3D platormers _what do you know about it
Hello guys , im trying to create a 3d platformer , i need to know a lot of things before i start , i didn't find a lot of information on the internet especially about 3D platformers , please write EVERYTHING you know about it ! THANKS
my favority platformers :
-Crash Bandicoot
-Jak and Daxter
-Ratchet and Clank : not played yet
-Sly Cooper : not played yet
also ther are few things tha confuses me like :
- How to place platforms , is ther a pattern for placing them ?
- How much distance between each platforms ?
- Whats the different chalenges that should be placed in the game ?
- Where to place collectable pieces/coins ?
- How many enemies should attack at once ?
- Where to place NPC's etc .....
if you have any idea or advice please share
my favority platformers :
-Crash Bandicoot
-Jak and Daxter
-Ratchet and Clank : not played yet
-Sly Cooper : not played yet
also ther are few things tha confuses me like :
- How to place platforms , is ther a pattern for placing them ?
- How much distance between each platforms ?
- Whats the different chalenges that should be placed in the game ?
- Where to place collectable pieces/coins ?
- How many enemies should attack at once ?
- Where to place NPC's etc .....
if you have any idea or advice please share
Replies
Not necessarily, you want to place your platforms in the way that best suits the level you're making. If you're trying to create a forest environment, place your platforms wherever it makes sense that there would be a rock, a mushroom, or whatever else your platforms need to look like. Mostly it's about flow. Design your level so that each section feels a little different, and so that it gets progressively more difficult as the game goes on.
- How much distance between each platforms ?
That will depend on the difficulty you want. If you want it to be a very difficult jump, place them far away from each other. If you want it to be impossible until you get a powerup later on, space it for that powerup. Mostly just measure out the jump distance of your character and space things out based on that. The jump distance should depend on what your character is, and what visually makes sense for that character.
- Whats the different chalenges that should be placed in the game ?
Varies wildly based on the type of game you're making. Mario was served well by enemies and puzzles. Portal was best served with nothing but puzzles (turrets weren't really enemies so much as a clever sort of wall). Ask yourself what sort of game you're creating and then figure it out from there.
- Where to place collectable pieces/coins ?
That depends as well. Collectibles are a reward. Place them when you feel like the player needs to be rewarded for a particular action. If you're going the route of mario coins, use them liberally, but don't just scatter them randomly. Use them to point a player to where they need to go next, or to something interesting that they may want to interact with that's off the beaten path.
- How many enemies should attack at once ?
That depends on what your character can handle. Does your character fight like Mario? Mario wouldn't be able to take more than 1 or 2 enemies at once. There are moments when they throw 3 at you in Mario 64 and those moments are hectic and difficult. However, if your character is equipped to fight a bunch of enemies at once (Ratchet, for instance) you can afford to throw enemies more liberally. Pace the game according to your character and it won't make any difference to the way the game feels. It's all about what sort of character you're designing.
- Where to place NPC's etc .....
Place them so that they serve as quest reminders or as rewards for good play. If your NPC is a shop, place them in areas where the player can find them as a reward for exploration. If your NPC is relevant to your quest, place them in an area that the player is directed towards by your level design, coin layout, visual cues, etc. Ask yourself what the NPC is doing: Is it a reward? is it a challenge? is it a part of the story? and then place accordingly.
When creating a level blockout it a grid becomes useful for more than just snapping modular pieces together
thanks for the tips :poly121:
what do you mean by grid/block system ... ?
how the grid can be useful apart snapping modular pieces ?
I think that the reasons for the lack of 3D platformers come down to the level of finesse required with the camera and controls. The most important part of a 3d platformer is the camera, and the precision of the controls. Get those right, and I think you're half way there.
this game looks realy cool !
is ther some resources for 3d platformer camera setting apart from Unity tutorials ?
I'd suggest purchasing 'Master Camera' from the Unity Asset Store, and modifying it as needed for your game as your game takes shape. It's a good base to start from, for most camera setups.
thanks , i'll check it out :poly121: