Cursed Castle

Length: 18 Days

Role: Level Designer

Cursed Castle is a Metroidvania I contributed to during the "Metroidvania Month 21" game jam, collaborating with a few friends from Full Sail University. The game immerses players in a captivating castle setting, freshly overrun by malevolent undead forces. In this thrilling adventure, you assume the role of a valiant knight on a mission to vanquish the sinister Necromancer and the newly-turned Undead King.

The Ins & Outs of Cursed Castles Level Design

Planning

Blockmesh

The Design

The Ins & Outs of Cursed Castles Level Design

MY PART:
I had the chance to design the entire level myself. This was the biggest Level Design-related undertaken I have taken since I first started work toward designing games. I had 18 days to plan out, block out, and create the entire level myself, and I was excited to do so.

Planning

I spent the first few days planning out what I thought the world should look like, I originally had 6 sections instead of the finished games 4. The player would have a jump, double jump, basic attack, and a dash to work with, so I had to keep that in mind while planning. The player also wouldn't start with the ability to double jump or dash, so I created areas in the level where the player would have to come back later after unlocking the ability to proceed on that path. Also had to keep in mind the lighting of the level, which I also had full control over. I would be creating a feature that would change the day to night. After getting to the garden the entire map would turn night, completely changing the mood while also providing a challenge to the player in the next section to come.

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Area 1 - Outside Cliff

Outside Cliffs is the name of the first area of the game. The player starts at the top of the mountain overlooking the castle most of the game takes place in. This is the tutorial section of the map. There are basic jumps and enemies to overcome, coins showing the player where to go, and a simple door and key mechanic that's not difficult to complete.

Area 2 - Castle Halls

Castle Halls is the first area within the Castle. The player has to traverse the 3 floors to get 2 keys that open the Throne Room's massive doors. While trying to acquire the keys the player will run into a gap in the floor, caved in from past events. The player will have to go in a different way to gain the double jump ability to make jumping the gap possible. The Throne Room is where the player fights the Undead King. After defeating him the player will move on past the locked trap door to the Dungeon and onto the Graveyard.

Area 3 - Graveyard

The Graveyard is where the player gains the ability to dash. After going through the garden section and before entering the Chapel, where the Dash ability and the Key to the Dungeon lay, the player will be locked in a fight with undead enemies. After defeating them and acquiring both the dash and the key the player goes back through the Castle Halls and down into the Dungeon.

Area 4 - Exotic Dungeon

The Exotic Dungeon is the last area on the map. To complete the game the player has to make it down to the bottom and kill the Necromancer. To do this the player will explore the dungeon and gather 3 keys to open the gate to the boss.