The Underside (Extended Preview)

By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: March 12th, 2007

Amidst the hoopla of the IGF (Rock on, Bit Blot!), The Podunkian quietly released a preview build of his upcoming action/adventure platformer The Underside, featuring the first 2-5% of the game.

You might remember the mini-controversy surrounding The Underside a while back. If not, I’ll summarize: CAVE STORY RIP–OFF?

I’m here to say, no, that’s not the case. And also kinda yes.

Graphically, the game borrows quite heavily from Pixel’s style. Too heavily, one could argue. The backgrounds, enemies, and (especially) effects often seem to parallel those found in Cave Story.

But gameplay wise — Yeah, OK, the core gameplay’s pretty close too. You’re a running, jumping, shooting little dude. But it doesn’t feel as similar as it appears. It’s far faster, more linear, and leans heavily toward action versus exploration. If you can get over the similarity issues (which will be harder for some folks than others), I think you’ll find a pretty special game in the making.

Download here. Try to use a non-local mirror. And don’t forget the patch!

Arrow Keys to move, Z to jump, X to attack, Down to examine, and Alt+F4 to quit.
(It’s all there in the readme, har har.)

NOTE: I had more to say about this game originally, but the post just ran too darn long.
Perhaps some DISCUSSion is in order?

Posted in Freeware, Platformers, Previews, Windows | Tags: ThePodunkian

DrDerekDoctors

First! And it’s ace. Yes, it looks like Cave Story but it’s hardly the first game to base its look on another, is it? :)
BenH

in 19 minutes, this will be posted!
DrDerekDoctors

I am teh Dr Who. :P
http://www.distractionware.com Echo

I think this game is going to be something quite special once it’s finished. The Cave Story similarity thing doesn’t really bother me, but it really a pity that he’s chosen to emulate it’s style so closely – this game has it’s own thing going, and it really should just run with that.
Splinter of Chaos

I agree that the style should try to separate itself from Pixel, especially because Pixel did it much better.

But I think it’s creative enough and unique enough that no amount of cookie cutter crapping will bring this game down.

(Although I noticed a bug where at the place where you can get those shoes, if after getting to that door, you go back, you go back to a bottomless pit.)
haowan

It’s not a real TIGS post if there isn’t someone laughing about the clock discrepancy :D
Sergenth

I played it and I want the rest! The music is a perfect compliment to the environment and action.

No problem with “pixel-style” graphics. If the world were full of justice and righteousness, we’d all be playing an ACTION MMO homaging to pixel’s art style.
ShadowRice

I don’t see how this is a bad thing unless Pixel feels that his thunder has been stolen.

Couldn’t the same be said about Lyle in the cube sector? (cave story & metroid!)

I think that Pixel created a definitive style for graphics and the fact that there are people copying it so closely tells how much of an impact he made.
Jake Birkett

I enjoyed the preview a lot, dialog’s a bit long winded. When I first saw this game I thought it was a Cave Story “tribute” or something I gotta say.
Alan Gordon

I like the game’s sense of humor, particularly with the “Underside Safety Commission” signs. The “I guarantee you’ll be passing by this sign soon enough” was my favorite.
Sergio

That was so misquoted I think I’m gonna cry.
http://www.distractionware.com Echo

Hey, any chance you lot could put the link the forums back in the top right hand corner? It really slows down my idle browsing rythm the way it is now!

You could put the About, Features and Forums buttons just above the pulse, and it would probably look pretty decent.
!CE-9

cheers for the post this game promises to be brilliant. hope all who’ve been crying about TU resembling to Cave Story have stopped crying. those who haven’t – stop it now.

just because the caverns and route66 tilesets look like it, it’s still quite original, especially with it’s world, humour, spirit… (yeah I know, internet’s for porn and bitching?)

can’t wait for the full version.
BigBossSNK

Cool game, will wait till the final product to give it credit. So far, the gameplay is different from Cave story by a (nautical) mile. More unforgiving and action oriented.
Splinter of Chaos

Yeah, I think that quality about it lends itself to speed runs . . . until long winded text ruins your speed.

On another note, there should be a clock to see how quick your speed is.
The Podunkian

thanks for all of the comments. i’ve made a note of the turning speed problems a lot of people have been having, and i’ll try to reduce the amount of dialogue you have to sit through (though the signs are for the most part completely optional, haha). i’m also going to be opening up the world (for more non-linearity) once you reach the underside city. i’ve got at least 8 “dungeons” planned for the game (which excludes anything that might’ve resembled a dungeon so far in the game), which is why i kind of estimated the game at 2-5% done.
negative zero

nice, a pre-build. i think i’ll wait for the whole thing…don’t wanna spoil myself. so when’s the actual release?
?

Whee, I can’t get past the boss, too hard.
Albert Lai

This game is delicious. Both metaphorically *and* literally.
EmaWii

That boss WAS hard, but somehow I persevered.
someloser

NEEDS MORE PRESS L FOR KAR PAR WHITE LEAVES EFFECT.
Rz.

the boss was hard at first, but on my second playthrough of the game i beat him without taking any damage. died on purpose afterwards to fight him again. :D
Jimmy

Oh man, this preview was sweet. (I’m late to the party, I know.)
ArticleReader

Can you change the controls?? I HATE using the arrow keys to move, and Z and X are at quite possibly the most hand cramping position possible.