What Manner of Game is Clone?

  I was asked what I meant by Zelda 2 clone.  So, I had to think about it for a second.  There's other games that use the Zelda 2 basic elements such as Battle of Olympus and Rambo, but Zelda is the one I mostly care about... why?

  A game is made up of repetitions of essential skills.  Things like running and jumping.  Games typically mix as few core elements as possible together for the base gameplay with a few extras for special elements.  For example, Super Mario Bros. primary has running and jumping as primary skills, but also has attacking as a secondary skill - fire flowers, star power as well as kicking enemies when they're down.

  So, what are the essential skills of Zelda 2?  You can't run, so jumping.  There's also blocking and attacking.  But what is the CORE element - why to *I* want to use this as a baseline and not some other games.  The answer is the "downward thrust".  This is by far my favourite part of the combat in Zelda 2.  It opens up a new dimension to the combat while also opening new hazards (many a death in Island Palace because a downward thrust resulted in destroying the floor I was on).  In addition, while thrusting you can no longer control your horizontal momentum or block.

  My entire design philosophy has been around creative use of the downward thrust ability.  Even if I completely change engines, that's still the basis.  That's the essential skill (along side movement and jumping of course).

  So, how else can I use downward thrust? 

  Moreover... how can I implement this without using a sword/shield character?  The protagonist will most likely have to use a sword/shield simply due to the constraints of the combat engine, but I always need to think of options.

Projects

  I really need a new way to organize my design notes.

  Anyways:  Downward thrust has been fun to design around combat wise, but a game can't be all combat.  I've been working on adding a few mini-games to the mix.  Things like mining and fishing, all relying on the downward thrust to do all the work.  Sky diving even, hitting targets before hitting the ground and so on.  Basically all of the last month has been jotting down ideas like this.

  Of course, almost all my paper work is meaningless without some art work.  It would be improper to rip off other people's sprite sheets even as placeholders, but I'm simply no artist.... well, ok, if you want stills or backgrounds I'm your guy, but characters are right out.

Gaming

  Bro quit MapleStory so I guess I will too.  Now I'm on Realm of the Mad God.  The in game currency model is laughable.  I pretty much only play 'cuz it's 2D.

  Been trying to get people together for some Team Fortress 2, but I just can't find anyone to play with the way I want to... y'know... without mods.


Other

  Started a zinc supplement.  Will continue to monitor heath.

Alien Ent Farm would make a lousy gag, Lok