Gonarch's Lair

Throughout the chapter Gonarch’s Lair I was responsible for polish and gameplay refinements, as well as scripting the Gonarch’s behaviour and designing combat spaces in several locations.

Finale

The finale level is the one I was responsible for. I built the final blockout from the ground up and layered in combat and puzzle encounters that earlier versions of the level had been lacking, turning it into a tense and varied sequence of gameplay moments.

I’m particularly happy with this level’s pacing, which unpredictably weaves the player through tight corridors and large cavernous spaces with a strong ebb and flow. You’re never quite sure what’s coming next: whether it will be a chase, a combat encounter, a moment of exploration, or a puzzle.

Pictures don’t quite capture the energy of this level due to its highly scripted and chaotic nature, so I’ve included a short video run-through below to better showcase how it plays.

Building this level taught me the importance of designing gameplay first, rather than trying to retrofit it into existing spaces. Prior versions of the level felt empty, with limited interaction with the Gonarch, repetitive combat encounters, and lengthy periods of nothingness. As a result, the final boss lacked any real build-up.

When rebuilding the level, I used the existing spaces as a loose guide, but focused first on ensuring gameplay variety across the level. The layout was then shaped around that flow of ideas, rather than the other way around. This shift made a huge difference in how the level ultimately came together.

One section I’m particularly fond of is the “slot canyon”, where Gonarch can’t reach you but constantly bombards you with Bebcrabs, stabs through narrow gaps, and stalks you from above. It plays out like a horror movie!