Super Box Dasher

Project type: Independent

Genre: Action/Puzzle

Platform: PC

Year: 2022

Engine : Unity

Game Link: Super Box Dasher

Overview

Super Box Dasher is an action/puzzle game were you play as the "box guy" who must collect all green ball using dash power while as the same time avoiding any danger present.

This game was made for the Juice jam which encourage the concept of implementing "juice" into the game for the purpose of improving gameplay feel and general aesthetic.

How it start

To comply with the theme of maximizing juice the game was designed to have a fast pace gameplay with enough visual to make the player's action feel satisfying. This lead to the simple gameplay of dashing and collecting green ball. As dashing itself is a fast and strong movement, it is extremely fitting and easy to implement within the theme of the jam while also being basic enough for the player to understand.

The dash and it juice

The juice - Player

To make the dash feel juicy, two method were used in the process this include anticipation and release.

Anticipation

The anticipation happen when the player holding down their mouse button. When they do the box guy start to shake and gathering energy around them (this is purely visual). In addition a line is also drawn for them to act as a guide for the player. Overall, the anticipation is use to let the player know that their input is being accepted.

Anticipating the dash

Release

When the mouse button is release the box guy dash toward the end of the line. During this time a screen shake occur and box guy left a trail behind. This is the moment were the player's action ramp up in intensity. This in turn make the dash feel powerful and more satisfying.

Screen shake/trail make dash feel fast and powerful

The juice - Objective

When the player hit the green ball an additional juice is added to the existing one. This include bloom and chromatic aberration. The purpose of these addition is to further signify the important of player's action and make completing the objective feel good, further motivate the player to perform better in the long run.

Hitting green ball provide additional juice

The juice - Trial and Error

While the juice certainly prove to be helpful for the game. During the state of production some visual effect need to be cut/tone down due to it interference with the gameplay, visual overloading or just plain unnecessary.

The visual effect before it was toned down.

The lens distortion was removed in the full game.

Conclusion/Retrospective

In retrospective, the jam provide a good exercise and knowledge on how to implemented game feel through various mean such as game mechanic and visual effect.

In addition, this project is also a prove that a game does need a good art to be good. A simple shape is enough as long as the feel of the game is good.