Una Aventura Inesperada

Una Aventura Inesperada (“An Unexpected Adventure”) is a puzzle game developed for the Nintendo DS handheld console using C and the DevkitPro ARM toolchain. The game features grid-based movement mechanics, animated sprites, and an engaging quiz-based progression system.

What is Una Aventura Inesperada?

Una Aventura Inesperada is a tile-based puzzle game where players navigate through increasingly challenging levels while managing limited stamina (movement points). Players must push boxes, avoid enemies, and answer quiz questions to progress through the adventure.

The game leverages the Nintendo DS’s unique dual-screen interface - the top screen displays the gameplay area with tile-based graphics, while the bottom touchscreen handles menus, dialogs, and interactive elements.

Game Overview

The game combines classic Sokoban-style puzzle mechanics with educational quiz elements:

Grid-based Movement: Navigate a 2×2 tile character through puzzle-filled levels
Resource Management: Complete each level within a limited number of moves
Enemy Interactions: Push enemies away or eliminate them strategically
Box Pushing: Classic puzzle mechanics requiring spatial planning
Quiz System: Answer questions correctly to progress between levels
Animated Sprites: Smooth character and enemy animations at 2 frames per sprite

Key Features

Five Progressive Levels

The game includes 5 handcrafted levels with varying difficulty:

Level	Movement Limit	Description
1	18 moves	Introduction to basic mechanics
2	19 moves	Introduces multiple enemies
3	23 moves	Complex box-pushing puzzles
4	21 moves	Tight spaces and strategic planning
5	24 moves	Final challenge combining all mechanics

These movement limits are defined in the source code:

source/main.c

#define MOVIMIENTOS_NIV1 18
#define MOVIMIENTOS_NIV2 19
#define MOVIMIENTOS_NIV3 23
#define MOVIMIENTOS_NIV4 21
#define MOVIMIENTOS_NIV5 24

Stamina System

Players have a visual stamina bar displayed on the bottom screen that depletes with each move:

source/main.c

#define ANCHO_BARRA_ESTAMINA 32
#define ALTO_BARRA_ESTAMINA 155
#define COMIENZO_LINEA_BARRA_ESTAMINA 38
#define COMIENZO_COLUMNA_BARRA_ESTAMINA 20

The stamina bar updates in real-time as you move, providing immediate feedback on remaining moves.

Interactive Dialog System

At the end of each level, players must answer quiz questions correctly to proceed:

Multiple choice questions with two options
Touch-based input on the bottom screen
Correct answers unlock the next level
Wrong answers restart the current level
Timer-based delays prevent accidental input

bool CrearDialogo(unsigned int imagen[], int opcionCorrecta){
    timerPause(1);
    esActivoBotonReinicio=false;
    
    dmaCopy(imagen, VRAM_A, 256*192*2);
    REG_DISPCNT = MODE_FB0;
    
    opcionElegida=-1;
    
    // Wait for player input
    u32 keys;
    while(opcionElegida == -1){
        scanKeys();
        keys = keysCurrent();
        if(keys & KEY_TOUCH && esActivoBotonesDialogos == true){
            touchRead(&posicionXY);
            // Check button regions...
        }
        swiWaitForVBlank();
    }
    
    return (opcionElegida == opcionCorrecta);
}

Animated Sprites

The game features smooth 2-frame animations for all characters:

Player Character: 2×2 tile sprite with walking animation
NPC Characters: Animated companion character
Enemies: Animated hostile entities (up to 10 simultaneous enemies)
Frame Rate: Controlled via hardware timers for consistent animation

source/main.c

void ActualizarAnimacion(){
    if(esFotograma1Activo==true){
        // Render frame 1 for all sprites
        for(int i=0; i<numeroDeEnemigos; i++){
            if(posicionesEnemigo[i].vivo==true){
                mapMemory[pos_mapMemory] = 5;  // Enemy frame 1
                // Update all 4 tiles of the 2x2 sprite...
            }
        }
        esFotograma1Activo = false;
    } else {
        // Render frame 2 for all sprites
        for(int i=0; i<numeroDeEnemigos; i++){
            if(posicionesEnemigo[i].vivo==true){
                mapMemory[pos_mapMemory] = 42;  // Enemy frame 2
                // Update all 4 tiles of the 2x2 sprite...
            }
        }
        esFotograma1Activo = true;
    }
}

Dual-Screen Interface

The Nintendo DS’s unique hardware is fully utilized: Top Screen (Main Display):

32×24 tile grid gameplay area
Tile-based rendering using 8×8 pixel tiles
256-color palette (RGB15 format)
Real-time sprite animation

Bottom Screen (Sub Display):

Touch-sensitive menu system
HUD with stamina bar visualization
Dialog boxes with interactive buttons
Main menu and credits screen

Target Platform

Nintendo DS Hardware

The game is built specifically for the Nintendo DS:

CPU: ARM9 (67 MHz) and ARM7 (33 MHz)
RAM: 4 MB main RAM
VRAM: 656 KB video RAM
Screens: Dual 3-inch LCD screens (256×192 pixels each)
Input: D-Pad, buttons, and resistive touchscreen

This game requires actual Nintendo DS hardware or an emulator like DeSmuME or melonDS to run. It will not work on other platforms without significant modifications.

Technology Stack

DevkitPro ARM Toolchain

The game is built using the DevkitPro suite:

Compiler: GCC ARM cross-compiler
Libraries: libnds (Nintendo DS library)
Build System: Make
Language: C (C99 standard)

Core Libraries

The game relies on several key libraries:

source/main.c

#include <nds.h>           // Main NDS library
#include <stdio.h>         // Standard I/O
#include <stdlib.h>        // Standard library
#include <nds/ndstypes.h>  // NDS type definitions

Graphics System

Tile-based rendering: All graphics use 8×8 pixel tiles
Palette mode: 256-color indexed palette (8-bit)
DMA transfers: Hardware-accelerated memory copies for graphics
Background layers: Utilizes NDS background rendering modes

Graphics Initialization

// Initialize hardware
REG_POWERCNT = POWER_ALL_2D;
REG_DISPCNT_SUB  = MODE_0_2D | DISPLAY_BG0_ACTIVE;
VRAM_C_CR = VRAM_ENABLE | VRAM_C_SUB_BG;

// Set up framebuffer for menu
VRAM_A_CR = VRAM_ENABLE | VRAM_A_LCD;
VRAM_B_CR = VRAM_ENABLE | VRAM_B_LCD;
fb = VRAM_A;

Interrupt System

The game uses hardware interrupts for responsive gameplay:

source/main.c

void ConfigurarInterrupciones(){
    // Enable keyboard interrupts for D-Pad input
    irqSet(IRQ_KEYS, TeclasJugador);
    irqEnable(IRQ_KEYS);
    REG_KEYCNT = 0x7FFF;
    
    // Timer for dialog button debouncing
    irqEnable(IRQ_TIMER0);
    irqSet(IRQ_TIMER0, HabilitarBotonesDialogo);
    TIMER_DATA(0) = 32768;
    TIMER_CR(0) = TIMER_DIV_1024 | TIMER_ENABLE | TIMER_IRQ_REQ;
    
    // Timer for sprite animation
    irqEnable(IRQ_TIMER1);
    irqSet(IRQ_TIMER1, ActualizarAnimacion);
    TIMER_DATA(1) = 32768;
    TIMER_CR(1) = TIMER_DIV_1024 | TIMER_ENABLE | TIMER_IRQ_REQ;
}

Project Information

Author: Juan José Gómez Simón
Version: 0.8
Date: December 9, 2020
Language: Spanish (game text and code comments)
License: Not specified in source

Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Set up DevkitPro and build the game from source

Game Mechanics

Learn the detailed game rules and strategies

Level Design

Explore the level layouts and puzzle solutions

Source Code

Dive into the technical implementation details

Getting Started

Game Design

Development

Technical Reference

Introduction

Una Aventura Inesperada

What is Una Aventura Inesperada?

Game Overview

Key Features

Five Progressive Levels

Stamina System

Interactive Dialog System

Animated Sprites

Dual-Screen Interface

Target Platform

Nintendo DS Hardware

Technology Stack

DevkitPro ARM Toolchain

Core Libraries

Graphics System

Interrupt System

Project Information

Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Game Mechanics

Level Design

Source Code

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Getting Started

Game Design

Development

Technical Reference

​Una Aventura Inesperada

​What is Una Aventura Inesperada?

​Game Overview

​Key Features

​Five Progressive Levels

​Stamina System

​Interactive Dialog System

​Animated Sprites

​Dual-Screen Interface

​Target Platform

​Nintendo DS Hardware

​Technology Stack

​DevkitPro ARM Toolchain

​Core Libraries

​Graphics System

​Interrupt System

​Project Information

​Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Game Mechanics

Level Design

Source Code

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Una Aventura Inesperada

What is Una Aventura Inesperada?

Game Overview

Key Features

Five Progressive Levels

Stamina System

Interactive Dialog System

Animated Sprites

Dual-Screen Interface

Target Platform

Nintendo DS Hardware

Technology Stack

DevkitPro ARM Toolchain

Core Libraries

Graphics System

Interrupt System

Project Information

Next Steps