2025-09-03 12:13

STATUS: #seed

TAGS: game mechanics, gameplay, hazards, level 2

GDD LVL 2

1. Level Overview

Title: World of Feeñ
Genre: Atmospheric survival platformer / narrative runner

Platform: Mobile/Exploratory side scoller

Core Concept: Play as Feeñ, a glowing spirit seed within a water drop, navigating a scorched plain, formerly part of the forest, while having to balance exposure to sunlight which leads to evaporation as well as the sprouting of a vine, an ability which lets him grab, touch, and fight from a distance as well as overcome obstacles and transform corrupted Mabou. The goal is to traverse the plain using the shade of clouds, solitary trees that survived the logging, and the refuge of small groves to replenish energy. There, Feeñ finds some of his memories, learns how to access the spirit zone, and saves the species that are trapped on these serene islands. But the groves can lull the player into a dangerous sense of security because eventually they fall victim to the destruction and Feeñ is back in the harsh reality of the scorched plain.

When he reaches the swamp, clouds have gathered, it starts raining and the cliffhanger for Level 3 is the beginning of a thunderstorm with the lightning and an initial view of the swamp.

Estimated Playtime: 5-10 minutes

Replayability Features:

• Moral / Ethical Choices: Outcomes differ depending on selfish vs. selfless choices

Character:

2. Narrative & World

Setting: Scorched plain littered with tree trunks, cracked, dried out soil, burning sun with few clouds in the sky, machines logging in the distance, solitary standing trees strewn across the landscape, small, intact, peaceful groves for replenishment which also feature isolated intact mycelium networks (save zones). Smoldering but contained fires from slash-and-burn.

Tone: Cinematic, surreal, somewhat peaceful and exploratory but with the constant threat of heat and sun—feels hectic when having to get over sun-exposed patches, and peacful when reaching a grove.

Storytelling Style: Environmental storytelling, inner monologue in “safe zones,” visual memory flashes

Structure/Narrative progression: Emerging from the forest shadow → Realizing scale of destruction → Introduced to vulnerability to sunlight → Introduced to spirit jaegers → Dodging hazards → Saving species → Exploring groves (Memory triggers/Cut scenes) → Reaching the swamp (cliffhanger)

Theme Integration:

• Interconnection/Interdependence of all life
• Environmental destruction
• Spiritual connection/disconnection
• Choice & consequence (Save a seed)

3. Gameplay

Core Loop: Dodge hazards → Transform corrupted Mabou → Save endangered species → Enter calm zone (groves) for story fragments/collectibles/puzzles → Escape again

Player Actions: Roll, dodge, jump, deform, shoot vine

Game feel:

On the scorched plain:

• To dodge the multiple hazards that might coincide needs skill, timing and sometimes patience
• The sense of momentum; accelerating from a standstill takes time, but reaching maximum velocity feels exhilarating and smooth
• Speed is both a reward and a challenge: successfully navigating the terrain at a fast pace feels satisfying, but the game often punishes reckless speed with hidden traps or sudden hazards, creating a tension between “going fast” and careful observation
• rolling, spin dashing, jumping—fuels the sense of kinetic energy and allows skilled players to string together runs with outstanding fluidity

In the groves

• Contemplative, emotionally evocative, and visually immersive
• Exploratory: New abilities can be tested in temporary peace (until grove gets destroyed)
• Story beads and memory drops create a sense of calm and provide background information

Hazards:

1. Burning sun/Evaporation hazard
2. Erosion (Canyon)
3. Corrupted Mabou
4. Harvesters (logging machines)
5. Whirlwinds/tornadoes

Multiple Endings: Player choices lead to different story outcomes.
Animals can drink Feeñ and can then be possessed by Feeñ.
Level 2 transitions into moon-lit night - Introduction to "Moontime" (slower "under water" feel movement)

Control Scheme: Swiping, holding, tapping, pressure-holding (Feels like pulling and shooting a bow?)

Difficulty Scaling: Non-linear scaling difficulty

• Difficulty on scorched plain:
  • Rate increases as the player advances. Might include gradually introducing hazards/enemies, faster obstacle timings, or higher environmental risk (i.e. narrowing platforms or less margin for error)
• Difficulty in groves:
  • Time limits or environmental hazards escalate (fire spreading, machines encroaching, toxic gas killing off the leaves/turning brown), either at a fixed rate or in response to specific player actions.
  • Rewards for quick action or penalties for overstaying, balancing the tension between exploration and survival.
  • Occasionally adaptive difficulty, where the zone decays faster for players who are doing well or lingers longer if players have struggled recently, to maintain consistent flow

(add Narrative-Based Scaling in coming levels - difficulty scales based on decisions taken)

Game Over Conditions: Loss of all collected seeds/animals/abilities
If the player fails, the water drop loses form and disintegrates into a puddle with the seed lying in it. If touched by fire, the drop shrinks and if it evaporates completely, the seed burns to dust. Player restarts at the beginning of the level. The player can fail as often as they want.

Checkpoints/Save System: Automatic save at checkpoints (Groves/Flashbacks)

4. Zones/Levels

Safe Zones: Peaceful memory-space (5–10 sec), acts as a checkpoint and storytelling moment

Spirit Zone:
Visual: Glow and psychedelic color effect/double exposure
Slower movement
Plant communication is visible through color and mycelium
See phytoncides as glowing mist
In spirit zone, the hazards are depicted like "shadows" or rather like "phantom energy".

5. Skills & Abilities

Biomass collection:

• Floating Seeds (Like dandelion)
• Seeds on the ground
• Possibly animals/especially Insects

The Vine:

• Grab or touch things from the distance
• Swing or pull up on trees, overcome canyons or move up steep walls
• Fight enemies, transform Mabous
• Anchoring in flowing water or ground during storm

Spirit Shift / Zone Shift:
Shift between Earth Zone and Spirit Zone
Uses energy bar—when depleted, player returns to Earth Zone
Used to dodge obstacles or escape danger

Mycelium Network:
Trails Feeñ’s movement underground
Surfaces as glowing mushrooms, grants energy boost, need to be found by player

Moral mechanic:

1. Share energy with fleeing animals or save it for yourself (by touching it, getting close to it)

Rebirth (?):
Upon “death,” Feeñ transforms into a weaker or contextually hindered form
Could be introduced as a Level 2 mechanic

Time Mechanics:

Spirit zone has slower movement than earth zone
Different gravity feel

6. Mechanics

Survival Tools:
Energy/Stamina bar (for shifting or force field)

Upgrade or Progression System
The vine

7. Visual & Audio Style

Art Style: Misty, soft-edge layered parallax, vibrant bioluminescence

Feeñ Design: Glowing Seed Drop

Audio:
Dynamic ambiance (calm → chaos → calm)
Subtle music that reflects time of day or zone

Text-based Monologue
UI/UX Design (?)
Color Palette & Mood Boards (?)

8. Technical/Development

Engine: Unity (suggested)

Format: 2D with dynamic layering

Performance Targets (?)

Localization Plans (?)

Input & Accessibility Features (?)

9. Environment & Obstacles

Human-made:

Oil puddles (slip, DoT if burning)

Circular saws, workers, machines, flame throwers

Natural:

Falling trees

Toxins (gas/chemicals/visual distortion)

fire

Spirit Zone Dangers: Getting in contact with the grey, colorless blotches

10. Side Quests & Moral Choices

Spirit Animal Quests:

Optional encounters

Tasks like saving endangered species or rescuing seeds

Mycelium Sharing Dilemma:

Share energy with fleeing animals or keep it for survival

11. Development Needs

Programmer: Core mechanics, zone shifting, hazards, AI

Artist: Visual transitions, glowing effects, destruction layering

Sound Designer: Dynamic chaos/calm transitions, environmental design

Team Roles & Assignments (?)

12. Production Plan

Prototype: Zone shift, possession, safe zone loop

Alpha: All mechanics and level transitions

Beta: Storytelling, voice/text monologues, polishing

Final: Testing, UX/UI, localization

Budget & Funding Strategy (?)

Marketing Plan (?)

Playtesting & QA Plan (?)

First Level Timeline:

REFERENCES