How a Level of Beast Squad Works

Since I've only given a vague description on how the gameplay of Beast Squad works, I guess now would be as good time as any to do so. I'll use the first level of the game as an example to keep things simple.

Each level in the game is divided into two parts, which I will call the "setup" phase and the "action" phase. The first part is like a puzzle, where you plan out how you will complete the level, and the second requires quick reflexes in order to execute your plan and correct any mistakes. Let's look at a zoomed out view of Level 1-1:

The goal is to get your flying squirrel (yet to be named) from the left side of the stage to the right without colliding with any of the obstacles. In this case, you can see that the only thing standing in our way is the branch of thorns in the middle.

Since flying squirrels don't technically fly, when you start the action phase, it will quickly glide forward, but not fast enough to get through the gap before gravity pulls it too far down. Thus in setup mode, we need to place a floating trampoline (rocket-propelled if you must know) before we hit the thorns.

It is very common that the positions of the berries give hints as to where to place trampolines to get through a level. Here, we can just place a trampoline right below the second berry.

That should be enough setting up to get us through the stage (this is the first level after all), so we can hit the "Go" button to begin the action phase. The squirrel will let go of the tree and glide, following the path of the berries, bounce off the trampoline, soar over the thorns, and make it to the tree on the right side.

During the action phase, you will have a single button available for you to access your beast's special ability. The squirrel's ability is to curl up into a ball in order to drop at a faster rate. This does not give you much more control over him, so it won't make up for a poor setup phase, but it just might get you out of a close call. Regardless, the only penalty for death is quickly starting over at the beginning of the level. All of your trampolines will still be intact for you to make slight adjustments and try again.

Since we used the minimum number of trampolines possible and collected every berry in the level, we even earned an A-rank. Throughout the game, you will be able to collect well over 1000 berries (1471 at my last count) as well as attempt to get an A-rank on each of the levels (60 levels in the initial release), as well as unlock a bunch of achievements for particularly skilled play.

Hopefully this made some sense, though I think a video would better convey the gameplay. Once I figure out how I'm going to do that, I'll post it for all to see. In the meantime, I need to get back to the programming and get this thing done.

Progress Update (7/26)

Okay, it's been exactly one month since my last post, but that's only because I've been working so hard to get this game done soon. I have accomplished so much in the past month, though, that it has gone by so fast; so here is a rundown of what is done and what I have yet to do.

First off, the good stuff. The actual gameplay itself is pretty much complete. I recently finished playing, replaying, and re-replaying (in some cases, add a few more "re"s) all of the levels to make sure that they are balanced and fair. When showing it to some family and friends, I was surprised by how challenging they found some of the levels, as I was afraid it would be the opposite. Nevertheless, it was usually easier to tone down the difficulty and remove some cheap deaths, but in a few cases, I just scrapped the levels and created new (better) ones.

I also added in some hints in the first couple of levels in order to put players on the same page. I was surprised by the elaborate setups some people created to complete a level, when a simple solution appeared so obvious to me. I guess that's why developers tend to test their games before releasing them, right? I'm glad I followed that approach.

Example of a hint in one of the earlier levels

Finally, I finished all of the graphics for the iOS version, as I needed a few smaller sprites and buttons for the smaller screen space.

Now the to-do list, which actually seems to be starting to get more manageable. A couple days ago, I decided it would be pretty cool to add a few achievements into the game, so I ended up devising 21 of them. I am almost finished implementing them into the game, but that also required setting up an achievements system, which actually went a lot smoother than I had imagined. I still have a little more work to go on them, but it should take little more than a day or so.

The achievement list in the game

The main issue now is to get the performance of the iOS version up to speed during the actual gameplay. I have a few ideas how to do this, so I'm not too worried about it, though it might take a decent amount of time.

I also need to figure out how to make a trailer for the game as well, but I can't see that being too difficult. I really wish I had any idea how to market a game, but I guess I'll learn as I go along.

Anyway, that's where I'm at right now. I can't wait until everyone gets to play it!

The Story of Beast Squad

So what's the excuse for having animals flying around a bunch of thorns and other obstacles? Rather than me trying to explain such an intricate and well-thought-out subject (sarcasm!), here's how the story is told in the actual game (click the images to see them full-size):

Okay, so maybe it's not Pulitzer-caliber stuff, but who needs an excuse to have fun?

A New Game Draws Near: Beast Squad

Now that I finally got around to starting the website, it's time to show off the game that I have been working on since last October (all of the homework and studying in college has definitely slowed the development process).

Beast Squad is a single-player 2D game that will be available for iOS and Android devices later this summer, along with a modified browser version for those who want to give it a quick try. The objective of each level is to get your beast from the left side of the stage to the right while avoiding all of the obstacles (like thorny vines, projectile-spitting plants, and hovering spikes) in your way.

Simple enough? Of course not. Once your beast starts moving, you will only have a limited amount of control over it (depending on which beast you are using), so before that, you must strategically place trampolines throughout the stage. These tools will let you bounce around the obstacles standing between you and your goal.

Since the slightest touch with any of the obstacles will defeat your beast, the levels themselves are relatively small, which I found greatly reduces the frustration of death. The player will be able to quickly retry from the beginning of the level without any further punishment (i.e, there is no limited number of lives, and all of your trampolines stay right where you left them).

Of course, skilled players will be rewarded as well. After completing a level, the player will be given a rank of A, B, or C based on the number of trampolines used and the number of berries scattered around the stage that were collected. Fewer tools and more berries lead to better ranks. The player will also have the option to tweet the number of A-ranks and berries they collected to brag to their friends.

In the next few posts, I will explain the story behind the game as well as introduce the beasts you will be able to use.