Robo_O

The mechanics originally came from a game jam constraint, and I loved the idea so much that I decided to turn it into a full game, which is what the demo is from. The limitations and theme were "Robot and only two keys". The outcome was a playable robot that can only move in two directions. For extra movement mechanics, I added in jump pads to give the player a way to not only move around the map more, but for the player to avoid obstacles such as environmental hazards and enemies.

I based the level on an introductory level of a typical platformer. Minimum hazards that are easy to avoid, and a good way to introduce mechanics to the player. I also added in later mechanics just to show them off in the demo. In future levels, the levels will slowly start getting harder by introducing more hazards. The player will have to use the jump pads to dodge enemies, moving spikes, sharp edges, and falling objects.

I used Unreal Engine 5's blueprint to program the mechanics. The Jump Pad is used as an "add-on" for the character's movement mechanics. And all the other scripts I used were to get in the way of the robot and its goal of collecting gears and getting to the end. Enemies, obstacles, and environmental hazards are all there just to trigger the death event. The only thing the player interacts with in-game is the dialogue system, though mostly logs left behind by the creator.

User experience is one of the most important things in platforming games; if the character feels too fast or too slow, or if the jumping is too heavy or floaty, it can impact the player's experience. I gave the game just enough control to feel fast, but still added a bit of weight in the moments. Making it both enjoyable to play and also stay accurate to the character.