Shield of Self Care
Pong Meets Boss Rush in a Comical 2D Action Game
STUDENT SOLO PROJECT | UNITY 2D | JAN 2021 - APR 2021
Roles: Sole Developer
Shield of Self Care is my sophomore student game solo project at DigiPen Institute of Technology. I developed the game from concept to a complete five-minute experience over the course of a semester.
To develop this project, I first chose a genre and core mechanic I wanted to pursue. This became the "deflect" mechanic that makes the game reminiscent of Pong or Breakout. I wanted to add a unique twist to the hit-ball-with-paddle gameplay, though, which is why I designed the game as a boss rush similar to fixed-screen 2D boss fights in games like Cuphead or the Kirby franchise. But the player can't directly attack the boss; they must hit the boss' attacks back at them using a paddle-like shield. Major comparables for this project were Brick Breaker Hero, a mobile game by Game Circus, and Shatter, a game for PC and PS3 by Sidhe Interactive.
The narrative of the game follows The Human, who has set out to conquer a number of mundane tasks and is determined to have a good day. But these chores aren't as easy as they might seem. They must summon their Shield of Self Care to fend off attacks and defeat the evil temptations of The Bed, the tedious routine of The Bathroom, and the monstrous messes of The Kitchen.
I implemented player controls, boss behavior, level progression, and menu systems using C# scripting in Unity. I also created visuals and particle effects, designed UI layouts, created sound effects, and hooked up creative commons music. Throughout development, I wrote and maintained design documentation to guide and reflect on the process.
To develop this project, I first chose a genre and core mechanic I wanted to pursue. This became the "deflect" mechanic that makes the game reminiscent of Pong or Breakout. I wanted to add a unique twist to the hit-ball-with-paddle gameplay, though, which is why I designed the game as a boss rush similar to fixed-screen 2D boss fights in games like Cuphead or the Kirby franchise. But the player can't directly attack the boss; they must hit the boss' attacks back at them using a paddle-like shield. Major comparables for this project were Brick Breaker Hero, a mobile game by Game Circus, and Shatter, a game for PC and PS3 by Sidhe Interactive.
The narrative of the game follows The Human, who has set out to conquer a number of mundane tasks and is determined to have a good day. But these chores aren't as easy as they might seem. They must summon their Shield of Self Care to fend off attacks and defeat the evil temptations of The Bed, the tedious routine of The Bathroom, and the monstrous messes of The Kitchen.
I implemented player controls, boss behavior, level progression, and menu systems using C# scripting in Unity. I also created visuals and particle effects, designed UI layouts, created sound effects, and hooked up creative commons music. Throughout development, I wrote and maintained design documentation to guide and reflect on the process.
WHAT I CONTRIBUTED
HIGHLIGHTS
|
LOWLIGHTS
LESSONS LEARNED
|