Game Cloning

[Chase]

Let me try and keep this short and sweet.

While I have some experience in creative writing. My attempts to come up with the plot needed to make an interesting game have generally failed.

I instead realize I just wanted to program (write code). More specifically program a game beyond a simple board or puzzle game.

Since there are so many resources on available here (sprites, sounds, etc). I figured I could just make use of some set of those to make a generic boring clone of some existing game, but with an engine I wrote. Which would be fun for me.

I personally have considered classics like Zelda or Pokemon. But it is possible I overlooked something else (better).

So my question is, in the opinion of the experienced staffers here, what might be a good game to clone?

[puggsoy]

"A good game to clone" is pretty vague. Personally I would think it depends on what mechanics you want to practice. Cloning Mario is extremely different from cloning Pokemon or Zelda.

I haven't been in a similar situation myself so I can't say anything from experience, but if I were you I would consider which type of gameplay you feel like coding, and then just pick a game that uses that mechanic and has plenty of its sprites ripped. Like if you want to make a sidescroller do Mario, for a fighter do Street Fighter, etc.

[Chase]

I guess that is fair. Let me see if I can narrow it down.

Top Down
Non-Isometric
Real Time on Screen Combat (Zelda) OR
Simple Battle Scene (Pokemon/Final Fantasy)
Chat/Dialog boxes please.

I don't have to know what it is or have played it (I can research its game play via YouTube, etc).

The game should not be to complex or long (like Chrono Trigger).

[Phaze]

They're a tad long but perhaps Terranigma or Secret of Mana would be down your alley.

[Chase]

I have never heard of Terranigma, so i'll have to look into things. Looks as thought it uses Mode 7 which could be interesting to implement.

I do like the look of Secret of Mana.

I might not recreate the entire game if it is very long.

Edit: After looking over Secret of Mana I found that most of the sprites required were not available. Not even the main character has been ripped. Unless I want to make a variation with Popie as the main/only character

Sword of Mana and Children of Mana are also all out it seems for this reason. Legend of Mana (I actually played this one) might be doable.

[Phaze]

Edit: After looking over Secret of Mana I find that I don't require most of the sprites required. Not even the main character has been ripped.

Really? Huh. That's surprising.

[Chase]

Hah, sorry that sentence made no sense. I need to proofread my posts more often.

But yes, most of the required sprites were not available. Which makes it somewhat difficult to work with.

After much consideration (and a few lists), I have determined the games with the most available sprites/tilesets are

Dragon Quest (I or II or III), Pokemon, Final Fantasy 6, Breath of Fire II, Legend of Mana, and The Legend of Zelda (LttP, LA, OoA, OoS, tMC).

Almost any of the TLOZ games are suitable.