Lego Marvel Superheroes 2
Release: 2017 - Xbox One, Playstation 4, Switch and PC
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Overview:
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During the development of Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 I was tasked with two levels featured on the base game in addition to working on two downloadable level packs available for the game after its release.
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Both the base game levels "Symbiote Surprise" and "Hank-ger Management" I took from blockout to boxed product in addition to the DLC "The Great Escape" (Runaways level pack). Part way through its development I took over Egghead Eggs-Capade (Ant Man and the Wasp DLC level pack) after it was half finished and took it to its released state.
The summary of my role on these levels included:
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Working in coordination with the game design team in order to feedback and design engaging gameplay puzzles and expected time to complete its implementation
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Blocking out levels/puzzles mechanics to test flow and pacing
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Create 3D assets using the Lego modular building system, animate, optimse and export from Maya into the company's proprietary game engine
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Implement assets into the levels such as game mechanics and visual scripting in order to create gameplay that builds up the levels
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Work with other departments such as Programmers, VFX Artists, Environment Arts, In Game Cinematics and others to implement their respective elements into the level/puzzle
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Implement “mini” cinematic camera events
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Iterate on this process in order to make the gameplay as fun and engaging as possible
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Bug fixing and adding any polish to ensure the best experience for the end user
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The only difference as already specified was Ant-Man and the Wasp Level Pack, which I took on part way through its development.
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More information, screenshots and videos of this content can be found below.
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Symbiote Surprise
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 - Level 11
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This level is based in Spider-Man 2099s city of Nueva York in which a team is tasked with acquiring a nexus shard from Green Goblin.
The level is made up of two sections, the first is a puzzle based section which allows access to the second section, a unique boss fight in the game. I was responsible for taking both these sections from paper designs through to shipped products.
I enjoyed the development of these sections as they had interesting challenges to overcome, heavily focusing on technical implementation and collaboration with game programmers in order to reach the final product that can be seen below. I am particularly happy with the pressure pad sequence puzzle incorporating fail states if the player pressed any other pad that wasn't intended, the physics puzzle guiding a power core down several channels and the camera work required in order to visualise the gamespace.
Hank-ger Management
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 - Gwenpool Mission 7
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This level is one of the additional Gwen Pool rooms featured in the game and is comprised of puzzle gameplay with a mini boss fight in order to complete the level. It was particularly enjoyable as I set up the unique hacking puzzle on the pop out screen in addition to the two turrets at the levels start and the turret boss at the end of the level, which involved a lot of scripting and animation to implement.
One of the major hurdles of this level was the fact almost the whole area can be seen from the starting position, presenting issues such as vert/draw count. Because of this it was important all of the work I implemented was optimal as possible in addition to approaching gameplay at the sides of the play space (which was also reused from an existing area) in order to combat this problem. This is one of the main reasons the majority of the puzzles can be seen towards the left and right of the level, which can be completed in any order for the player to progress.
The Great Escape
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2: Runaways - Character and Level pack DLC
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This level had several interesting challenges ranging from resource limitation to some unique gameplay that needed creating from existing mechanics. The gameplay takes place in a relatively small level so extra attention had to be paid in terms of level flow and pacing.
Some of the unique challenges that required some interdisciplinary coordination was the puzzle focusing on freeing “old lace” who was stuck in a bubble within a flooded area. After I had implemented the basics of this puzzle it was clear that the already existing mechanics would require some additional code support it order to give the player good game feel while completing it. This ranged from adding some momentum when the player input had stopped to make it feel more like the character was actually in water and not too rigid, to having myself adjust default values (such as collision) the existing mechanic used in order to give the desired effect that was shipped.
Towards the end of this level it focuses heavily on animation, which is something I had to implement myself. Previously I had not rigged or animated characters which I ended up being responsible for in this level, being “Leapfrog” a giant sentient frog shaped transport vehicle and a fly that in gameplay would lure Leapfrog out. This ranged from rigging both these models, doing the full animations on these characters in addition to the camera work to frame these animations that are triggered to end the level.
Egghead Eggs-Capade
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2: Ant Man and the Wasp - Character and Level pack DLC
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