Released Pokémon Birdcall

This project has a release available. The full version is still a work in progress.
Project Status
Released
Project Version
1.1
Professor Finch needs you to help him investigate the open world around his lab, find some powerful birds, and collect their special feathers!
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If you have the latest version, the titlescreen should say Version 1.1 at the bottom.
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This game was originally made for the Relic Castle game jam #4, and was spotlighted by the community with its' own badge! Thanks everyone!
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→Download the game here!←

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Plot and Features:
As a pro Birdkeeper, you have been hired by Professor Finch to help him investigate some bird business. From his lab you need to head out in each direction to find some special birds and collect their feathers! In this game you can expect to find:

›Birds!
›Choose your starter from a pool of options that include different movesets and abilities!
›Hidden/Bonus starter choices!
›Soft resetting for that shiny starter? See it instantly when you start the game!

›So many boss battles
›Fight Boss Birds to unlock the paths to secret boss battles in other areas!
›You can beat the bosses, but they're all able to be captured if you want to challenge yourself!
›Fight those bosses in any order you choose, because this game is open world!
›Find Mini/Optional Bosses!

›What else is in this game?
›Field moves that aren't tied to learning specific HM moves!
›But if you like moves there's tons of TMs to customize your team!
›More characters appear as you play! That means more trainers with stronger Pokemon!
›Optional sidequests!
›Hidden items everywhere


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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q:
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How do I get the Birdcall Badge?
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A:
Check out the thread about all Relic Castle badges! Basically, if you've played Birdcall enough to have both the Clear Bell and the Tidal Bell, then you can send your save file to a Relic Castle staff member as proof to get the badge! (I can't give badges, please message Relic Castle staff about any questions)

Q: Why won't my emulator run this game? What emulator do I need?
A:
This isn't a hacked game. It's made with RMXP, so no emulator needed!

Q: Can I play this on mobile?
A:
There has been some success playing with JoiPlay, but I haven't tested it myself. There might be some issues...

Q: How do I use the Clear Bell and Tidal Bell?
A:
The Bells were included to mark the halfway and finishing points of the game, and we meant to use them in the postgame. However at the time of writing there's no postgame update, so for now the Bells just hang out in your bag as your proof of completion!

Q: Why do I have to play as [x] character? How do I get the other ones?
A:
The player character's appearance is chosen randomly when starting up! They all play the same and don't have any assigned pronouns/gender/race used by the game. If you prefer a certain one of the four options feel free to soft reset a couple times before starting a save file.

Q: What's going on with the starters?
A:
There's multiple of each species because each one has a chance to be shiny, have an egg move,a hidden ability, or something like that. If you check them out there should be some flavor text to give you a hint. And yes, their stat/movepools have been adjusted a bit for this game. Doduo, Pigey, and Spearrow aren't the only starters though!

Q: What's the shiny chance in this game?
A:
Higher than usual! Starters' chance of being shiny is calculated differently.

Q: Where do I go? What order should I go to each area?
A:
I recommend picking any direction to start, completing that area, and then moving clockwise to the next area. Then you'll get to use your new ability right away...but there's no wrong way to play this open world game! You might enjoy visiting the lab between areas instead of waiting for the end though, the Professor gets really wordy if you save all your feather reports for once.

Q: I'm stuck! How do I use the static Feather?
A:
This answer is a direct spoiler since this is one the more obscure uses of a feather. Sorry for not making it clear enough!
So, you're looking for the true/secret boss in the Quarry, and can't figure out how to use the Static Feather? Just go to the area outside where several workers are standing around one of the drilling machines! (Yes this involves going through the caves and doing an ice puzzle before coming out) Check out their machine from the back/bottom side

Q: What are the cheat codes, the easter eggs, the secret names?
A:
There are a few names that you can give your player character and affect this game. You may have accidentally discovered one of these names and gotten an extra starter or item because I added a bunch of presents for my friends! Anyway, I'll officially reveal some names that act as cheat codes!
Name your character:
  • Hilbert, Nate, Hilda, or Rosa = The main bosses are all changed to different Pokémon
  • Barry, Dawn, or Lucas = The mini/optional bosses are all changed to different Pokémon
  • Lyra, Ethan, or Kris = The true/secret bosses are all changed to different Pokémon
  • Candela, Spark, or Blanche = Get this character's respective legendary bird as a starter, and applies the all the boss changes of the names above
  • Ash, Ethi, Relic, or Voltsy = Start the game with a special bonus Pokémon
  • Good Egg = Start the game with a bonus random egg
  • x = Start the game with a bunch of x items
  • GALMI = Start the game with a party and items more appropriate for GALMI (Yes this is probably overpowered and dumb, it's not too serious but I stole Birdcall's idea from them so they deserve all the shoutouts)


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Changelogs and Credits:

#===============================================================================
Version 1.1 (August 22nd 2018)
#===============================================================================
Made shortcuts more obvious and accessible
Deployed the Feather Scouts
Added a couple extra items laying around
Fixed Pokémon that should have been Fairy type lacking the type and various moves
Fixed a bug where a certain Pokémon would scramble other Pokémon's movesets after encountering it
Fixed a bug where an NPC cared about her missing Pokémon a little too much
Fixed a couple sprites
Tweaked various NPCs and objects in the lab
Tweaked levels of wild Pokémon and various bosses
Tweaked a couple of trainers
Empowered the Mime
#===============================================================================
Version 1 Patch 1 (August 11th 2018)
#===============================================================================
Fixed a door in the factory that was trapping people in the wall
Called Tom a nerd
Changed how steam works. All the steam can be interacted with now, and when cooled it disappears completely
Changed the reward for checking all the birdhouses because that item was already available somewhere
Changed the descriptions of the bells to be more fitting
Added descriptor text to a couple of things that didn't have any
Fixed the girl worried about her lost Pokémon
Kicked the itemfinder a couple times until it started reading properly
Gave it to x
#===============================================================================
Project Credits
#===============================================================================
Aki
Deo
Nuclear Omega
Atomic Reactor

#===============================================================================
Pokemon Essentials starter kit
#===============================================================================
Flameguru
Poccil
Maruno

#===============================================================================
Scripts
#===============================================================================
Simple HUD Optimized - by FL

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Audio
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Gen 3 Sound Effects Replacement Pack - by Deo, iteachvader

#===============================================================================
Graphics
#===============================================================================
Better Unova backsprites (Gen 4 style)
Dreadwing93
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Gen VI Overworlds
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-princess-pheonix
-LunarDusk

-Formatted by Sparta
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GenI-V Overworlds
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-Zyon17
 
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A.J1

Extra
Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2018
Posts
68
Hey that super duper cool. It's more amazing. The hardworking makes the game better and.....
improve it more , a sweet suggestions
 

WolfShadowWhisper

Just a wolf that loves the shadows on a hot day :)
Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Posts
86
One of the games I have been looking forward to ever since our chat!!!! This is going to be fun!
 

A.J1

Extra
Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2018
Posts
68
Sorry for my strange words. It is a type of motivation. I loved your game so much I really like it.
 
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Yodelhoo

Catching wall bugs
Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Posts
17
Found a sneaky exploit (by accident).
When you battle the nurse in the Pokecentre her Chansey gives lots of experience yes? She also give out about $2000 for victory as well? Well, you can battle her infinitely and get lots of easy coin and exp without having to leave the Pokecenter. This is a little game breaking so maybe a battle limit is needed?. Pokemon used: Special ability Dodrio. Move used: Acrobatics. Level starting the exploit: 26.
Hope this helps Aki!
Edit: Also good game!
EditEdit: Also, this is off topic, how does Bonsly use Rock THROW when it has no arms?!?
 
I got a couple private messages about a door in the factory not working correctly, and locking the player character in the wall. The main post is updated with the link.

Anyway, here's the full Changelog:
›Fixed a door in the factory that was trapping people in the wall
›Called Tom a nerd
›Changed how steam works. All the steam can be interacted with now, and when cooled it disappears completely
›Changed the reward for checking all the birdhouses because that item was already available somewhere
›Changed the descriptions of the bells to be more fitting
›Uncalled Tom a nerd because he's really nice and helped with a compression issue
›Added descriptor text to a couple of things that didn't have any
›Told the girl worried about her lost Pokémon to not worry so much
›Kicked the itemfinder a couple times until it started reading properly
›Gave it to x
 
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WolfShadowWhisper

Just a wolf that loves the shadows on a hot day :)
Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Posts
86
I got a couple private messages about a door in the factory not working correctly, and locking the player character in the wall. Sorry, but here's the patch for that fix! The main post is also updated with this link!

Anyway, here's the full Changelog:
›Fixed a door in the factory that was trapping people in the wall
›Called Tom a nerd
›Changed how steam works. All the steam can be interacted with now, and when cooled it dissappears completely
›Changed the reward for checking all the birdhouses becuase that item was already available somewhere
›Changed the descriptions of the bells to be more fitting
›Uncalled Tom a nerd because he's really nice and helped with a compression issue
›Added descriptor text to a couple of things that didn't have any
›Told the girl worried about her lost pokemon to not worry so much
›Kicked the itemfinder a couple times untill it started reading properly
›Gave it to x


Question - If I want to continue my game can I copy over the Game.rxdata file into the new patched game folder or do I have to start the game from scratch? I really want to continue the game I started but I want to play it patched
 
Question - If I want to continue my game can I copy over the Game.rxdata file into the new patched game folder or do I have to start the game from scratch? I really want to continue the game I started but I want to play it patched

The game's name didn't change, so the new game should read your old save file no problem! Feel free to completely trash the old version, because save files are stored in a separate section of your computer.

The issues would be something like this change:
›Changed the reward for checking all the birdhouses becuase that item was already available somewhere
If you already completed that sidequest, it wouldn't swap out the reward item for the new thing, so you'd miss out on that.

If you're one of the people who were trapped in the wall and saved in that spot, you might have to restart (or send me your save file and I'll fix it) but otherwise there weren't major changes in this update.
 

WolfShadowWhisper

Just a wolf that loves the shadows on a hot day :)
Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Posts
86
The game's name didn't change, so the new game should read your old save file no problem! Feel free to completely trash the old version, because save files are stored in a separate section of your computer.

The issues would be something like this change:

If you already completed that sidequest, it wouldn't swap out the reward item for the new thing, so you'd miss out on that.

If you're one of the people who were trapped in the wall and saved in that spot, you might have to restart (or send me your save file and I'll fix it) but otherwise there weren't major changes in this update.


Thanks! I really love the game so far :D
 

Yodelhoo

Catching wall bugs
Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Posts
17
For some reason I cannot find Articuno. Is there something to do with that ice puzzle (the big one with a ladder at the end) because I have spent 1 or 2 hours trying to solve it (brain currently in porridge state). Just saying this incase there is a bug or missing doorway/rock.
 
I finished the game tonight and I must say it was a blast!
I really like this style of game/the vibe it gives off. You know what you have to do, now go exploring and do it! What really puts the nail in the coffin about how well this game pulls it off is the depth in the world. There are plenty of side activities to keep you busy even after you do the main objectives, really adding depth to this game, it isn't a flat, go here, do that, get that, beat that, all the way to the finish line. There is freedom and there are pathways to stumble down. Any glitches I encountered have already been fixed, this was certainly a fun time, thank you.

Trying to rack my brains to find something that I can offer critique about: while I do like the maps, (I thought the quarry was very well done, and I always love maps with elevation, so the mountain had me there, and then the factory, it just looked so pretty with the fogs and the open roofs outside, looked kinda like something from zelda) I could be blind and maybe have missed a path, but with the exception of the factory, once you clear the dungeon, you have to walk back the way you came from, there is no quick way back to the start which is a bit annoying. But yeah that's all.
 
For some reason I cannot find Articuno. Is there something to do with that ice puzzle (the big one with a ladder at the end) because I have spent 1 or 2 hours trying to solve it (brain currently in porridge state). Just saying this incase there is a bug or missing doorway/rock.

Articuno is in an outdoor area of the Quarry! It's not too hard to get a little turned around since there's a couple directions to go...if you've ended up in the area with a bunch of engineers standing around a drill, backtrack just a little and you'll find an indoor space that branches in a couple directions with sliding puzzles.



Yaay I'm glad you liked! n_n
The Quarry and Volcano both have a hiker near the end who will take you out if you just ask him to! I thought making him a different color would be enough to stand out but there are trainer varations in this gamer already so I'll try to think of something more obvious...maybe I'll try working something in with the area's feather unlocking an easy backtrack route.
 

Yodelhoo

Catching wall bugs
Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2017
Posts
17
Finally solved it after another 10 minutes of thinking (ice puzzles are my bane/kryptonite or any other material that's toxic). Super genius for making it
 

WolfShadowWhisper

Just a wolf that loves the shadows on a hot day :)
Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Posts
86
"Birdy nom nom"

That movie reference says it all. Great job, guys.
 

Involuntary Twitch

Pixel Artist & Writer
Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2017
Posts
32
Okay! So I played this game (a... lot) and I got pretty far!
https://prnt.sc/kj59y9
Here's my in-game team (Yes I know Regi's not a bird but when fighting Zapdos it helps to have something that's NOT weak to electric and dies in 2 hits).

I caught all 3 legendary birds and 2 of the Regis, although I haven't fought Regice. (I found the cracked wall in the ice area, but I can't seem to get it open. Teaching Regi rock smash didn't help either.) I've been going around collecting all the other optional bosses. I'm not sure what else there is to do... I assume the Clear Bell unlocks something? Is there a final boss in this game? A hint would be nice ;D

Also shinies must be WAY more common because I have 2 on my team (Azami and Excalibur) as well as a Magby I caught and a Magmar I accidentally KO'ed and a Delibird. I love it when short fangames raise the shiny rate, it makes the game so much more surprising and fun.

In summary: I like birds
 
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In summary: I like birds

Haha, I'm glad you like all the birds! and it's cool seeing your team, more people are catching the bosses than I thought.

You're looking in the right place for Regice, but just like with the other two Regis, there's a feather that will give you access. Warm Feather for Registeel, Cool Feather for Regirock...so something the Static Feather would work on. :3c

The Clear Bell doesn't unlock anything, at least not yet! If/when we get the chance to work on another big release I would add in some "postgame" bell content.
 
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