Video Playthrough of Elf_Runs First Level
Video Presentation For Elf_Run
Elf_Run Design Breakdown
Concept Statement
A first-person puzzle platformer, with design similar to Mirrors Edge. Set in a fantasy world with biomimetic architecture (buildings which combine urban design with nature and buildings mimic shapes seen in the world.) The player controls a young person who lives in the slums of this city. One day he discovers an evil plot and a Kidnapping, they must run across the city to save it, but nobody believes him.
Unique Selling Points
- Explore an urban environment in a fantasy world.
- Improve your traversal and routing skills to outrun your friends.
- Make the city your playground.
- Experience the fall of an ancient society from the eyes of the everyman.
Core Loop
Level Design Images
Mechanic Blueprints
The core mechanics selected for this level were movable objects, gliding and inputting codes to unlock doors. the blueprints for these mechanics are shown below. These blueprints are also further explained in the Elf_Run video presentation.
Blueprint for Moving Objects
Blueprint for the glide mechanic
Blueprint for inputting codes
Narrative Breakdown
Opening Cutscene.
The player character (an 18-year-old elf with wings named Freyer), from a low-class family (lives underground). One day whilst on his way to work he is attacked and thrown into a truck.
Act 1
Level one (Puzzle focused)
He wakes up locked in a room, located inside of an office building, a notepad falls from the ceiling telling him to escape.
The player must complete puzzles to climb a building before crossing over to the next building.
Cutscene two
He meets a woman who claims to have uncovered a conspiracy she explains that a powerful corporation from the above ground section of the city has been kidnapping children with wings in order to harness their powers and wipe them out. He is told to make his way home and await contact from her.
Level two
He runs of a rooftop and uses his wings to glide between the buildings.
Cutscene three
Arriving home, the character goes to collect his things, but discovers that his sister (Freya) is missing. In a panic he takes to the streets to look for her.
Level three
The player must use their abilities to check inside buildings and alleyways. Whilst searching the player is spotted by police and is now tasked with escaping them (linear platforming section)
Cutscene four
The woman from earlier arrives and saves the player from the people chasing him. She then explains the situation to him and asks for his help. Freyer agrees to help if she helps him find his sister.
Act 2
Level four
The player is provided a headset so that the woman (now named Geneva) can talk him through his task.
The player must traverse the sewers until he reaches an underground prison.
Level Five
The player must use the code finding and object moving mechanic to break into the building and search for his sister, upon finding her they are spotted leaving the building and he has one of his wings injured.
Cutscene five
Freyer and his sister are trapped in a room, with the prison guards attempting to break down the door. They spot a pair of mechanical wings and decide to steal them.
Level Six
The player must now complete an escape/ platforming sequence without the ability to glide.
Escaping the sewer the player realises he cannot go home. Geneva informs him of a hideout he can use so the player must make their way there, whilst making sure that they aren’t followed.
Cutscene six
Freyer is introduced to the rest of the resistance, in which a squad is formed to attempt to shut down the company’s operations.
Level seven
The player conducts their first mission, they must traverse the city to catch up to trucks carrying captured individuals to grow the resistance. Halfway through the mission The player is informed that they must break into another building to gather information about other trucks.
Cutscene seven
Freyer is caught whilst reading the information found in the previous level and is taken back to the prison. Later some of the people that the player saved break in to save him, delivering him a pair of mechanical wings which he can use to escape.
Act 3
Level eight
The player must solve puzzles to escape the prison.
Cutscene Eight
Geneva is using her abilities to travel across the city and inform the public about what is going on but nobody believes her. She meets up with Freyer outside of the prison, informing him that their plan to use protests as a distraction wasn’t working.
Level nine
The player and Geneva head back into the prison to free everyone in there.
Cutscene nine
Geneva explains that she is going to blow up the prison, she hands more explosives over to Freyer. The prison is blown up and Freyer uses the explosion to propel himself over to the building they from the first level.
Level Ten
The Player must traverse the city making their way to the building from the first level. The player must traverse the building, which has now finished construction, completing more complex puzzles in order to place explosives within the building.
Ending Cutscene
Freyer pulls the fire alarm to send staff outside, before he comes face to face with the CEO of this company, they talk before the CEO attempts to capture him, Freyer pulls the trigger to blow up the building as he jumps from the roof. Completing his mission.
Daniel Slater - Games Designer 