8 replies to this topic

[Anthus]

AutumnHaunted

???

 

 

Alucard648

You got grabbed by a blue hand-shaped creature called Wallmaster. You foolishly thought that it would be nothing more than one-way trip to dungeon entrance. But things got much worse real quick. Another Wallmaster swooped in and grabbed your legs. Working together, they managed to rip you in HALF! Blood gushed all across overgrown room of Forest Temple. Instant death.

 

 

Twilight Knight

Pyromaniac

 

 

Rambly

saltspray bay

 

 

[AutumnHaunted]

I wonder how many SotW entries have been as stark as mine here. I don't expect it to do well, but I figured it'd be interesting and different at least. I don't remember who made this one between Bikdip and I. The animated light spilling out of the doorway is actually palette cycling, believe it or not - if you aren't aware, let it be known that you could actually palette cycle up to 15 frames in some older versions (including 1.92) if you let it spill over into the cycle csets of the next palette in the list! This same trick is use for the area that doorway leads to, as can be seen in the first big BA3 preview from 2022 if anyone is curious. As for my thoughts on the others...

 

Alucard648 - I'm fascinated by the caption; it reminds me of those old point-and-click adventure games like Shadowgate. Is this something that can happen in a real quest of yours, or was this just for the contest? Pretty nice swampy decorating too that works with the vibe.

 

Twilight Knight - Love to see a more open dungeon space. I kinda dig the realistic lava and rocks but I think it might clash a bit with the slightly simpler tiling on the left. Still neat though.

 

Rambly - Simple serenity that creates a wonderful wistful atmosphere, and definitely elevated by the palette, true to form. Voted here.

[Anthus]

Oh hey it's the first SotW I've posted

 

I initially null'd to make sure I set up the poll correctly, but my actual vote goes towards Alucard's screen. Idk, I just like it and that seems like a funny insta-death gimmick (once, and only once... right? RIGHT?).

 

My second pick is Twilight Knight, cause I love the lava palette (it sort of looks like pizza). I'd maybe try to make the edge between tiles and lava less straight, but it's not a bad screen either way.

 

I like Rambly's a lot too, it's a simple yet clear and well made GB screen. Looks to be like, actual LA graphics and not OoX/ LADX tiles, so that's cool too, you don't see that very often.

 

Autumn's is interesting, especially when you consider the limits of 1.92 but there just isn't much going on visually, as she mentioned. Still a neat idea, there just isn't much to go on for a screenshot contest lol. 

[Twilight Knight]

AutumnHaunted

I immediately think of Grunty's Furnace Fun, which is a good thing. I wonder what this mysterious door will unveil

 

Alucard648

That idea is great, and overall this is a very good screen. I just think it is suffering from too many details, making it a bit hard to fathom.

 

Rambly

That looks really nice and I'm a fan of this palette. However, I'm not a big fan of those clouds at the bottom, they look a bit too solid.

[sutibu]

Love the turnout this week!

 

AutumnHaunted - This shot is simple, but it certainly makes the imagination go. The multicolored door looks intriguing and

certainly makes you want to go inside. Seems fitting for a BikDip quest. I also love how there are so many different ways

to approach screen design and how this screen opted to go with just using the corner. Some might complain for the lack

of playing space, but I think the experience and storytelling can be told with how that space is used, and here it really

gives that sense of "emptiness".

 

Alucard648 - I agree with AutumnHaunted's comment, as this seems right out of an old Sierra title, where a misstep can

lead to an unfortunate outcome. With Halloween around the corner too, it seems like an appropriate shot. Like the others,

I wonder if you were able to script that into the game, because that would be kind of cool too.

 

Twilight Knight - I love this shot. Origin, my favorite quest, had a dungeon kind of similar to this aesthetic and it reminds me

of that. As I said in AutumnHaunted's shot, I think screen design can come in various forms for various functions. I like

the narrow band here, since it will make your combat arena limited, forcing you to approach the battle in a different way

than a wider screen. The monsters look great by the way. I'm intrigued at what they are (fire zols?). You also have the

mirror puzzle on the side too, so there is a lot going on here which is why I think it's so unique. The rest of the

tiles look great too. My vote went here.

 

Rambly - I do love me some classic GB feel. This shot feels very much Link's Awakening while still holding its own

identity. There is a bit of nostalgia with this one, which I think is helped with the protagonist looking out over

the bridge. The caption of "Saltspray Bay" screams of that late 90's, early 00's Nintendo so I love that too.

I agree with Twilight Knight that the clouds don't do it for me (I thought part of the screen was whited out

for some reason at first), but otherwise I love what you have going on here.

 

Great work everyone! Thanks for the lovely shots!

 

スティーブ

[Rambly]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

 

A couple points I'd like to make about the clouds:

1) They used to have a striped effect to them. However, I felt this was too similar to Deedee's Screenshot of the Week 820 entry, so I abandoned the idea.

2) In-game, they animate. I didn't really have the time to make an animated screenshot (and animating it smoothly and seamlessly within a reasonable filesize would have been difficult). Here's a very quick and dirty, poorly looped 5MB GIF I made of an older version of the screen:

Oh, and I would probably have voted for AutumnHaunted if I hadn't nulled this week. Sure, it's sparse, but I admire the gutsiness of it, and the contrast between the sparse, empty, hollow cave and the glowing colorful door is really cool. I liked all of the screens, though.

[sutibu]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

 

A couple points I'd like to make about the clouds:

1) They used to have a striped effect to them. However, I felt this was too similar to Deedee's Screenshot of the Week 820 entry, so I abandoned the idea.

2) In-game, they animate. I didn't really have the time to make an animated screenshot (and animating it smoothly and seamlessly within a reasonable filesize would have been difficult). Here's a very quick and dirty, poorly looped 5MB GIF I made of an older version of the screen:

Oh, and I would probably have voted for AutumnHaunted if I hadn't nulled this week. Sure, it's sparse, but I admire the gutsiness of it, and the contrast between the sparse, empty, hollow cave and the glowing colorful door is really cool. I liked all of the screens, though.

Just a quick response. I kind of figured that the clouds were animated and would look better in action. And I see where the name "saltspray bay" comes from too.

The kind of "scanline" effect on the clouds, at first, I didn't like but has kinda grown on me a bit. I'm not sure if transparency is possible though as that would

probably be the best alternative.

 

On a last little note though, I've followed ZC off and on for a good 20+ years and I continue to be amazed at what can be done with it. A lot of the shots here

are not just mock-ups but can and have actually appeared in many quests. I think sometimes we can get too picky or ask a little too much in our

critique, but just seeing the level that's put out there is outstanding and more than enough even. I really think you all should be proud of what you're putting out

and just wish for you all to keep doing what you're doing. Honestly, it's inspiring. Just wanted to give my thanks and appreciation to you all and all that participate in this.

 

スティーブ

Edited by sutibu, 13 October 2025 - 07:52 AM.

[Alucard648]

I wonder if you were able to script that into the game, because that would be kind of cool too.

https://www.purezc.n...=scripts&id=467

[Anthus]

With 33% of the vote (9 votes) the winner of Screenshot of the Week 856 is Twilight Knight!! Congrats!

 

Pyromaniac

 

• Twilight Knight (9 votes [33.33%])
• Alucard648 (8 votes [29.63%])
• Rambly (8 votes [29.63%])
• AutumnHaunted (2 votes [7.41%])