Cheyenne Bunker
Cheyenne Bunker
Cheyenne Bunker
Cheyenne Bunker
Cheyenne Bunker
Third Person Shooter
Third Person Shooter
Combat Design
Combat Design
Level Design
Level Design
Third Person Shooter
Level Design
Combat Design
Summary
The player infiltrates a futuristic bunker to sabotage a weapon reactor deep within the facility.
The level is designed around variation in combat scenarios, shifting from controlled engagement into high-pressure scenarios, before ending with a power reversal.
GOALS
Combat Design
Variation in encounters
Cohesive gameplay experience
Breakdown
PROJECT Breakdown
5 weeks half time (4h/day)
Unreal Engine 5
AGLS V1.5
FAB: LowPoly Sci-Fi Corridor
4,5 weeks half time (4h /day)
Created using Unreal Engine 5
Focus on creating a combat adventure in a sci-fi setting
AGLS V1.5
FAB: LowPoly Sci-Fi Corridor
PLAY THROUGH
Overview
1. reveal weapon
1. reveal weapon
2. a way in
2. a way in
3. reveal reactor gate
3. reveal reactor gate
4. Fight through bunker
4. Fight through bunker
5. clear out control room
5. clear out control room
6. activate bridge
6. activate bridge
7. Get across the bridge
7. Get across the bridge
8. overload reactor
8. overload reactor
9. fight last wave & escape
9. fight last wave & escape
Design techniques
Core Design Pilars
Disadvantage & Pressure
Choke Points & Sightlines
Denial & Reward
Power Reversal
Progression & Anticipation
Denial and reward is used to build tension and progression. The objective is revealed early, then repeatedly obscured, creating anticipation with each new glimpse of it.
The tunnel before the bridge acts as a funnel that signals the player is near the objective. During the sniper segment, it also becomes a death zone for the enemies.
Guidance & Readability
Though it is a linear level, red emissive lights are used for signposting, guiding the player toward traversal paths and climbable surfaces.
Though it is a linear level, I used red light emissive lights to hint to the player on where to go and where they can climb. I thought it fit well in with the Sci-Fi theme and environment.
Guidance & Readability
Though it is a linear level, red emissive lights are used for signposting, guiding the player toward traversal paths and climbable surfaces.
Flow & Subversion
The level is largely unobstructed, allowing the player to progress without obstacles. this can become boring. To break this flow, I introduced bait and switch moments to subert player expectation.
Combat Scenarios
Combat
encounters
combat encounters
first encounter
The first encounter introduces low-risk enemies, allowing the player to establish control while framing the objective.
This creates a safe starting point where the player can engage at their own pace before the level introduces higher pressure scenarios.
The first enemies that the player encounter are classic snack kills, strategically placed to frame the objective and what is to become the extract
first encounter
The first enemies that the player encounter are classic snack kills, strategically placed to give the player a vista of the objective and what is to become the extract
Vantage Point
Leading up to the first major combat space, the player is given a vantage point overlooking the arena.
This allows the player to safely read the layout, identify enemy placement, and form a plan before later entering the encounter.
Vantage Point
Leading up to the first major combat space, the player is given a vantage point overlooking the arena.
This allows the player to safely read the layout, identify enemy placement, and form a plan before later entering the encounter.
Bunker
Bunker
When arriving at the first major combat space, the player has a positional advantage.
The bridge acts as a choke point with height advantage on the enemies below, while maintaining clear sightlines across the space.
A sniper stil controls key sightlines from the balcony, applying pressure and limiting safe movement. Smoke periodically blocks the sniper's line of sight, creating windows for repositioning.
The pillar functions as a circulation zone, offering full cover and angle options, allowing more dynamic movement while in combat.
The yellowed railings provides half cover for both player and enemy, and their spacing is designed to promote player movement and repositioning.
When arriving at the first major combat space, the player has a positional advantage.
The bridge acts as a choke point with height advantage on the enemies below, while maintaining clear sightlines across the space.
A sniper stil controls key sightlines from the balcony, applying pressure and limiting safe movement. Smoke periodically blocks the sniper's line of sight, creating windows for repositioning.
The pillar functions as a circulation zone, offering full cover and angle options, allowing more dynamic movement while in combat.
The yellowed railings provides half cover for both player and enemy, and their spacing is designed to promote player movement and repositioning.
In the first combat area with the player having the advantage. The bridge acts as a choke point and also as height advantage on the enemies below.
The smoke is deployed every six seconds to block the balcony sniper's line of sight, creating opportunities for the player to reposition.
The yellowed pillar by the batteries acts a a "circulation zone", giving the player full cover and angle options on the enemies if the push or flank.
The yellowed railings provides half cover for both player and enemy, and their spacing is designed to promote player movement and repositioning during combat.
After play-testing I received feedback that the railing was too tall to comfortably shoot enemies below, this made me lower the height slightly and not completely follow my metrics for covers.
Bunker
When arriving at the first major combat space, the player has a positional advantage.
The bridge acts as a choke point with height advantage on the enemies below, while maintaining clear sightlines across the space.
A sniper stil controls key sightlines from the balcony, applying pressure and limiting safe movement. Smoke periodically blocks the sniper's line of sight, creating windows for repositioning.
The pillar functions as a circulation zone, offering full cover and angle options, allowing more dynamic movement while in combat.
The yellowed railings provides half cover for both player and enemy, and their spacing is designed to promote player movement and repositioning.
Generator
Generator
The player enters the final combat space at a disadvantage, positioned on the ground level while the enemies control the surrounding high ground.
Playtesting revealed hesitation in the entrance area, so cover was repositioned deeper into thespace to pull the player forward.
Two shotgun enemies apply pressure on the bottom floor, preventing passive play behind cover.
The player enters the final combat space at a disadvantage, positioned on the ground level while the enemies control the surrounding high ground.
Playtesting revealed hesitation in the entrance area, so cover was repositioned deeper into thespace to pull the player forward.
Two shotgun enemies apply pressure on the bottom floor, preventing passive play behind cover.
In the last Combat area the player enters on the ground and therefor in a disadvantage of the enemy has the high ground. I did this to increase difficulty towards the end of the level.
Play-testing showed that the player wanted to stay in the decompression zone between the room and outside. Therefore I placed the cover 10m in from the door, in order to pull the player in to the area.
I placed 2 shotgun enemies on the ground level that tries to get close to the player to prevent the player from staying in the entrance.
The player is rewarded for clearing this area by over loading the reactor (objective), then gets the sniper to pick off the reinforcing enemies trying to get across the bridge to stop them.
In the last Combat area the player enters on the ground and therefor in a disadvantage of the enemy has the high ground. I did this to increase difficulty towards the end of the level.
Play-testing showed that the player wanted to stay in the decompression zone between the room and outside. Therefore I placed the cover 10m in from the door, in order to pull the player in to the area.
I placed 2 shotgun enemies on the ground level that tries to get close to the player to prevent the player from staying in the entrance.
The player is rewarded for clearing this area by over loading the reactor (objective), then gets the sniper to pick off the reinforcing enemies trying to get across the bridge to stop them.
Generator
The player enters the final combat space at a disadvantage, positioned on the ground level while the enemies control the surrounding high ground.
Playtesting revealed hesitation in the entrance area, so cover was repositioned deeper into thespace to pull the player forward.
Two shotgun enemies apply pressure on the bottom floor, preventing passive play behind cover.
Climax - Power Reversal
Climax - Power Reversal
The player initially moves through a disadvantage state on the bridge that serves as a choke point, under pressure from a sniper and soldiers with limited cover.
When the objective is completed, this dynamic reverses. The player gains the height advantage, overlooking the same space as enemies are funneled through it.
This transforms the area into a controlled kill zone, creating a clear gameplay payoff.
The player initially moves through a disadvantage state on the bridge that serves as a choke point, under pressure from a sniper and soldiers with limited cover.
When the objective is completed, this dynamic reverses. The player gains the height advantage, overlooking the same space as enemies are funneled through it.
This transforms the area into a controlled kill zone, creating a clear gameplay payoff.
Climax - Power Reversal
The player initially moves through a disadvantage state on the bridge that serves as a choke point, under pressure from a sniper and soldiers with limited cover.
When the objective is completed, this dynamic reverses. The player gains the height advantage, overlooking the same space as enemies are funneled through it.
This transforms the area into a controlled kill zone, creating a clear gameplay payoff.
Production
production
Iterations
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
Early iterations focused on large-scale layout to establish player flow, sightlines and pacing.
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
Early iterations focused on large-scale layout to establish player flow, sightlines and pacing.
Iterations
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
Early iterations focused on large-scale layout to establish player flow, sightlines and pacing.
Individual areas
I wanted each space in the level to feel purposeful and believable, as if the world exists with or without the player. To achieve this, I designed areas with clear functions, such as control panels for the conveyor belt, a locker room, transports parking garage and the weapon generator.
Each space was given its own identity, and the layout of the environment was shaped to support that specific purpose.
I wanted each space in the level to feel purposeful and believable, as if the world exists with or without the player. To achieve this, I designed areas with clear functions, such as control panels for the conveyor belt, a locker room, transports parking garage and the weapon generator.
Each space was given its own identity, and the layout of the environment was shaped to support that specific purpose.
Individual areas
I wanted each space in the level to feel purposeful and believable, as if the world exists with or without the player. To achieve this, I designed areas with clear functions, such as control panels for the conveyor belt, a locker room, transports parking garage and the weapon generator.
Each space was given its own identity, and the layout of the environment was shaped to support that specific purpose
Buffer Zones
Buffer Zones
In order to help the player move I designed the combat areas with varius buffer zones between cover islands. I wanted to give the player options and angles when engaged in combat
Buffer Zones
In order to help the player move I designed the combat areas with varius buffer zones between cover islands. I wanted to give the player options and angles when engaged in combat
Gathering References
To start the process, I gathered a lot of references.
Since the level is inspired by a real location, I used online maps to get references of the biome and height map of the location. I also looked up floor plans, videos documentation I could find for inspiration.
I created a color palette that I combined with concept art and brutalistic architecture references to create my own futuristic spin on this existing area.
To start the process, I gathered a lot of references. Since the level is inspired by a real location, I used online maps to get references of the biome and height map of the location. I also looked up floor plans, videos documentation I could find for inspiration.
I created a color palette that I combined with concept art and brutalistic architecture references to create my own futuristic spin on this existing area.
Gathering References
To start the process, I gathered a lot of references.
Since the level is inspired by a real location, I used online maps to get references of the biome and height map of the location. I also looked up floor plans, videos documentation I could find for inspiration.
I created a color palette that I combined with concept art and brutalistic architecture references to create my own futuristic spin on this existing area.
Metrics
In order to minimize camera clipping and set my cover metric, I created a player gym. Here I also established comfortable walkways and door frames. After playtesting I had to adjust some half covers where to be lower where the player and enemies has height advantage.
In order to minimize camera clipping and set my cover metric, I created a player gym. Here I also established comfortable walkways and door frames. After playtesting I had to adjust some half covers where to be lower where the player and enemies has height advantage.
Metrics
In order to minimize camera clipping and set my cover metric, I created a player gym. Here I also established comfortable walkways and door frames. After playtesting I had to adjust some half covers where to be lower where the player and enemies has height advantage.
Playtesting (place holder for now)
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
In the early stages I iterated a lot on large-scale scale to establish vistas, define intended player path and shape the overall pacing of the level.
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the height map. In the early stages I iterated a lot on large-scale scale to establish vistas, define intended player path and shape the overall pacing of the level.
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
In the early stages I iterated a lot on large-scale scale to establish vistas, define intended player path and shape the overall pacing of the level.
Playtesting (place holder for now)
After sketching a rough paper design of the area I started blocking out on top of the heightmap.
In the early stages I iterated a lot on large-scale scale to establish vistas, define intended player path and shape the overall pacing of the level.
Play Through
Play through
Reflections
This was a huge learning experience for me, and after a brief melt down over crashes and project breaking I really enjoyed it.
The focus of this level was on the combat scenarios and their intensity, and I am happy with how they turned out. However, if I were to re-do the level I would have given the player more options on how to approach thece scenarios. Right now the level is too linear.
I did plan to incorporate more interactability for the player; loot, pushable objects and a puzzle in order to open the bridge (to slow the pacing down). However, something broke in the template I was using, so I could not interact with any object in the whole project. Due to time restraints I simply had to cut those parts.
For future projects I will likely develope my mechanics from scratch or use a more rudementary template.
This was a huge learning experience for me.
The focus of this level was on the combat scenarios and their intensity, and I am happy with how they turned out. However, if I were to re-do the level I would have given the player more options on how to approach thece scenarios. Right now the level is too linear.
I did plan to incorporate more interactability for the player; loot, pushable objects and a puzzle in order to open the bridge (to slow the pacing down). However, with time restrictions and a few techical difficulties those features had to be cut from this level. That is definitely something I would incorporate to avoid gaming fatigue due to a lot of combat.