Edge of Hell’s Level Flow, Narrative Influences, & Overarching Design Philosophy:

When planning the levels of Edge of Hell, I knew early on that I wanted to explore as many visually distinct areas as possible to really awe the player. My creative take on the realm between realms, Purgatory, was to split it into 3 different biomes to represent the chaotic and unpredictable setting the player found themselves in. The player acts as the demon from Hell, Abaddon, who has never journeyed the realm of Purgatory before, so I wanted the player to feel surprised to see that the realm just beyond Hell wasn’t just exclusively predictably hellish landscapes. In the narrative of our game’s universe, Abaddon has successfully conquered the realm of Hell, beating out his rival Azrael. Despite this, Azrael catches Abaddon off-guard right before they both ascend to the next realm to conquer it. It is here, at the edge of hell, where Abaddon is defeated and stripped of his powers. They both want to ascend to conquer Hell, Purgatory, and the ultimate prize: Earth. Making Purgatory a gradient between Hell and Earth was the goal. To succeed in this endeavor, the areas of Purgatory go from the unlivable backyard of Hell, to a tough-to-survive in desert-themed temple, to the frigid snowy edge of Earth’s barrier.

All of my levels were mindfully crafted to fulfill a particular purpose in the game. Level One, named Infernus, was designed to be a linear experience that carefully taught players the basics of the game. The large open spaces give players room to maneuver with the new controls. Tutorial boxes were carefully placed in areas the player was guaranteed to go, teaching them one step at a time how to light attack an enemy, how to use the ranged attack, how to save their progress, how to open gates, how to block, etc. The player is taught one mechanic at a time through an effective process that gives the player immediate opportunities to try out what they’ve just learned. The enemy density is overall less dense than later levels as to not overwhelm the player as they practice their abilities and moveset. Player choice was front of mind when building this level, which led to multiple available pathways to progress forward despite the overall linear design. To reduce player fatigue, I paced the entire level in a way where there would be minimal back-to-back experiences. For example, after a tense action-filled zone filled with enemies to fight, there would be a breather in the form of open areas to explore or a thought-provoking platforming parkour section. Then, after the break from the action, the next enemy room would be even more challenging than the last. This beautifully paced rhythm kept players from becoming too bored or too stressed at any given time, while simultaneously keeping gameplay fresh and varied for maximum player enjoyment. Collectibles are placed in arrangements that encourage players to move towards certain objectives and explore every nook and cranny of the world. Item pick-ups, like health and mana, are generously found throughout Infernus, and checkpoints are abundant near potentially tricky sections such as the lava parkour zone. Level one’s goal was to teach the player the mechanics of the game in a manageable environment via its linear structure, mindful pacing, and forgiving quantity of items.

Infernus = Linear Volcanic Hellscape Tutorial

Ergus = Complex & Dangerous Desert Temple That Tests Your Skills

Tundrus = A Guantlet of Mastery, Snowy Ascent To The Finale