Team Game Production 1: Fryfall
Development Info
Role: Game Designer, Level Designer, Sound Designer, Programming Support
Genre: 2D Grappling Platformer
Engine: Unity 2019.2.2f1
Team Size: 4 Developers
Team Name: Prickly Pear Studio
Development Time: 8 Weeks
RTM Date: December 3, 2019
Responsibilities
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Managed four team members throughout the process.
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Initial concept development.
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Assisted in design of all 3 levels.
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Designed and produced all in-game audio.
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Created character control scripts for movement, collection, grappling, and swinging.
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Created animation and sound management scripts.
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Implementation of all audio and animations.
Download
Click the icon above to download a .zip file of all materials associated with the Fryfall project.
Fryfall Trailer
Game Overview
Fryfall is a 2D grappling platformer based around a kitchen setting, a spy parody, and addictive movement. With no puzzles, Fryfall falls into the genre of a speedrunning platformer, with a focus on completionism and best time. The player utilizes interactive pegs to grapple their way across the level and escape from being cooked while also saving shrimp - which serve as the game's collectibles. With a comic book graphical style and a simple core mechanic, this game is appropriate for ages 7+.
Story Synopsis
The year is 2046 and the popularity of seafood cuisine is at an all time high. The humans have no concept of restraint and the population of marine life is dwindling. Just when all hope was lost, a secret organization rose up from the deep to do something about it, MISea. This elite task force was comprised of highly skilled marine wildlife with the sole purpose of rescuing captured sea critters. However, one agent stands above the rest. With his dashing good looks and cybernetically modified claw he swings into danger and rescues the unfortunate souls as they wait to be deep fried. His agility is unmatched and he’s always cool, even in hot water. Captured prey wait and hope that they are visited by the spirit from the deep, and he always answers the call on time. You asked his name? Prawn. James Prawn.
Design Pillars
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Kitchen Setting - A high cuisine restaurant kitchen provides the setting for the game, guiding its visual theme and helping players easily identify threats.
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Optional Challenges - Collectibles and best times are recorded across levels to encourage replayability and optional challenge beyond simple level completion.
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Fun Movement - Rather than having a detailed overarching narrative, Fryfall was focused around creating a genuinely fun play experience without unnecessary clutter or complexity.
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Spy Parody - Playing off of a pun on James Bond and its associated title Skyfall, the game maintains a light, humorous tone that suits its comic art style.
Level 1: "A Hero Arrives"
Level Summary
This level teaches how to move (drag slider left/right), swing (drag slider left/right while attached), and how to attach/detach from pegs (tap attach/detach button). The player begins in the lobster tank and must proceed to the right and reach the window in order to escape their culinary fate.
Level Details
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Level starts and player will have an opportunity to read tutorial sprites nearby to learn controls. Player then grapples out of the tank and swings to the right.
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Player activates first checkpoint and then uses the slider to move the character along the ground to the right.
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Player connects to the above peg near the end of the counter and must execute their first swing with consequences for failure (death, which resets player to checkpoint). After a successful jump, the player can use the consecutive pegs to perform consecutive swings or just slide along the ground.
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Player reaches the second checkpoint after performing the consecutive swings to get the shrimp or just sliding along the ground. They must now perform a swing to a slightly elevated peg with hazards below.
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Once reaching the elevated peg, the player can execute a similar jump to reach the shrimp above or simply drop to the lower peg.
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Player contacts the window and makes their escape.
Level 2: "On the Rise"
Level Summary
This level teaches/reinforces how to use the in game mechanics to gain height while swinging with the optimal release point. It also presents the first opportunity for players to choose a path instead of follow a certain one. As they learned in the previous level, they must proceed to the right in order to reach the window and make their escape.
Level Details
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The player grapples to nearby peg and lifts themselves out of the tank.
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Player must swing from the start peg to another peg with pots below. After completion they will see the first checkpoint nearby.
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After activating the first checkpoint, the player will need to execute a slightly elevated jump above a pot to collect a shrimp. They must then swing over a pit with stoves below to the next challenge.
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The player must now execute 3 consecutive elevated jumps that will require a high skill level for using this mechanic. On completion, they will reach the second in-game checkpoint.
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Once at the top, the player must make a long leap to the next peg. If they miss the timing of the top path, the bottom path gives them another chance to attach. Player may also slide down the diagonal instead of leaping and grab a nearby peg to take the lower path.
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Depending on which path the player takes, they will then need to execute consecutive swinging instances and collect shrimp. If they want to collect all shrimp, they will need to loop under or move up to the other path to collect them.
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Player launches themselves into the window and escapes.
Level 3: "Into the Fry"
Level Summary
This level teaches how gravity and good timing can be used to execute longer jumps and generate more speed than previously thought. It also tests mastery of the grappling skill and tests the player's reflexes and timing for both attaching and releasing.
Level Details
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Player uses their grappling to lift themselves from the tank. They must then execute a few consecutive swings, with hazards below, until they reach a drop off.
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Once at the drop off, the player must launch themselves into the pit. Once reaching the bottom, a counter will catch them, a checkpoint will activate, and the player will either skip this with good timing or realize that without the counter they would have died.
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The player will use the peg near the ledge to build up speed and swing down to the next level. With good timing, they will launch themselves to a midway peg that is over 2 hazards (or they can make it with a few swings back and forth to build speed).
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From the midway peg, the player will need to use good timing to launch their character through the tunnel. Doing so will activate a checkpoint.
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The player will be funneled within range of a peg below and use this peg to launch themselves past the hazards and down a level. However, the counters are no longer there to save the player, so the player will need to use good timing to swing from side to side and progress towards the exit.
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The player will then launch themselves into the window and escape.