Overview
Dark Nexus is a Third-Person Multiplayer Shooter map developed in Unreal Engine 4. It was designed for multiplayer game modes such Team Deathmatch and Supremacy.
My primary focuses were on the level design and environment, with the map being sketched out on paper before being built in-engine and designing the landscape around the level. I also implemented the shooter character and mechanics from the Unreal Marketplace and designed the UI map and layout.
Development ran five months between April and September of 2020.
Concept
The map was inspired by LucasArts' Star Wars Battlefront 2, as well as EA's 2017 title by the same name. I wanted to design a level that radiated intensity and high energy, and decided on creating a fiery world as the perfect embodiment of that vision.
Because I wanted to invoke a sense of danger from the volatile environment, I created areas for indoor and outdoor combat. Starting with an open platform and using elevated walkways that lead into different rooms for tighter combat spaces, or a wider indoor room in the middle with the danger of falling through the center hole into the lava below.
Level Design
The level was designed with an ABC structure, with three primary control points and various paths that connect them. These being the far left, top right and bottom right areas of the map. Using this framework, I tailored each area to specific areas and different combat encounters.
I used a combination of art assets I independently created and assets found on the Unreal Marketplace for adding level art and creating additional set dressing. For the lighting I used point lights and created emissive lighting materials, which combined with reflection captures, heightened the dark atmosphere.
Environmental Design
The volcanic landscape was sculpted by me in UE4's landscape editor mode. I modelled the tower in the distance overlooking the map as both a landmark for the level and as a looming presence overlooking the fiery landscape. I created the tower and landscape materials myself.
The lava river flowing below the maps center region was created using landscape splines and a lava material I created. I additionally created the overall lighting and post-processing effects for the world.