After two months of light work, I've got what I think is a good prototype going.
The next phase is to determine if it is a viable and what it needs or needs taken away.
I think the characters will need a little improvement as far as graphics, but the level graphics need a lot of work. After playing it a little bit, I think I want to add more adventure game elements where as right now it's more like a classic arcade.
Anyway, the first little step is done.