Project Monarch:
Level Design

        This is prototype level design for Project Monarch, a first person puzzle game inspired by the likes of Portal.

       The level design prototyping/blockout for Project Monarch was tricky due to the mechanics allowing the player to traverse the floors, walls, and ceiling of the environment. I wanted the game to have replayability and randomization as I often find those elements lacking in puzzle games, so I made the puzzles modular. Each modular section of the puzzle is interchangeable with ~1-2 alternative sections and each puzzle has ~1-2 sections total. Each section will be randomly selected upon startup, giving each puzzle ~6-9 unique combinations.

        The puzzles are sectioned into groups of 6-8 with each group slowly building upon a mechanic to help the player understand and learn each mechanic. Two groups often occupy the same scene with one group adhering to a common gravity and another group adhering to a different common gravity. This means a player will return to a similar area from a different orientation, giving them somewhat familiarity with the area but from a different perspective and new puzzles.