[IKEMEN GO] Zatch Bell! / Gash Bell! – Fan Game Rework Project

[filguera]

Hello everyone!

I've been working on a Zatch Bell! (Konjiki no Gash Bell!!) fan game for IKEMEN GO, and I wanted to finally share a preview of the project with the Mugen Guild community.

The project is based on the classic Game Boy-style sprites, because I want to preserve that recognizable visual identity. However, I'm not limiting the game to the animations and content that already exist.

I'm currently redrawing and creating many new sprites and animations, while trying to make them look consistent with the original sprite style. This allows me to expand existing characters with attacks and animations they never had before, and eventually create playable characters that weren't available in the original material.

I've spent around three months developing and refining a workflow with OpenAI Codex/GPT to help me create sprites that follow the proportions, visual rules and animation style I'm using for the project. I still review and adjust the results so that everything fits the game consistently.

The biggest focus right now, however, is reworking and balancing the existing characters.

I'm changing much more than just their visuals. The goal is to give each Mamodo a more distinctive playstyle and make battles feel closer to the different abilities and interactions seen in Zatch Bell.

Some of the systems I'm currently working on include:

Reworked gameplay, commands, combos and character balance
New attacks and spells for existing Mamodo
New sprite animations and redesigned spell effects
Physical damage and speed buffs
Spell interactions and spell clashes
Different levels of spell power and interactions between stronger/weaker spells
Magic reflection abilities
Barriers and defensive abilities with specific break conditions
Status effects and special conditions
New stages
A completely new screenpack/UI, which is still being heavily developed
Improvements to existing characters before expanding the roster further

For example, instead of every projectile simply behaving like a normal MUGEN attack, I want spells to have their own properties. Certain abilities may reflect magic, some defenses can be broken under specific conditions, buffs can temporarily change physical damage or movement speed, and spells can interact differently depending on their properties and power.

I'm also working on giving the Mamodo abilities that better represent what they can actually do in the series, rather than simply adding more attacks for the sake of having a larger moveset.

There is still a lot of work to do, especially with balancing, animations, effects and the screenpack. So this isn't a finished release announcement yet.

For now, I mainly wanted to share an early preview of what I'm building and start showing the development here.

I'll post screenshots, animations, gameplay demonstrations and character updates as the project progresses.

Feedback from experienced MUGEN/IKEMEN creators is very welcome, especially regarding gameplay, balancing, animation timing and character design.

More updates soon!

Zatch Bell! / Konjiki no Gash Bell!! – IKEMEN GO Fan Game Project

NOTE: There is still a lot of work to be done. Many animations, sprites, effects, mechanics, character balance, stages and parts of the screenpack are still being reworked or are temporary. What I'm showing right now is not meant to represent the final quality of the game.

However, I feel that the project is finally moving in the direction I want. The foundation is taking shape, and from this point I'll continue polishing, balancing and expanding everything step by step. Consider this a first preview of what the project is becoming, rather than a finished representation of it.

I'm looking forward to sharing the progress with you as the project evolves.

[HomebodyBody]

Holy mother of mixels, that image!

[filguera]

Project Development Update

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a new update on the current state of the project and some of the improvements I have been working on recently.

The project has gone through a lot of changes, and at this point I am focusing heavily on improving both the visual quality and the gameplay.

One of the biggest tasks right now is updating the character sprites. I am gradually reworking the characters so that their sprites reach a much cleaner **HD / Full HD quality standard**, with better definition, cleaner artwork, improved effects, and more visual consistency between animations.

This is a large process because I am not only working on idle animations. I am also reviewing movement, attacks, damage animations, special moves, effects, partners/helpers, and other parts of each character.

I am also continuing to work on the screenpack.

Some parts are still based on mockups while I test different ideas, layouts, animations, and transitions. The goal is to give the project a much stronger visual identity instead of simply using a standard MUGEN/IKEMEN presentation.

The **Versus / loading sequence**, for example, is still incomplete. What is currently shown is only an early version. I plan to make it much more animated, with additional character presentation, effects, transitions, and other visual elements.

On the gameplay side, I have also started making several changes.

I am currently working on:

* updating and configuring the new HD sprites;
* improving visual effects for attacks and special moves;
* adding new abilities to some characters;
* revising skill behavior and gameplay rules;
* improving command inputs and skill activation;
* adding and organizing voice acting / dubbing;
* improving partner and helper interactions;
* adjusting animations and transitions;
* reviewing existing attacks and adding new effects where necessary;
* continuing the screenpack redesign and animation work.

Some characters are also receiving abilities or mechanics that were not present in their older versions, while still trying to keep them faithful to their original fighting style and to the Zatch Bell universe.

There is still **a lot of work left to do**, so many things you see in screenshots or videos should still be considered **work in progress**.

Some menus are unfinished, some effects are temporary, some animations will still be replaced, and several characters are still going through their HD conversion.

However, the project is now moving toward a much more ambitious direction than the original version.

My main goal is to improve:

**visual quality, animation quality, gameplay variety, character identity, effects, presentation, and overall polish.**

I will continue sharing progress as more characters, skills, effects, and screenpack elements are completed.

Thanks to everyone who has been following the project and giving feedback.

More updates soon.

[Keaton]

Honestly, this looks amazing

[filguera]

Honestly, this looks amazing

Thank you Keaton! I've already updated five more characters, and I'll be posting those updates soon too.

[filguera]

Hi everyone!

I'd like to share a new development trailer for Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battle, a non-profit fan-made fighting game built on IKEMEN GO.

The project is still in active development. My current focus is improving character animations, updating their abilities and visual effects, and refining the battle systems.

The trailer showcases:
• A redesigned battle HUD.
• Power Clashes — press A to push back against your opponent.
• Mamodo switching in Tag Mode.
• Updated abilities and transformations.
• Tia's defense against ultimate attacks and her upward umbrella evasion.
• Reworked characters, including Zatch, Tia, Kido, Kolulu, and Umagon.

Watch the development trailer:
Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battle — Development Trailer

Everything shown is work in progress. There is still more to do on animations, effects, balance, and overall polish, and this footage does not represent a finished roster or final gameplay balance.

Feedback on the character reworks, visual clarity, and battle mechanics would be especially appreciated!

Which character or mechanic would you like to see in the next update?

Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battle is an unofficial, non-profit fan project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original creators or rights holders.