Overview
Cyber Gauntlet is a 2D Cyberpunk Platformer game developed in Unity. It was made by FontyGames, a small team of designers who aimed to combine the pulse-pounding tension of hardcore platforming with the imaginative setting of the Cyberpunk genre.
Cyber Gauntlet consists of ten levels in which the player must traverse across a futuristic city, dashing and leaping over obstacles and hazards to reach the end goal. I was responsible for entirely designing two of those levels, while providing support on others.
Development ran nine months from October 2018 to June 2019.
Level Design
Cyber Gauntlet used a modular room method of level design, where we made several basic boxes with varied interiors that I then could snap together to create a level that flowed from one room segment to the next. This maximized team efficiency and allowed me to test and create levels quickly and effectively.
Levels were built with a steady increase in difficulty in mind, incorporating obstacle strings that fell in line with the room flow. Because our game used a death counter, I included checkpoints for players to respawn if they ever died so they could learn from their mistakes and try different methods of getting past difficult areas.
Building the Future
Using art assets available on the Unity Marketplace, I designed unique level settings, backgrounds and mini-dioramas that combined with lighting, gave life to the 2D backgrounds and solidified the vibe and tone of each setting.
I also created some independent art assets to use for emphasizing hazards, distinguishing jump pads and special platforms, and adding more life to the base level structures. It was important that the background and level art were clearly distinguishable from the gameplay obstacles, while still making both feel organic.
