Sludge City

Gallery

Goals of the level

To craft an immersive sewer environment using modular assets, integrating parkour and combat gameplay. The challenge lay in blending narrative elements seamlessly while keeping players engaged throughout their journey.

Challenges

Blending different ideas seamlessly to create a cohesive experience across visuals, mechanics, and narrative throughout the level. How I overcame them: Setting clear personal benchmarks for consistency in visuals, mechanics, and narrative. Through self-assessment, iterative refinement, and leveraging feedback from peers, I ensured a cohesive experience for players.

Process

Concept Stage

Designing Claustrophobic Sewer Pathways
- Narrow Passages: Construct narrow, winding pathways with low ceilings to create a sense of confinement and tightness. Use dim lighting and shadowy corners to heighten the feeling of being enclosed.

Environmental Hazards: Introduce environmental hazards such as leaking pipes, steam vents, or toxic waste to increase tension and make navigation through the sewers more challenging.

2. Transition to the Puzzle Area:

Visual Contrast: As players emerge from the claustrophobic sewers, design a stark contrast in the environment. Transition from dark, cramped spaces to a brightly lit, expansive area with open sky or natural light streaming in.
Spatial Awareness: Design the puzzle area with wide open spaces and panoramic views to provide players with a sense of freedom and relief after navigating the cramped sewers.

By strategically crafting the level design to evoke feelings of claustrophobia in the sewer pathways and then transitioning to an open, exhilarating puzzle area, you can create a memorable and immersive gaming experience that engages players both emotionally and intellectually. This dynamic shift in atmosphere and gameplay enhances player immersion and adds depth to the overall level design.