S1 Homing Attack

I didn't plan to write Homing Attack code, because it seemed to be impossible for me. But after I had read Selbi's Jump Dash guide, and added normal Jump Dash with Bouncing, I finally decided to try.


I've been working for 4 days and succeeded! It was really difficult for me because I know ASM bad.


Of course, it has some bugs. For example attacking monitor from bottom can bring Sonic down, though it's normal reaction of game's engine.


Here's my test ROM: http://vladikcomper.narod.ru/download/s1ha.zip


Mirror: http://hadouken.hostoi.com/vomit/s1ha.zip (old version)


It also features water skimming in LZ, again by me.


BTW I heard some hacks had stolen Homing Attack from Sonic Megamix. Why did they do so? I think writing Homing Attack code is far more easy than ripping it.

 

Pretty good work, though I'm wondering about one thing: Did you used CalcAngle and CalcSign with to do this?

 

Yes, I did.


I couldn't set X and Y velocities without them.

 

Mirrored.

 

FYI: There's one m in "homing", I fixed the title for you but you put it back again

 

Ops, I didn't notice that you fixed the title, but used to think it's two "m" in "homing"

 

That's pretty well done, and almost bug free.


It's amazing what one can archive in 96 hours =)

 

I noticed that in Labyrinth Zone where you can skim the water, this can only be achieved if you're spinning. Running to the water at high speeds still results in sinking. Was that intentional or was it something overlooked? Either way, this is some great work. =)

 

I've fixed some bugs in my Homing Attack.


- Bug with monitors fixed.


- Homing Attack targeting fixed.


- Homing Attack now doesn't target bosses.


- The Speed Cap removed, so Sonic can homing attack in-water perfectly.


Download link is the same, except for the mirror, it contains older version.

It's intentional. My water skimming works the same way as it does in 8-bit Sonic 2. LZ levels wasn't designed for fast walkthrough, there are very few long straight ways. That makes adding running to the water useless and I think, it will be difficult for me.

 

Thats some great work.... and you say you don't know much asm? I have been learning asm for over a year and still can't do the homing attack... I really need to up my game, otherwise I will be kicked to the curve by other fellow hackers.

 

Creating a homing attack is more of a programming, problem solving and math related challenge, rather a than "knowing asm" one. The best comparison I can think of is that everyone knows how to stick lego bricks together, but not everyone knows how to build a spaceship out of them.


Anyway back on topic: Nice work vladik

 

Addition to Qjimbo's post:


"Not knowing ASM" is also one of the most stupid excuse a programmer can have (no offense here, btw). My father told me something a really long time ago:

Hopefully you guys get what he means by that.

 

I don't think he was trying to create an excuse, many people do genuinely believe that to make a sonic hack all you have to do is "know asm", when the reality is there's a great deal of imagination, problem solving and programming skill involved which is a separate issue. Once you know how to program, it doesn't matter what language you write in, be it VB, Delphi, C++ or whatever, since you have the basic concepts down and know how to go about achieving certain things.


Not to put everyone off of course, once you know some assembly commands you can start to learn these skills straight away just by investing time in trying things out and thinking about exactly how things like the x and y coordinates in the game are changing and relate to each other in a mathematical way. It's not something you can just learn right away, and some people have a natural ability for it more than others.

 

Don't mix "knowing ASM" with "programming". I really know few ASM commands, but I can compose algorithms for solving different programming tasks. I think there are people who know every ASM command, but don't know what to do with them (as Qjimbo said about Lego bricks)


I just look for what ASM commands does, choose the right command. Of course, I had to know out how Sonic Engine works, copy some pieces of code to insert into my one.


But all in all, I know ASM badly. I just give myself a task and try solving it. While solving, I learning ASM a little.

 

How 'bout "Sonic Rush"-esque HA? It would suit better that usial SA Homing.

 

I haven't played Sonic Rush, so don't know what kind of HA is there.


However I don't plan to work on my HA code until I do some stuff for my hack.

 

In Sonic Rush, the homing attack is no different to a normal homing attack, except you have to jump and then hit 'R' to do it.

 

I never knew about this (I didn't need help on how to get through the hotels how to beat the game, so I didn't read the enclosed instrucion book :U). Thank you for telling me that.

 

Actually there are also difference in range of attack.

 

Usually it's a jumpdash, but when your in close vicinity of an enemy, it then becomes the homing attack.


I think it's double the size of the enemy which is the homing attack range, it seems like that anyway.