During my Game Design & Technlogy semester, me and seven others (together as the company “Krakens Inc.”) took on the task of creating a third-person action-puzzle-platformer Metroidvania1 game. We started from the concept, including the backstory, theme, setting, genre, etc. We then designed the core mechanics, game loop, combat, and level designs. We developed a demo in which it all comes to life.
The spirits of nature originally coexisted harmoniously with humans in their lands. However, when the people encountered a new society, they were swayed by promises of ambition and power, which led to the rapid industrialization of their surroundings and the neglect of their spiritual connections. As the spirits retreated, the people built a lighthouse atop a grand tower, using it as a beacon to attract supernatural forces. They captured spirits for power, but their unchecked growth ultimately led to the collapse of their city. Now, with the city in ruins and the people gone, the spirits are stirring once more, and new magic is emerging in the world.
Project Brass is a PC action platformer with Metroidvania elements, featuring exploration, engaging visuals, and fluid combat mechanics. The game is played from a third-person perspective and includes healing, locomotion, attacks, and special abilities. The player can regain health through killing marked enemies or picking up health items. Locomotion includes running, jumping, and dashing, and attacks focus on fluid movement and chaining abilities.
Special abilities have cooldowns and are designed to be fluid, dual-purpose, and not interrupt character movement. The dash ability sends the player character forward through a target, while the lunge is a targeted dash. The ground slam ability allows the player to rapidly descend and create an effect upon landing.
Enemies in the game include simple enemies, threatening enemies, and bosses. Combat and platforming sections provide varied pacing and opportunities for exploration and creative use of mechanics.
Collectibles in platforming sections reward exploration and mastery of platforming mechanics. Hazards, such as moving platforms and damaging areas, keep players on their toes. Level design guidelines set dimensions for obstacles, stairs, and slopes to ensure consistent gameplay.
This demo shows the WIP level of the game which takes place inside the tower’s giant clock mechanism area, where you play as a nature spirit.
Interested in the more detailed stuff? You are welcome to check out:
Metroidvania is a sub-genre of action-adventure games and/or platformers focused on guided non-linearity and utility-gated exploration and progression. ↩