ABOVE THE VOID

Above
The Void

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SETTING

Set across the upper streets of a cyberpunk city, this level uses height, landmarks, and strong visual guidance to lead the player toward a central tower. The design focuses on readable progression, vertical scale, and a constant sense of moving closer to the final objective.

DESIGN

Pacing

1 - The Appartement

The Apartment is the opening block of the level, introducing the player to the core mechanics in a safe, readable space. It establishes the first main objective and gives the player time to understand the gameplay language before the pacing escalates.

Introduced Item: Telekinesis Device

2 - The Diner

The Diner validates the Spline Hook mechanic through traversal and the first major combat encounter, introducing the Flamethrower enemy in a gated, no-return space.

Its visual identity mixes a 1950s diner with neon-chrome elements, using the Spline Hook as part of a waiter-style service system. This area also introduces the player’s first interaction with the metro system through the Keycard and Keycard Machine.

Introduced Item: Keycard

2 - The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is a two-phase combat space, beginning with a forced sniper moment before opening into a larger arena encounter. Containers shape cover, sightlines, and traversal paths, turning the area into a layered combat playground.

This section introduces the Flying Medic enemy, adding pressure by forcing the player to prioritize support targets during open-space combat. The player’s goal is to push through the bazaar and locate the metro station to exit the area.

Introduced Objects: Sniper

4 - Little breath

The Little Breath Moment gives the player a short release in pacing while reinforcing their progression toward the main objective: the Tower. The player can also feel closer to the Flying Car Highway, moving in the same flow as the surrounding city traffic.

The space keeps the player lightly engaged through a low-pressure encounter with the Flying Medic AI, creating a passive-active beat between larger combat sections. On exit, the player follows the Spline path forward and is gated again to maintain direction and pacing control.

5 - The Trashyard

The Trashyard opens into a wide combat space built around cover clusters, verticality, and altitude opportunities. Its layout gives the player more freedom to reposition while navigating layered sightlines and elevated paths.

This section introduces a small progression puzzle where the player uses Telekinesis to throw explosive barrels and break a container door, forcing the Barrel Throw mechanic if it has not already been discovered. The player can also find a third weapon here, expanding their combat options.

Introduced Object: Automatic Weapon

6 - Tower Balcony

The Tower Balcony acts as the final approach before entering the Tower, giving the player a strong viewpoint over the city and a clear sense of arrival. Its lower placement was kept after testing, as it created stronger composition, better sightlines, and a more readable connection to the surrounding environment.

The area functions as a medium-sized combat playground where the player can use all previously learned mechanics. A circular Spline Hook at the center allows fast repositioning across the arena, creating fluid movement and dynamic combat opportunities.

A short second section leads the player toward the final Metro Station, before taking the elevator up and reinforcing the feeling that this is the last step before the objective.

7 - The Boss

The Boss Arena is built around a semi-symmetrical layout that uses height variation to create readable combat patterns and strong positioning choices. Two circular Spline Follow Hooks give the player different movement options, allowing them to fight from closer or wider angles while targeting the boss weak spot: the eye.

The fight progresses through three waves, each triggered by the player’s progress in destroying the shield. Once the shield is fully destroyed, the boss remains locked in an aggressive attack state, increasing the arena hazards and forcing the player to stay mobile until the final damage phase.

The player is gated inside the arena until the boss is defeated, then released toward the ending once the fight is won. The more damage dealt before the shield break, the shorter and more controlled the final phase becomes.

8 - Epic Ending

The Ending is designed as a grand finale after the player’s full journey through the level. The player moves onto a balcony above the void, creating a strong final reveal and a moment of release after the boss encounter.

From this viewpoint, the player witnesses a strange launch sequence, leaving the scene intentionally ambiguous between missiles and spaceships. The goal was to give the player a sense of accomplishment while keeping a final note of mystery about what this world truly is, and where it is heading.

Level Design Objects

Regular Hook

A fixed traversal anchor used to create controlled movement opportunities in the level. When targeted by the player, the hook triggers a smooth curved jump, turning static level objects into readable and interactive navigation points.

Spline Follow Hook

A guided traversal variation where the hook follows a static spline path through the level. The player can attach to the hook and move along the path in either direction, creating controlled navigation routes, readable movement flow, and more dynamic traversal opportunities.

Car Hook

A traversal hook parented to a moving vehicle following a spline-based highway path. Once the player attaches to it, they inherit the hook’s movement, allowing them to ride along with the car and use moving level elements as part of the traversal flow.

Gates

Keycards

Keycards are progression items dropped by enemies after a defined number of deaths during combat encounters. This allows each gated battle to guarantee a minimum number of Keycards, giving clear control over how many progression items are spawned in the space.

The player must collect these Keycards and use them later to unlock the next gate through a Keycard Machine.

Keycard Machines

Keycard Machines validate Keycard-based progression and are placed near gates so the player can easily find or return to them.

They provide feedback through animated sprites, raycast outline, UI text, and confirmation sound. When activated, they disable the metro force field and stop traffic until the player exits the tracks at the intended destination. Once used, they cannot be activated again.

Upgrade Machines

Upgrade Machines let the player buy HP, Weapon Damage, and power-ups: Hook Pound, Shock Shot, and Enemy Telekinesis Throw. They support combat depth and boss fight preparation while also acting as clear Respawn Points.

Feedback is given through animated sprites, animated 3D elements, and sound effects on approach and interaction.

AI's

Average AI — Baseline Ranged Unit

A common ranged enemy designed to maintain combat pressure through slow, readable tracer shots. Its small magazine creates reload windows, giving the player clear opportunities to dodge, reposition, or counterattack. Used frequently across the map as the baseline threat for encounter pacing.

Flamethrower AI — Close-Range Pressure

A close-range enemy designed to force player movement through sustained flame damage. When the player enters its attack radius, it activates its flamethrower and continuously pressures the player within range. Its weapon tracking allows it to follow the player’s position, creating a dangerous but readable attack pattern that encourages dodging, repositioning, and keeping distance.

Flying Medic AI — Support Unit

A flying support enemy that prioritizes healing injured allies before engaging the player. When no ally needs support, it switches to an offensive behavior: if the player enters its follow range, the medic will stay close and rotate around them, creating constant pressure and making it harder to ignore. This makes the medic a high-priority target during encounters, as it can both extend enemy survivability and disrupt the player’s positioning.