Game
Dark Queen

2 months ago

How we made our combat more juicy

During playtesting sessions we realized that our combat system didn't feel as engaging as it should.

Read about the steps we took to make it feel more impactful


This is the point we started from. It works but hits don't have any weight and it feels like you're just punching the air.

starting_point.gif

So we added...

Camera Shake

The most basic effect that immediately makes everything feel more juicy. Thankfully, Cinemachine has a built-in support for it so it's also easy to add :)

camera_shake.gif

Animation Freeze

Freezing character's animation for a fraction of a second makes it feel like time is bending under the weight of your hits. Very satisfying effect!

animation_freeze.gif

Particles

Another quick and easy one is we added blood particles on impact to make the enemy feel more meaty.

particles.gif

Blinking

Probably my favorite effect that we added is making the enemy blink white when he's hit. This clearly signals to the player that his input had a significant impact.

blinking.gif

Putting it all together

What started as basic light and heavy attacks grew into a system where every strike feels impactful, every hit registers clearly, and every fight becomes more dynamic and exciting. It’s not just about dealing damage, it’s about feeling it.

Wishlist Dark Queen on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3106050/Dark_Queen/



0 comments

Loading...

Next up

Finally I'm working on a new game!

#gamedev

Our Discord server is live!

We’re also gearing up for a playtest in the near future, and we’ll be looking for dedicated testers directly from our Discord community.

Devlog 1: Context & Background

Introducing the world of Dark Queen: A Journey into Myth, Legend, and History

Quests inspired by @WhitethornGames ' Spray Paint Simulator entered your quest log!

Bring color to the world! Restore worn-out surfaces with a fresh coat of paint & watch them come back to life.

Play the free demo to get started: https://bit.ly/spraypaintsimdemo

The Art Behind Dark Queen

...is rooted in iconic animations, and timeless pieces of art that evoke strong atmospheres and unforgettable visuals.

In this post we’ll take a look into some of the biggest inspirations that are shaping the world of Dark Queen.

Happy #WIPWednesday! Are you working on a game? Making some art? Practicing a song? Something else? Tell us in the comments!

After a really long break from making games completely independently, my team and I have started working on our new game, Dark Queen I'm very excited to show off our progress and hear feedback from GameJolt community! Let us know what you think

We showcased our game at 2 gaming events (even Deadpool played it).

People managed to tear it apart but that's just what we needed. Coming up soon: playtesting with our Discord community (https://discord.gg/RVZ2FZmabT)

@WhalesAndGames is a Jolter to Watch and an indie studio who creates positive, polished games and art brimming with whalistic personality! Follow @WhalesAndGames before the quest ends on May 20 and you'll get Coins!

Dark Queen is set in early 15th century Croatia. Players take on a role of the Crusader on a quest to rescue his beloved from the Dark Queen’s castle.

Inspired by Croatian literature and Slavic folklore, specifically the August Šenoa's The Snake Queen.