Idea Generating

Title

Metamorpimals

Concept statement

The magical forest Is dying!! As a druid, it is your duty to restore the forest to its former glory. Complete platforming challenges and puzzles by shifting between your various animal forms and healing the damage!

Overview

Genre: Platformer/Puzzle

Metamorphimals is an exciting third-person platformer with a camera that follows the player's movements. The game combines platform challenges with clever puzzles that players must solve to reach their goal. Each puzzle solved transforms the environment from yellow/grey to vibrant green.

Gameplay Highlights:

Players need to pick the right animal form to match the environment. The game features different puzzle types for varied challenges:

• Block Sliding Puzzle: Choose animals strategically, maybe use a bird's-eye view for smart moves.
• Navigation Puzzles: Figure out how to reach points, sometimes under time pressure.
• Object Retrieval: Move things from one spot to another, using specific animal skills.
• Light Puzzle: Use light and moving blocks to solve puzzles.
• Terrain Challenges: Guide roots through tunnels, aim and throw objects, and deal with wind in certain areas.

Animal Options:

• Druid (Default): Good on land, maybe tree-climbing, and faster on healthy ground.
• Bear: Strong, helpful for tough obstacles.
• Birds (Falcon, Hawk, etc.): Fast but tricky in the air.
• Wolf: Quick and great on land.
• Hummingbird: Slow but super precise in all directions.
• Fish (Salmon, etc.): Swim well, even against currents.
• Snake: Fits narrow spaces.
• Monkey: Climbs walls and reaches high spots.
• Mouse/Rat: Could work in tight areas.

The mix of platforming and puzzle-solving, along with diverse animal abilities, makes "Metamorphimals" a fun and engaging game for players of all levels.

Gameplay

Dive into a 3D platformer with a unique over-the-shoulder view. Play as a druid in a natural form, exploring different areas with puzzles.

Control your view with the mouse and move using WASD keys. Learn the game mechanics through on-screen text or a voice guide. This helps you grasp gameplay easily and enjoyably.

Discover the power to transform into different animals, each with unique abilities. Solve puzzles by shifting shapes strategically between your druid form and animals. You can only transform on the ground and need to return to the druid before changing again. Progress through the game to link exploration, animal forms, and puzzle-solving.

Though this vertical slice keeps things simple, future development might allow mid-air transformations and direct switches between animals.

Story

In a realm where ancient magic thrives, the fate of the forest hangs in the hands of a druid. The druid, a guardian of nature's balance, stands as the last hope to rescue the woodland realm from its extinction. Across the land, the forest cries out for help and restoration of its magical powers. However, a shadow has befallen even the druid's might. The forest's strength is the very reasoning behind their powers, leaving them unable to access certain animal forms that once obeyed their command. A dire relationship now exists between the druid and their realm.

The stakes could not be higher. Should the druid falter, if their valiant efforts prove in vain, the once-vibrant woods will descend into a realm of decay. The druid's power, amassed over ages, will crumble like ancient bark beneath the weight of despair. To avert this tragic destiny, the druid embarks on a journey for renewal. Their journey takes them through untamed wilds and forgotten groves, in search of nature's hidden relics of energy. These relics of the forest hold the key to rejuvenation. The druid must gather them, and free them from their curse of death.

With each relic reclaimed, the forest begins to gain its life back. Lush colours return, and the symphony of life sings once more. As the forest's magic rekindles, so too does the druid's might. With every infusion of energy, a new animal form is rekindled within the druid, a testament to their unyielding spirit and tireless dedication. United with the elements, the druid's journey becomes a story of renewal. As they mend the forest, they recover an unbreakable bond between themselves and the land they hold dear.

Competitive analysis

Metamorphimals is a special 3D game where you view from behind the character. You transform into animals to solve puzzles, which is different from other 3D puzzle platformers.

Key Highlights:

• Different View: You see the game from a different camera angle, giving a fresh experience to the player.
• Animal Transforming: The ability to shift into different animals, each with its own special abilities, adds depth to the gameplay and puzzle-solving.
• Puzzles: The fusion of animal transformations and puzzles creates a unique puzzle-solving dynamic that distinguishes Metamorphimals from conventional platformers.

Who Would Like It:

• Puzzle Lovers: People who enjoy thinking and solving puzzles will like this.
• Platformer Fans: If you like games where you jump around and explore, but want something different, you might enjoy this.
• Adventure Players: If you like solving mysteries this could be for you.
• Casual Gamers: If you're new to games, this game helps you learn step by step.

Games Like It:

• Yooka-Laylee: Like Metamorphimals but not changing into animals.
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Not exactly the same, but it has puzzles and exploring.

The game would be well-suited as a web-based application. This approach would make the game accessible to a wide range of players without requiring them to download it. The visually simple art style also enables easy deployment in a browser, especially in situations where resources are limited.

Art Choice and Concept Art

Low poly art style was chosen, since it sets the game apart visually and runs smoothly on various devices, crucial for web-based play, and it enhances gameplay fluidity. The style's simplicity keeps the focus on core mechanics like puzzles and transformations. It also suits browser compatibility and quicker load times. The choice allows for creative expression while conserving development resources, enabling a refined gameplay experience.

Concept Designs:

The player will view the game from an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective (as shown above). This will enable the player to easily see their current form and provide a broad, clear view of the environment, enhancing the visibility of puzzle elements and facilitating platforming.

The image above offers a rough illustration of the player's viewpoint. The player's character will occupy a small section of the screen, while the majority of the view will encompass the surrounding environment.

The layout shown above provides an example of a potential level design. Players will enter through the entrance corridor, leading them into the central area of the level. This space will be encompassed by lush trees, foliage, and occasional stone fragments. Two accessible areas, 1A and 1B, will directly face the player as these are the initial points of progression.

A conspicuous glowing door, serving as the entrance to the next level, will be prominently featured. In front of it, three plinths will stand, each requiring specific items to unlock the door. These items will be located within the three surrounding boughs of the hub area. While one bough is initially inaccessible, completing the other two will provide an opportunity to introduce a new game mechanic or allow players to familiarize themselves with existing mechanics in a more manageable context before advancing to more challenging trials.

Players will have the option to choose between level 1A and 1B according to their preference. This choice will convey a sense of autonomy and enable players to acclimate to the game's mechanics at their own pace. Each bough encircling the hub will exhibit a consistent theme and demand similar mechanics, while varying the utilization and structure of challenges presented.

In essence, players should experience a blend of freedom and guided direction, ensuring they acquire the skills and mechanics necessary to conquer the game's challenges.