Just for fun I wanted to share a bit of the thought process on the design of one of the level pieces on Oddlings, a one-touch action platformer launching soon on iOS and Android!
The general progression of the player in Oddlings is climbing vertically. The challenge in design is to give the player a reason to travel downward, too. One of the ways we do this is with colored Switches and Switch Gates. This simple mechanic creates all kinds of gameplay options.
In this case I am using the gate to shield a stash of highly valuable collectables, which the player has to pass as she jumps and bounces her way to the escape the rising water. Since we use a dynamic camera system and the playable area is wider than the screen, I created a narrow channel for the player to pass next to the collectible stash to ensure that the camera grabs it.
Now the player, having observed a red gate, knows that there must be a red switch to open it and she didn’t see one before it. So it must be after it.
Finally she spots the switch and next to it is a portal entrance. This creates a bit of tension since the portals generally lead to good things. However, she did not see the exit portal as she was focused on the loot during that section. In fact, I may even hide the exit portal entirely…
The player triggers the button and sticks to the switch. There is no way to aim when jumping off of the switch. So if the player hit the switch, she will have to go through the portal to an open gate. But if she is tempted to jump through the portal without hitting the switch, she will bounce off the closed gate and likely drown.
Hitting the portal puts the player on a domino chain reaction course where, having cracked the puzzle, she sits back and enjoys the ride, collecting the valuables and hitting a dash power-up that will send her into an upward speed burst, smashing through rocks and obstacles!
It is so fun to manipulate obstacles and gameplay elements to create a fun ride for the player, while also offering interesting choices, fast-thinking puzzle solving, a feeling of exploration and re-exploration as opposed to just being propelled through an infinite runner, and the always rising tension of the water and hazards. And this is just one “chunk” of a stage in Oddlings. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
Stay tuned and visit oddlingsgame.com to sign up for updates!
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Behind the Curtain
