Joshua Copley-Vickers
Games & Levels DesignER
About
Genre: Third Person Shooter, Adventure, Platformer
Platform: PC
Project Length: 1 week, Oct 2024
Roles: Level Designer
Software Used: Unreal Engine 5.3, PureRef, Github (Anchorpoint), Adobe Photoshop, OBS Studio, Davinci Resolve
This Ancient Egyptian-themed linear level, set inside a tomb, focuses on creating an immersive platforming experience. Key design considerations included guiding players with intentional lighting, balancing traversal challenges with exploration, and maintaining visual clarity in a dark, atmospheric environment. The level's design emphasizes environmental storytelling and gameplay flow, offering a cohesive and engaging experience.
An adventurer, driven by whispers of lost treasure and ancient power, embarks on a perilous journey deep into the heart of the desert. Their goal: the untouched tomb of the legendary Pharaoh Narmer, a ruler from the dawn of Egypt, whose burial site has remained hidden for millennia. As the adventurer, your mission is to uncover the tomb's secrets and claim its treasures.
Walkthrough
Level Progression
buried below the sand
The player spawns in a closed chamber designed to immediately focus attention on the path ahead through the use of directional lighting and shadow contrast. A warm, glowing light at the far end creates a clear visual cue, drawing the player toward the downward-leading passage.
The space is intentionally minimal to prevent distractions, allowing players to absorb the atmospheric lighting and ancient architectural design, setting the tone for the level. This introduction teaches players to follow light as a guide, a design reinforced throughout the tomb.
To evoke a sense of a greater world beyond the tomb, specific design elements were carefully placed at the start of the level. Dark silhouettes of trees are visible through gaps in the ceiling, hinting at the vast desert above and grounding the player in a larger context. A dangling rope provides a narrative clue, suggesting how the adventurer descended into this ancient space. Subtle sand particles falling through the cracks emphasize the tomb's fragility and age, reinforcing its long-forgotten and weathered history. These details were crucial in building immersion and connecting the confined tomb to the expansive world outside.
Deeper into the tomb
The next segment introduces a descent into the tomb via a staircase, leading players into an area filled with makeshift structures. These structures break up the otherwise flat environment, providing visual and gameplay variety. They encourage players to interact with the environment through crouching mechanics and navigating different terrain heights, adding depth to the traversal experience. This area serves as an introduction to more dynamic level elements, gradually increasing the complexity of exploration and movement while maintaining the immersive atmosphere of the tomb.
Pitfall
This section introduces the player to platforming gameplay, guiding them across a series of elevated, hexagonal pillars suspended above a seemingly endless drop. The warm torchlight from the platforms highlights the path, while the contrast between the lit surfaces and the dark void below creates tension and focus. Suspended chandeliers add visual interest and reinforce the ancient tomb's grandeur. Players are required to time their jumps carefully, testing their coordination and navigation skills, while the design subtly builds anticipation for what lies ahead. This area emphasizes precision and reinforces the tomb's precarious, decayed state.
Guided by the Glow
This blue-lit chamber contrasts the warm light of the previous path, naturally guiding the player forward. The glowing obelisk and reflective lighting highlight the path, aiding navigation around pitfalls while enhancing the tomb's mysterious and immersive atmosphere.
Path to the Pharaoh's Rest
The warm torchlight frames the descent, contrasting the dark void to draw focus toward the illuminated statue in the tomb’s final chamber. The composition emphasizes depth and mystery, naturally guiding the player's eye while building anticipation. As the player descends the stairs and approaches the broken wall, the final room gradually becomes less obstructed, enhancing the sense of progression and discovery.
The final chamber emphasizes scale and grandeur—the Pharaoh's final resting place. A towering statue, surrounded by glowing pillars, draws the player’s attention. Dark areas of the room create contrast, ensuring focus on the illuminated centerpiece. A broken wall section, supported by a fallen pillar, provides a deliberate climbing path for players to gain a vantage point, introducing verticality and exploration. The imposing scale and thoughtful lighting seamlessly guide the player while enriching the atmosphere of ancient mystery and reverence.
