GA326 Puzzle Game

Game:

Catherine

Primary Mechanics:

Traverse up the blocks to reach the exit

Move the blocks to create new paths to climb

Level & Challenge:

Stage 4 Prison of Despair (2-3) Floor Normal

Progression:

This level is stage 2-3 thus is the fourth level in the game including the tutorial level in the beginning. At this point in the game the player should become much more accustomed the the mechanics that will now make it less confusing due to the previous levels allowing you to do certain mechanics without telling the player about it yet (pacing could be better). The objective of the puzzle is for the player to find the optimal path to traverse to the exit up at the top of the level.

The main mechanics up to this point includes:

- Player movement:
The player is able to climb up, drop down, hang on edges, move left/ right, pull, and push blocks

- Default Block (White):
The player can freely move these boxes unless it is obstructed by another one in the direction that the player is interacting with it. Boxes will stack on each other even if they are touching at the edges only, but if there is no box supporting it then it will fall (can crush the player).

- Immovable Block:
Block may not be moved by the player (may drop with no support)

- Cracked Block:
Block will crack after the player steps on top of it.

- White Block Item:
Player throws a white block in the direction that they are facing creating a new white block

- Rewind:
Undo previous action

- Bell:
Checkpoint

In this game the player creates their own path to the goal up at the top. There are occasionally a specific solution that the player will need to find but for the earlier parts of the game the player is given the freedom to solve it in their own path. This means that there are multiple ways to traverse the obstacle but on the other hand it is possible to create a situation that proves to be impossible to solve. Level 2-3 specifically is the last section of the first main level thus is fairly basic in mechanics. The main difficulty hike is in the number of cracked blocks that make it more important to plan out your moves before taking action. Being the fourth stage into the game it thus forces the player to do less trial and error if they want a closer to perfect run thus the pacing and design of the stage makes sense for its placement. Two white block items are giving near the half way mark and the 75% mark for the player and may be used.

Types:

Sequence Puzzle

Visuals:

Feel:

As the levels get harder the player definitely feels more intense alongside the dark and still largely unknown atmosphere that is set. The tone is counterbalanced by the more goofy nature of the player and narration giving in the game giving it a sense ridiculousness balancing it out with the more grim visuals.