Figment 2, our surreal and musical journey into the human thoughts, is one thing we wished to make as impactful as attainable concerning the sound design and music. One method is to include it into the sport’s setting. We do that by having gentle bulbs blinking to the beat of the music, bridges made from piano keys that play once you stroll on them, bosses that sing their very own theme songs to you throughout fights, and music that adjustments relying the place you might be and displays your environment. This sequel follows the identical protagonist, Dusty, the Courage of the thoughts as we observe his journey into deep corners of the unconscious.
To make the environment really feel extra in tune with the universe, we analysed the background music by discovering the place the loudest elements of the audio observe are. We then use that information from that audio clip in numerous methods, like animating objects or when to play sound results. In the image above you’ll be able to see two bushes with lights hanging from them referred to as Cocobulbs. These Cocobulbs blink at any time when a sure loudness of the background observe is reached, exemplified by the inexperienced triangles within the picture under, that are referred to as peaks. This makes the world dance and transfer to the beat of the music.
Another a part of Figment’s design the place we discovered room for additional experimentation within the musical division was common fight encounters. Specific enemies have their very own layer of music that will get added to the already-playing (base) fight music. They additionally assault on completely different beats and on completely different bars.
Figment 2 has a completely new solid of enemies. One gentle attacker that expenses typically, one which has a bigger wind up with durations of invulnerability, a ranged and motionless turret, and a heavy slammer with high-damage assaults.
This is the place the fight choreographer got here to life, a device that would take all enemies from a specific location and inform them when to assault. This device takes into consideration what number of of every kind there are, what occurs when that quantity goes decrease or greater, and also can change their attacking “rhythm” when these values change.
Then the enemies will sync as much as the observe that’s taking part in and assault. Lighter enemies can assault extra typically, whereas bigger ones can assault on extra important beats like the primary beat of every bar to provide extra influence to their position within the combat.
This device allowed us to extra effectively sync up enemies to fights and provides a sense of movement when the participant discovered themselves in fight. We could make a new enemy assault Dusty, or have the identical one chase you time and again if it matches the music higher.
These new instruments and overarching sport design implementations gave approach to a few new ideas concerning boss fights. We wished these encounters to be grandiose, a David vs Goliath state of affairs. Nightmares take heart stage, presenting themselves by way of a change of surroundings and music.
Nightmares bodily manifest within the thoughts, and because you’re the braveness defending it, you should face them by way of fights and puzzles to grasp why they’ve appeared. In this case The Jester symbolises the concern of duties piling up and being unable to let free anymore. In fights in opposition to them, they’ve Oddballs, these little spheres that defend them from assaults, however can be used to assault Dusty.
We had run into conditions the place enemies or ranges influenced how the music would form up. However, right here, music and sport design coerced one another mutually. In your first combat in opposition to The Jester, the Oddballs slowly transfer round them, and unfold out at key moments of their music so you’ll be able to assault. Like every little thing in Figment 2, in addition they transfer and bounce in sync with the world’s rhythm. In one other encounter additional down the road, the Jester has a new music with a completely different rhythm with additional evolution of the story – and the previous design of the Oddballs didn’t work anymore. This new music had a a lot faster tempo, was angrier, and we needed to come up with a mechanic that mirrored that.
In the encounter under, the design workforce got here up with the concept that The Jester may “shoot” the Oddballs that used to guard him. He’s angrier, looser in combating fashion. So we needed to come up with a completely different method of expressing that. Thus, like six rounds of a revolver, The Jester shoots the Oddballs away.
Every piece of Figment 2’s universe is musically attuned with its environment. We hope that gamers will take pleasure in Figment 2: Creed Valley when it arrives on Game Pass July twentieth, better of luck on saving The Mind from the nightmares wreaking havoc.
Figment 2: Creed Valley
Bedtime Digital Games
$24.99
$19.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Figment 2: Creed Valley is an action-adventure sport set within the human thoughts. Nightmares are spreading chaos and have overrun once-peaceful lands. Join Dusty, The Mind’s braveness, as you make your method by way of puzzles, musical boss fights and distinctive environments. Face your fears head-on.
Nightmares have shattered the Moral Compass, making The Mind unable to perform correctly. Dusty and his ever-optimistic sidekick, Piper, should journey to Creed Valley, the place The Mind’s beliefs are fashioned to revive peace. A journey stuffed with musical showdowns and mind-bending puzzles awaits.
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