Metroid Deluxe Beta v.1.1 Hack performed by The Rooser, (Andrew Emmott) E-Mail: rooser2081@netscape.net Gigantic tip of the hat: SnoBro (Kent Hansen) for making Metedit, Hexposure AND Tile Layer Pro all of which were used in editing. SnoBro is the reason there is even a ROMHacking scene! w00t to SnoBro! w00000000t! After some positive feedback, some beta-testing, and the illustrious Kenclops offering to build and host a Deluxe Games website, I did some final tweaking, and spruced up the presentation. For the time being, this is the final version of this hack. I'm devoting my ROM Hacking time to a Mario 3 hack now. The Deluxe Games philosophy: To create detailed, original level hacks that offer entirely new scenarios. The idea is to keep the engine and graphics of the game nearly the same, just offer new levels, almost as if it were a sequel to the original game. Too many levels hacks, (Especially MARIO level hacks), Are either sloppy and unprofessional looking, tied too closely to the original structure of the game, or in many cases both. The goal of Deluxe Games is to produce a hack that looks like something the original designers might release, but also a hack that offers entirely new levels, not just a series of levels that look like heavily modified versions of the original. What's here: A total redesign of the original Metroid game. The rooms are reorganized, the items are moved, and it is for all intents and purposes a brand-new metroid game. I also did some very minor graphics and text editing, mostly just for packaging purposes, but I did have fun altering the way the bombs and lava look for craps and chortles. My design philosophy was to create something challenging both mentally and in the button mashing sense. However, I strayed from some of the original design ideas, such as: 1) You do NOT have to bomb arbitrary points in the floor. This sort of thing is irritating and rewards the persistent, not the problem-solving. The puzzles in this hack are actual puzzles. 2) Although sometimes impossible, I made an effort to prevent the ol' "airlock deathtrap" thing from happening where you helplessly get bombarded by fireballs or things that go buzz. Also, I tried to place enemies so you would never get slapped in the face upon entering a room. You can always bring this crap on yourself though, so don't come crying to me when it happens. With these things said, don't think this is going to be easy. To apply the patch: For the ease of my audience, (Well actually, it's because Kenclops said I had to, and Kenclops gives me free webspace, so I obey him), the patch is in ips.exe format, which means you the player have no need for an ips patcher. Just make sure you have a copy of the ROM, (Do make a copy, you don't want to lose your original!), and name it the same as the ips.exe file, just with the nes extension instead, (In this case "metdeluxe.nes"), and then run the ips.exe and the rest should explain itself. Also included: I included the file "metdeluxe.map" so you can look at the ROM in Metedit, if you have it, without the zones getting all garbled. However, as the designer of this hack, I urge you against using this to cheat. Play through the game first before you get hints by looking at the map. In a future release I might include a brief walkthrough for those who get really stuck. What I request of you: You, the happy ROM Hack player, can help me make this a better hack by essentially volunteering as a beta tester and sending me any criticism or suggestions you may have for the hack. All those who oblige will be given credit in this very read me! (Small potatoes, I know, but you aren't paying any money for this stuff and I'm not making any either). Additional tips of the hat: CakeorDeath? (Jason Salomone) Kenclops Thanks for reading and double-thanks for playing! -Andrew "Rooser" Emmott