Manchester Part 5: Objectives and Obstacles

Objectives: The main objective is to escape the train.You are being chased by a thief/thieves, who want to get their hands on your folder. You are however stuck on a train and don't have the ability to escape from the train itself. You will have to run forward, cabin by cabin, in a very long steampunk train, until the train reaches it's destination, so you can get off and run for your life. The  goal is to lure the chaser(s), think of creative ways to defend yourself with the surroundings or temporarily disorient the enemy. The player may have to climb through the cabin window (or potentionally break it if you can't open it, unless you find a crowbar),to get to the next cabin, etc, because of an obstacle. The door could also be destroyed but this would take time and you risk the chaser catching up to you.


Obstacles: Puzzles in general. The player will be able to pick up most objects, like tables and chairs, knock them over, use them to block doors with, throw random stuff at things or people, etc. However this is mostly optional, depending on circumstances. Balance will also be an obstacle, ie, when you've climbed out a window, you'll have to keep balance, otherwise you'll fall off the train and this will result in death. This will bring up a balance mechanic, a bar with a ball on it, if it goes too far left or right, the player will fall off the train, so the goal is to keep the ball in the middle of the bar/scale. The enemy itself, the chase is an obstacle as well as locked doors or blocked paths.

Balance mechanic reference (yes, I kind of copied the ball/scale thing )




As an example of an obstacle, if you find a fire extinguisher, it can be used to jam the door handle to prevent the enemy from getting through the door, this will give you a little time to run away from him.  Alternatively, the smoke from it could be used to disorient the enemy.

Kind of like this... except you'd use it to disorient them, not yourself...




So, to sum up all the objectives and obstacles of my level:

Objectives

• Escape the train
• Disorient enemies
• Shake off enemies/slow them down
• Climb through window
• Break window
• Potentionally use crowbar to open window
• Defend yourself with your surroundings

Obstacles

• Picking up/knocking over objects
• Throwing objects
• Jamming of door handles, etc.
• Balance mechanic
• Enemy/Enemies
• The chase