Vanilla Shakedown

Extra Files:

readme.txt

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###   Vanilla Shakedown   ###
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###   Hack description   ###

"A long time ago in a kingdom called Mushroom Kingdom ...
In it's formation, the Mushroom Kingdom was cursed and now, 1000 years later, the Moonstone of Time is broken and the world is about to end. Merely joining the fragments of the Moonstone together can save the kingdom from collapse ..."

Welcome to Vanilla Shakedown. 
This is the first hack I've "seriously" worked on and ever finished. My intention was to experiment with mixing vanilla tilesets in combination with juicy color palettes. So yeah, the visuals can be wild at times. In addition, I wanted to create an atmospheric world and add a story to give the game more life (which isn't that easy in a Mario game as I've learned). Another big (but optional) part of the game are secrets. In addition to some shoutout-/portrait rooms you can find a secret in every level on the main route (= non secret exit-/switch palace-route). They often trigger an extra Checkpoint and provide additional background/story snippets. If you manage to finde them all you could ... find a surprise? Get an alternate ending? Discover a sinister conspiracy? Who knows ... 
To wrap things up: there are many points that are rather unusual in a typical Kaizo hack but I hope that it still brings a fun gaming experience. Don't expect any fancy mechanics or wacky boss sprites, this game offers an almost entirely vanilla experience.
I hope you enjoy the game. Any feedback is highly appreciated.

Vanilla Shakedown features:
- 31 Exits
- "vanilla-tuned" graphic style
- custom music and cover art
- 3 hidden Switch Palaces with additional, short Kaizo challenges
- Quality of life features (Retry system, Autosave, Fast-Travel to already explored areas)
- fabulous story with hot lore and humor that shouldn't be taken too seriously ;)
- no malicious trolls
- vanilla-based unique bosses



###   Author's notes   ###

Originally I wanted to have made an OST video and a Walkthrough video before the hack submission on SMWC. But as life goes, there is always not enough time and the time that was available went into this hack instead. But my plan for the future is to realize these projects and upload them on YouTube someday. So if you are interested, check out my YouTube channel in the future (don't expect too much contet beyond that, I have no plans to become a YT-professional xD). 
Here is the link for my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcx-oLQnY0NaZGthNf23sRQ

If you have any problems/suggestions/questions about the hack don't hesitate to contact me. Besides SMWC you can also find me on Twitter (@Doktor_Groove) or Discord (DoktorGroove#2918).



###   Last words   ###

I don't know if people will like this hack because it is what it is, but I hope you give it a chance ... at least it was created with a lot of passion :D
Thanks to all the people in the community and those who helped me make the game the way I wanted it!!!



###   Soundtrack   ###

Titlescreen: "Funky the Main Monkey" (ported by: KevinM)
Story (Beginning): "Mermaids" (ported by: Wakana)
Intro (Beach - day): "Oho Oasis" (ported by: Taffy)
Intro (Beach - night): "Ruined World" (ported by: KevinM)
Overworld 1: "Let's try" (ported by: Gamma V)
Sugar Shire: "PM - Goomba Village" (ported by: Dispace, Infinity)
Main Secrets: "EB - Buzz Buzz's Prophecy" (ported by: brickblock369)
Candy Hills: "Super Pipe House" (ported by: KevinM)
Aeropath Traveller: "Pillars of Creation" (ported by: KevinM)
Stratus Approach: "PW - Hangglider" (ported by: Sariel)
Koopa Hideout: "GCN Bowser's Castle" (ported by: Dispace)
Moonshards: "Oh I'm a Flamelet" (ported by: KevinM)
Overworld 2: "SM3DW - Footlight Lane" (ported by: Captain 3)
Autumn Breeze: "DRAX - Sun and Rain" (ported by: Dippy)
Riverside: "Let's Go Down The Wine River" (ported by: Dark Mario Bros)
Riverside - Secret Exit: "The Flying Skyship" (ported by: brickblock369)
Forest Shrine: "Bee Hunter - The Loneliness" (ported by: brickblock369)
Koopa Foreshore: "Dreamy Somnom Labyrinth" (ported by: Maxodex)
Koopa Foreshore - Cave: "Axelay - Silence" (ported by: KevinM)
Overworld 3: "SMG - Gateway Galaxy" (ported by: Pinci)
Laguna Diving: "ToM - Ancient Dolphin" (ported by: quantuum)
Beachclash: "Funky the Main Monkey" (ported by: KevinM)
Beach Palace: "Jazz Jackrabbit - Marbelara" (ported by: AmperSam)
Lonesome Lodge: "Sponge Bob - Ghost Train" (ported by: Dippy)
Moonlight Serenade: "Celery Forest & Spinach Heights" (ported by: Segment1Zone2)
Night Crypt: "Palace of Winds" (ported by: Giftshaven)
Overworld 4: "Super Mario RPG - The Starlight's Flower" (ported by: Nanako)
Miracle Cave: "Baba is You - Cog is push" (ported by: Lazy)
Melting Passage: "Weapons Factory" (ported by: KevinM)
Fervent Sanctum: "Cavern Caprice" (ported by: KevinM)
Crystal Cave: "Wonder Panorama" (ported by: Ultima)
Overworld 5: "Pokemon - gate" (ported by: KevinM)
Breath of the wild: "Mystic Forest" (ported by: KevinM)
Heart of Kalimari: "Gritzy Desert" (ported by: TheInsanity115)
Heart of Kalimari - Sublevel: "Shantae - Dribble Fountain" (ported by: Wyatt)
Rusty Ruinous Roof: "Brain Lord - Road to Droog" (ported by: SiameseTwins)
Overworld 6: "Shooting Star Summit" (ported by: FYRE150)
Shivering Lowlands: "Frozen Wasteland" (ported by: Fullcannon)
Windy Plain: "Wind Prairie" (ported by: KevinM)
Stellar Machinery: "Super Monkey Ball 2 - Clock Tower" (ported by: sincx)
Arcane Admission: "Chasing the Black-Caped Man" (ported by: Beruga1990)
Nightshade Vault: "Addams Family - Icebox" (ported by: qantuum)
Halls of Eternity - Entrance : "Addams Family - Blizzard" (ported by: KevinM)
Chambers Of Knowledge: "Secret of Mana - Still of the Night" (ported by: Ahrion)
Halls of Eternity - Roof: "Torkdrift Battle" (ported by: Captain 3)
Halls of Eternity - Escape: "Trials of Mana - The Sacrifice, Part 2" (ported by: KevinM)
Halls of Eternity - Boat Escape: "ActRaiser - The Beast Appears" (ported by: KevinM)
Overworld 7: "EarthBound - Giygas' Intro" (ported by: KevinM)
Limbus of Time: "Golden Sun - The Elemental Stars" (ported by: Masterlink)
Final Boss: "Romancing SaGa 2 - The Sinking Ship" (ported by: Samantha)
The Return: "Radical Dreamers - Ending ~ Le Tresor Interdit" (ported by: KevinM)
Credits: "Unreal Tournament '99 - Forgone Destruction" (ported by: Dippy)
Special Credits: "Toto - Africa" (ported by: qantuum)

--> Credit winner: KevinM ;-)