Overview

The game loop is built around an island framework. Each island is self contained with its own hazard, enemy, or objective. A central controller manages progression, while interaction is unified through a shared TextMeshPro prompt system. Player actions revolve around four verbs: jump, swing, spin, and interact. Sword combos are animation driven, with special moves like spinning handled in the controller. Islands follow a simple loop: reach, challenge, reward, move on. Some crumble underfoot, others host enemies or NPC quests. Rewards vary from stat boosts to progression keys. The variety keeps the pace fresh while the toolkit stays tight. Progression is linear but island design adds flavor to the path forward.

Source Document

CI410 Game Design Document

Design Notes

• Original design pillars focused on puzzle-combat-exploration alternation to avoid player overload.
• Target audience and tone were intentionally younger-friendly, with readability and low stress pacing as priorities.
• Progression structure centered on teaching mechanics early, then combining platforming, NPC quests, and gated combat.

Iteration Highlights

• Puzzle flow was reworked after testing, including chest/key order changes to reduce dead-end confusion.
• Movement pace was tuned down based on feedback to better support exploration and puzzle readability.
• Combat encounters were simplified for onboarding, with future direction noted for deeper enemy behavior variety.

Gallery

Featured Systems