Cellbound: Technical Slice

Disclaimer

This game is part of a series of projects tied to my portfolio. Please refer to my page to have more context on the project.

About

The following project was worked between 2023 and 2024, and its meant to be a Metroidvania within the human body. The idea isn't yet conveyed at an artistic level since this is a Technical Slice, that is, only the programming and technical aspects were done, therefore expect a lot of gray boxing and placeholder art.

This project was started alongside my brothers, working on the idea, the concept, the GDD and the mechanical exploration. Then I decided to present it as my career's final project alongside two other students whom I've worked with over the years. The project was accepted, and so we kept at it for the last year working the idea from the ground up.

My partners weren't familiarized with game development or Unity development, therefore I took on the mantle of a sort of mentor during the year we developed the project, working closely together and collaboratively. I had worked with other programmers before on projects, but not on a video game (only with artists or non-technical profiles), and much less as a mentor, it was a very challenging and enriching experience.

We implemented several advanced technologies and methodologies in the making of the slice including:

•  Hierarchical Concurrent State Machines for the Character Controller.
• Raycast based movement on enemies and main character to ensure absolute control on the feel of the player.
• A Scriptable Object based event system that decoupled systems and entities.
• Complex enemy behaviors by using a self implemented Behavior Tree system (asset store equivalents were expensive).
• Extendable system of player abilities.
• Implementation of code format guidelines for C# to keep code standards.
• Regular Code Reviews between all programmers done through Plastic SCM's toolings.
• Usage of SCRUM as an agile framework during the development of the game.
• Play testing with real end-users in order to attain feedback and improve the product.

And these are just the things that came up to mind. The team was congratulated by the Universities reviewers and ultimately attained a score of 98/100 for academical excellency.

How to play

The game is playable with mouse and keyboard or with an Xbox 360 or Xbox One game controller.

The experience was designed for the use of an Xbox One controller and, therefore, the tutorials within the game are integrated for Xbox controllers specifically.

The following list shows the game actions and their respective controls on keyboard and mouse:

GENERAL ACTIONS:

• Move left and right - A/D
• Duck - S
• Look up or down - Keep W/S pressed
• Jump - Spacebar
• Force wave - Spacebar on air or left shift on air.
• Heal - Hold E with three cores.
• Attack with sword - Left click + WASD to input direction
• Buy item/ Interact/Save - W

UNLOCKABLES:

• Move orb - Mouse pointer
• Deploy Orb - Q or Right click derecho after throwing orb.
• Throw Orb - Right click
• Use explosion ability - R with enough energy

MENUS

• Map - Tab
• Pause Menu - Escape