 2D is out ! (links and details updated in the 1st post)

    Hop!2D beta 23 (french/english latest WIP version, 90% done)
    - download Hop!2D beta 23 (Windows/Linux/macOS)
    - play Hop!2D beta 23 online (itch.io, not from mobile phone)

    In this new update, most of the work is about new levels and linked features (6 new levels, 1 secret world now complete, 1 new boss, 1 new enemy type). I also did some polishing in the code and I think that 80% of already built levels won't change anymore. Among obvious modifications, lifebars look a bit different (kind of "Starcraft-like") and there is now a laser state visual reminder to ease the player's progress in large levels. Developer mode has been improved as well to speed up testing.

    more detail below...


    new lifebar


    laser state reminder

    changelog

    • use of unique nodes (Godot 3.5 new functionality)
    • 6 new playable levels (90% of the final game)
    • 1 secret world complete
    • many levels modified (80% fixed)
    • 1 new boss
    • 1 new type of enemy
    • 2 enemy behaviors extended
    • computer screens added and improved
    • coins removed in training mode (useless !)
    • lifebars with unique variable color
    • laser state visual reminder added
    • some elements brought to foreground
    • experience rounded up to the next %
    • 2D sounds for fans
    • "boss key" assignment changed (ctrl key)
    • 2D camera always active (scrolling)
    • HELP menu overhaul (text, animation)
    • some scene files renamed and reorganised
    • some sprites reworked or grouped (moving platforms, scenery)
    • ASTHALIS's times updated (world 4)
    • experience calculus readjusted
    • minor UI (language reminder) and scenery modifications
    • new functionalities in developer mode
    • new thanks
    • useless files deleted

    bugs fixed

    • no crash if Hop dies after boss 7 dies
    • boss 5 attack now functional
    • death of boss 2 corrected (frame, shock)
    • Hop's mood modified in CONTINUE menu
    • Hop's high ranks corrected
    • signal translated into english in level 5
    • minor scenery fixes

    coming up

    • extra per-level game saving system
    • new regular, secret and boss levels !

    A little progress overview...

    In the next version of the game (BETA 24), an additional game saving option will be available at the end of each level. It is not implemented yet but here's what the new level stats screen (where you can choose to start next level or previously save your game) will look like :

    A new GAME menu will allow the player to load a saved game, as well as the 2 other ways to play the game (choose a starting world among unlocked ones or use a secret code found in its levels) :

    Next version will be available on the 30th of october, hopefully with new levels and other upgrades as well !

    13 days later

    Hello,
    Hop! 2D's BETA 24 version is progressing well and will be a big update !

    So far, I have built 2 new levels but, most of all, I have built and tested a new level-by-level game saving system. I'm glad to announce it works fine and that will be a big bonus for players who did not want to restart a full world to go further in the game. A lot has been done about the interface too. I hope you will like it !

    Here's a screenshot of the SAVE GAME menu. As you can see, there are currently 4 slots to save games. Do you think it's enough for this kind of platformer or should I add 2 more ones ? (not a big deal at all if needed).

    4 days later
    Asthalis changed the title to Hop! 2D : a simple yet not-all-that-easy 2D platformer with 2 control keys ! .
    7 days later

    Asthalis It has the aesthetics of old DOS games (Commander Keen comes to my mind). Nice!

      disemq
      Thanks for your comment, it's clearly intentional and I take it as a compliment !

      The pixelated aspect comes from the basic resolution of the game (360x360, quite the size of old school arcade games), that is simply doubled when playing in window mode and, of course, even more in fullscreen mode. I also did not want to use too many colors and get a good readability. Hope it works this way !

      Have you tried the game ? Though only 2 keys are needed to play, the challenge grows and grows every world. The next version of the game (BETA 24, check this thread at the end of next week) will allow the player to save his game at the end of any level (a clear request of Hop! 2D's testers).

        Hello everyone !

        I will finally be busier than expected at the end of this week, so I decided to release this new BETA 24 version of Hop! 2D today, a bit ahead of schedule ! Hope you will like it. This new BETA is also a "birthday edition" : the first playable version of the game was released 2 years ago (crazy how time flies...).

        Hop!2D beta 24 (french/english latest WIP version, 93% done)
        - download Hop!2D beta 24 (Windows/Linux/macOS)
        - play Hop!2D beta 24 online (itch.io, not from mobile phone)

        2 big steps for this new update : first, most of the UI has been reworked to make it cleaner and easier to use (main menu clutterness is history) but, most of all, a brand new game saving system is now available at the end of each completed level, in addition to the pre-existing world-by-world progress saving. This is another way to play the game and, hopefully, a more convenient one for beginners or simply players who did not want to replay already explored levels after losing their last life. Although Hop! 2D is not complete yet (93% of it, so it's getting near !), more of you will now be able to complete all functional levels (3 new ones for this release and more on the way !).

        more detail below...

        Waiting for your screenshots !


        new main menu


        new end-of-level stats


        new "save game" menu


        improved world intro


        improved game screen with coin gauge

        changelog

        • 3 new playable levels
        • 2 new enemy types (hopivore, illusion)
        • end-of-level statistics and game saving (6 slots)
        • UI interface overhaul (display, hierarchy, symbols, bigger clock)
        • new CAMPAIGN and OPTIONS menus
        • new transition screens before boss levels
        • circular gauge for collected coins
        • management modified for computer screens
        • Hop's spaceship visible in boss levels
        • back to 3 lives at the beginning of each game
        • trampolines optimised (graphics and code)
        • 2D sounds for trampolines, switches and portals
        • semi-transparent portals and laser gates
        • structure reinforcements brought to foreground
        • new visual effects
        • many sprites reworked
        • more detail in screen capture names
        • music and sound adjustments
        • many code optimisations (decoupled, simplified)
        • new functionalities in developer mode (unlock all worlds)
        • ASTHALIS times updated
        • thanks updated

        bugs fixed

        • Hop's girlfriend silent in pause mode
        • behavior of shooting enemies corrected (shots now at regular intervals)
        • rare trampoline malfunction solved
        • minor scenery fixes

        coming up

        • new regular, secret and boss levels !
        • interface improvements
        6 days later

        Hi !

        A few days after putting BETA 24 online, I realised something was wrong with saved games : none seemed to show after restarting the game ! This bug is now corrected with BETA 24b version, which solves other minors ones and now allows the player to delete the saved games he wants from the OPTIONS menu.

        Sorry for this !

        Hop!2D beta 24b (french/english latest WIP version, 93% done)
        - download Hop!2D beta 24b (Windows/Linux/macOS)
        - play Hop!2D beta 24b online (itch.io, not from mobile phone)


        new DELETE GAMES menu


        updated OPTIONS menu

        changelog

        • new DELETE GAMES menu
        • file overwrite test added in SAVE GAME menu
        • other menus modifications
        • code optimisations
        • ASTHALIS times updated
        • some sprites modified
        • useless nodes deleted (timers)

        bugs fixed

        • general parameters and game savings now functional in online version (itch.io)
        • progression display corrected if restarting from a secret world
        • computer screens issues solved after game reload
        • minor text corrections
        • some level names added

        coming up

        • new regular, secret and boss levels !
        • interface improvements
        11 days later

        Latest news !
        95% of the game is done (2 more levels so far for the upcoming BETA 25 version) and tonight was the time for a whole game test.
        It took me a little more than 2 hours (and almost 100 game saves) to complete all working levels ! I guess the game is big enough...
        Time for final boss levels is getting near !

        10 days later

        Hello everyone !

        Can't believe it, but I'm ahead of schedule so here's the new BETA 25 version of my game !

        Hop!2D beta 25 (french/english latest WIP version, 97% done)
        - download Hop!2D beta 25 (Windows/Linux/macOS)
        - play Hop!2D beta 25 online (itch.io, not from mobile phone)

        What's new for this one ? 4 more playable levels, 1 new enemy, mouse-controllable menus and game, improved interface, 2 more slots to save your games, a native Window icon, and quite a lot of bugs fixed (but most of them were related to the recent game saving system which, now, should work fine, both for downloadable and online versions of the game). I'm pretty excited to go on for next beta, as this one may be the last one before tackling the last boss levels of the game.

        more detail below... and waiting for your own screenshots !


        interface changes

        changelog

        • 4 new playable levels (97% of the game)
        • a few levels modified
        • 1 new enemy type
        • mouse-controllable basic actions (left/right/confirm/cancel)
        • mouse added in control visual reminders
        • HELP menu extended (14 pages)
        • content of saved games extended
        • 2 more slots for saved games (8 in total)
        • character animations added in welcome screen and DEV. MODE menu
        • position saving in LOAD/SAVE GAME menu
        • blinking life number if last life
        • new Windows icon (Hop's profile)
        • more sound effects
        • sound adjustments
        • mouse added in shortcut reminders
        • a few sprites modified
        • other interface details added or modified
        • ASTHALIS times updated
        • new functionalities in developer mode
        • thanks updated

        bugs fixed

        • no more crash due to a crawling enemy killed
        • no more crash due to a boss touching a trampoline
        • possible wrong next world corrected
        • 1 trampoline reset
        • collision parameters of an enemy rectified
        • code of 3 enemies rewritten
        • counting of collected and bonus coins corrected
        • no more possible multiple validations in some menus
        • display bug corrected in SAVE GAME menu
        • graphic bug corrected in SUMMARY screen

        coming up

        • one more regular level
        • final bosses levels !
        23 days later

        Hello everyone !

        Chrismas is almost here and I won't be able to work much this month on Hop ! 2D. However, I can tell you that the current work-in-progress BETA 26 has 1 more playable level (98% of the total planned) and I have spent quite a lot of time on the MUSEUM, which will be the "congratulations" level once the player has completed the game.

        I won't reveal you much about this huge area (there is much to see and visit), just let you know that a quiz will await you there and you can send me your answers if you succeed in completing the game.

        Here's a picture of the MUSEUM's beginning just to give you a glance of what it looks like.

        I will release BETA 26 later this month once all I want is functional in the MUSEUM and some remaining minor bugs fixed. 2 boss levels are still to be built to end the game, this will be the "to do list" for BETA 27. Things run fine so far, the final version of the game is planned for the end of february in 2023.

        I Hope you are ready for a massive final test before the 1.0 version !

        See you soon.

        I just logged back into the forums for the first time in probably over a year specifically to see if this game was still being developed. I'm glad to see it is. I love to see single indie developers sticking to a project the way you are sticking to this one. You've done a great job of creating a game with an extremely low barrier to entry, that is fun to play, and which has a distinct personaliity. I can't wait to play the newest build.

        Edit: Well, this is odd. I'm getting an error saying it can't initialize the video driver. This is the same video card I've always used to play Hop! 2D, and the drivers are up-to-date. Also, setting LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 has no effect, and I get the same error. I am using OpenGL in some of my own projects with no issue.

          SpaceAce
          First of all, Thanks a lot for your great support !
          Strange issue, indeed... I suppose you're a Windows user ? I never changed anything in the default Godot video settings, I simply switched versions when they were released (from Godot 3.2 at the beginning of the project to 3.5 for the latest updates). I may try different setups to see if one of them works better for you but I guess I would need your e-mail to provide you links to these files (my e-mail is in the ABOUT menu of the game if you still have an older working version). By the way, what is your last Hop! 2D working version ?