S0u1 Runn3r

unreal engine 5.4
University/solo/FYP
Game DESIGN
OCT2024-FEB2025(16 WEEKS)

Sou1 Runn3r was my final year project. My vision was to create a first person action platformer with a heavy emphasis on decision making gameplay. To do this the gameplay involves ability management with fast paced action and platforming causing the player to make split based decisions in order to get attain the best time, which results in the games decision making gameplay.

First step was to get the mechanics and movement in place, so I designed a short stage to test them. The game has an ability management system, with each movement ability you use, a cooldown starts but the more cards you pick up of that certain ability (ex. 3 dashes) you are able to use 3 dashes with no cooldown starting until you use the 4th dash. This along with attaining the best time is what creates the decision making gameplay.

While traversing the level the player has multiple movement options like Dash, triple jump, slide, ground slam and wall run.

While designing the level I found out that just allowing platforms which could only be traversed by a single ability was boring. I had to design the level in such a way that allowed freedom in expressing the players abilities, so giving the player multiple options to traverse an obstacle to attain the best time was part of the design philosophy of this game.

The game takes heavy inspiration from action platformers like “Neon white, “Ghost runner” and “ultra kill”.

Another goal for the game was to also create a ps1 era feel. Everything, from the assets used to the music and sound effects help in creating a retro like atmosphere.

Below is the gameplay trailer: