Designing A New Experience
Our development journey has been a wild ride full of lessons, experiments, and surprises! We set out to make a game that’s not just fun and exciting but one that grabs your attention and never lets go. We tried all sorts of design ideas—some failed, others we refined, tweaked, and even broke apart before finding the perfect fit. And guess what? All that hard work led us to something even bigger and more complex than we’d ever imagined. Take a look at the images below to see the incredible transformations we made, turning our game into a vibrant, living world far beyond what we started with in the alpha!
Combat has always been a core pillar of our design. When players engage in battles, we want to offer the thrill of hard-hitting, button-mashing fun while encouraging the strategic use of unique abilities and an intriguing magic system. Blending these three elements seamlessly wasn’t easy, especially when balancing enemy types to ensure they were enjoyable to defeat. However, after countless iterations and testing, we developed a combat system that perfectly aligns with the game’s style and vision. Below are some scenes showcasing how we’ve refined our combat design.🤜🏿🤛🏿
Here, we can see Astraia using her water crystal attack, which summons waves of water that crash against the enemy.
In addition to basic combat, players can now unleash the power of “Crystal Casting,” our unique magic system. Using one of the crystals equipped with the characters, you can summon their specific elemental effects. Astraia and Belles have access to six crystal-based attacks featuring Water, Fire, and Earth elements in our Vertical Slice. Experimenting with these crystals to discover which suits your combat style adds more fun and strategy to the experience!
Here, we can see Astraia using her multi-tool in a boomerang way and ending her combo with a large hammer slam.
Astraia’s moves have leveled up since the original Alpha! Her multi-tool attack now features a boomerang projectile, letting her hit enemies from afar. Plus, her combo finisher delivers a powerful slam that sends enemies flying, creating the perfect opening to dive into your next attack. These upgrades make her combat feel more dynamic and rewarding than ever!
Astraia uses her fire crystal attack to set flame bursts within her area and draws enemies in to take damage within the fire residue.
Crystal attacks were a blast to design in the Alpha, and we’ve taken them to the next level! To make them more impactful, we’ve enhanced their VFX and ensured each character has a unique spin on these abilities. Some crystal attacks are about offense, while others focus on defense, giving you plenty of tactical options. Experimenting and discovering which ones best match your playstyle adds an exciting layer of strategy to this updated mechanic! ✨💎
Astraia uses her fire crystal attack to set the trap and draws in enemies with her Gravity Machine ability—a good combo strategy.
Abilities can be seamlessly paired with other attacks, like crystal powers, to create devastating combos. By strategically combining them, you can gain the upper hand on your enemies, unlocking powerful synergies that give you the edge in battle. It’s all about finding the perfect mix to outsmart your foes!
Combat should be fun!
We set out to create an experience that’s not only fun but also gives players the freedom to explore different play styles. By combining Crystals, Combos, and Abilities, we’ve crafted a challenge that’s both exciting and rewarding, offering something for everyone to master and enjoy!
Belles focuses on quick jabs and kicks, allowing her to get close to enemies while pushing them back simultaneously.
She’s here at last! Abella—better known as Belles—has officially joined the game, and wow, does she bring the heat! We didn’t want her to feel like another Astraia with a fresh coat of paint. Instead, we built her from the ground up to play completely differently. While she still dishes out damage, she does so with lightning-fast punches and kicks, drawing inspiration from Dambe Boxing, a traditional Nigerian martial art still used in competitions today. Belles isn’t just a fighter; she’s a dynamic force, bringing her unique flair to the battlefield! 🥊✨
Here, we see both girls starting with their burst attacks. Astraia focuses on swinging her mace around while Belles goes directly for the multi-hit punches.
Burst attacks are an exciting new way to clear the field, letting you push back enemies with style and speed. They’re perfect for plowing through waves when you need to dominate the room quickly. What sets them apart? No two are the same! Astraia channels her strength into swinging her multi-tool like a massive mace while Belles unleashes a flurry of rapid punches in a blur of motion. Each burst is as unique as the characters themselves! 💥✨
Astraia uses her Golem Cannon to shoot enemies with beams of pure crystal energy, knocking them back while also causing damage.
Abilities are another fresh addition to the combat mechanics. Each character comes with their own set of unique abilities that can be activated during a fight. What’s exciting is that no two abilities are the same—even for the same character—so you can mix and match them using the Action Triggers in the HUD. This opens up a whole new layer of customization and strategy as you discover the perfect combination for each battle!
Belles uses her shadow steps to target multiple enemies at once in quick, rapid succession
Certain abilities let you target multiple enemies at once, instantly turning the tide of battle! The real fun comes from experimenting with all your characters’ unique abilities to find the most powerful combos. Strategic teamwork can leave your enemies reeling, and you’ll feel unstoppable as you master the art of taking down foes together!
Belles uses her water attack to damage crates that also hold items for collection
Like abilities, crystal attacks can smash through the environment in thrilling ways! While some objects are easy to destroy, experimenting with different crystal attacks to see how you can break things in new and exciting ways adds a whole extra level of fun. The chaos is part of the thrill!
Exploration in RPGs feels like embarking on a grand treasure hunt through a magical world! You journey through forests, deserts, and eerie caves, uncovering hidden secrets, collecting cool loot, and meeting quirky characters along the way. It’s about exploring every nook and cranny, stumbling upon surprises that make you think, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming!” This is the kind of experience we aim to provide, inviting players to see the world through Astraia’s eyes. Below, we outline how we’ve brought this vision to life within the Abandoned Factory level, a small yet vital piece of the larger narrative we’re telling.🗺️🧭
Each pickup object is ctaegorized by its own color so it’s easier to know what you have aquired.
The Abandoned Factory is brimming with treasures waiting to be discovered—materials, consumables, crystals, and more. Every corner hides something valuable, and scavenging becomes a game of curiosity and keen observation. The key? Interact with everything that catches your eye—you never know which seemingly ordinary object might hold something extraordinary!
The dynamic between Astraia and Belles is one of the fun parts of the narraitive. The cool calm collected one versus the hyperactive fun one.They are cute though!
Narrative moments are special conversations between Astraia and Belles, offering a deeper look into the story and their growing bond. While our narrative is rich, not everything can fit into the main cutscenes. These moments allow players to explore optional dialogue, adding layers to the tale while creating natural breaks in the storytelling. It’s a chance to connect with the characters more personally!
We added a lot more rooms and made them a bit more diverse from our old Alpha. Adding in the props, wall decorations, and tiles, it truly feels like an abandoned factory.
Though this level is short, we aimed to make every room stand out by carefully placing props and refining the walls and surroundings. Zakumba is a vibrant, diverse world, and the Abandoned Factory is just one glimpse into its many wonders! Each detail helps bring this unique setting to life.
It’s not just about breaking something, but how you break it which brings the most joy.
Who doesn’t love a bit of smashing? We packed the Abandoned Factory with breakable objects to keep the destruction as satisfying as possible. Crates, pillars, pallets, metal sheets—you name it, you can probably break it! Whether it’s with a basic combo, a crystal attack, or a flashy ability, there’s always something to shatter. Because, let’s face it, smashing stuff is just plain fun! 💥
Dashing is very enjoyable especially when you want to get through each room quickly. Here we see Belles leaving Astraia in the dust.
Sometimes, running just doesn’t cut it—you need a dash to get where you’re going! We’ve fine-tuned the dashing feature to make it snappier and more intuitive, letting you zip through areas with speed and precision. It’s all about keeping the momentum flowing and making movement feel effortlessly fun!
Exploring the detours!
Exploration should be a thrilling adventure, packed with surprises and exciting discoveries at every turn! We’ve designed it to be so much fun, you’ll want to jump back in over and over again, always enjoying the journey and the unexpected moments along the way.
UI is like the stylish lens through which you experience the story, blending function with personality. In our game, the UI takes the form of a journal written by Astraia, filled with her sketches, notes, and discoveries as she explores the world. This playful, hand-drawn style doesn’t just organize the adventure—it reflects her curiosity and perspective, pulling you deeper into the narrative. When the UI matches the story’s vibe, like a journal capturing her imagination, it turns every interaction into a piece of storytelling, making the world feel even more alive. 📖✨
In the Bag tab of the Pause Journal, Astraia keeps track of all the Materials, Crystals, Accessories, and Tools she finds or crafts during her journey. As you explore, you’ll get a peek into how Astraia sees the world with her fun and quirky descriptions of each item. These notes aren’t just entertaining—they also offer helpful and unique insights into what each item can do!
The People tab showcases everyone Astraia finds important in her life. As you explore and meet more of Zakumba’s residents, her journal will fill up with stories and details, offering a deeper look into the village of Pygunjú and the lives of its people. It’s a chance to connect with the world and discover the bonds that shape Astraia’s journey!
Creating an expereince…
The UI is one of the most important visual elements in the game, adding character to the player’s experience. By stylizing it and weaving it into Astraia’s story, we’ve made it a key part of the journey, making every interaction feel more personal and immersive.
In the Journal tab, you’ll find the Beastiary, where Astraia records the enemies she’s encountered and their weaknesses. While she views them as fun creatures, her notes give players helpful tips on recognizing each enemy’s abilities and the best way to take them down. It’s a mix of Astraia’s playful observations and useful battle strategies!
Astraia and Belles each have their own unique attacks and crystal abilities, but they’re limited by the number of slots available for equipping them. In the Team tab, you can customize which Abilities, Crystals, and Tools each girl carries, making sure you’re ready for any challenge or interaction the world throws your way!
We’ve gone through multiple iterations of the Start screen, as it’s the first piece of the game players see in this demo. Even though it’s a quick moment, it plays a big role in setting the tone and vibe for the adventure ahead. With "Coming of Age" as Astraia’s theme, every design choice has been carefully crafted to capture that feeling right from the start.
And more yet to come...
Zakumba: Astraia has been an incredible journey, and we’ve had a blast every step of the way! As we approach the final stages of our Vertical Slice demo, we’re gearing up to show the world what we’ve created and take the next big leap toward full game development. But this is just the beginning—Astraia’s next adventure is coming soon, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Dive into more exciting content about Astraia below and get a sneak peek into the world of Zakumba!
