Controls
Arrow Keys to Move
Space to Jump
Z to Activate/Deactivate Gravity Ability

About

This is the first version of the gravity platformer game I made, that I went back to recently. I only had the core mechanics and camera made so I added sound effects, particles, a main menu and more. Gravity Platformer is a 3D sidescrolling platformer game where the player can use their gravity reversing ability to walk on the ceiling and navigate through obstacles.

My Role

This was a solo project so I worked on everything except for the art and music, from the programming to game and level design.

Art Asset Credits: https://quaternius.itch.io/ultimate-platformer-pack

Development

This was one of the first games I've ever made in Unity. One of the first games I learned to make was a platformer, so I decided to test my knowledge and try to make a more advanced version in 3D. Initially, I only ended up building a bare bones prototype. The game only had the core mechanic and a few obstacles with no end goal, or UI, or sounds.

Initial Prototype

Initial Prototype

After revisiting the project later for a different assignment, I decided to complete the game. I decided to leave the core mechanic as is, and only add new features that would enhance the current gameplay and complete the game loop.

New Features I wanted to add:

  • User Interface
  • Better Level Design
  • Tutorial
  • Music and SFX
  • Title and game over screen
  • Visual Effects

Changes Made:

  • UI
  • Music & SFX
  • Title Screen
  • Visual Effects
  • New level and Health System

The Process

I started with the core player mechanics and gradually layering in more features. My development process began by establishing the foundation.

Once the basic movement felt right, I tackled the game's structure by building a central game management system. This involved deciding how to handle player lives, what happens when the player runs out of lives, and how to smoothly transition between different game states like the main menu, gameplay, and game-over screens.

Then, I created coins that spin to make them visually appealing and satisfying to collect. The camera system required careful positioning to follow the player at just the right distance and angle, ensuring the player always stays in view without the camera feeling too rigid or distracting.

Code issues

There were lots of issues with the code from when I first started the project that made adding new features a hassle

Reflection


Overall, this project showed me how much I've learned since starting game development near the beginning of the semester. I thought the core mechanic was solid and could be more successful once the movement becomes more refined. The current movement code still has issues that cause the player to sometimes face the wrong direction, that can only be fixed by starting from scratch.

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