INTRA NEBULAS

Science Fiction Video Game | Capstone Project

🏆 First Place - Mansoura University Science Fair Competition

Year: 2021 - 2022
Role: Project Lead & Game Designer
Team Size: 9 developers
Engine: Unreal Engine
Platform: PC
Development Time: 1 year.

Playtime: ~20 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction Action Game

Game Overview: A sci-fi action platformer set on a desolate planet where players navigate through the ruins of an advanced civilization while battling hostile arachnid creatures and automated defense systems. Players must reach an ancient telescope structure that holds the key to the planet's mysteries.

Core Mechanics

Movement System: Double jump and dash mechanics for precise platforming
Combat: Basic attack combo system with timing-based damage
Enemy AI: Progressive difficulty scaling with two distinct enemy types

Level Design & Pacing

I designed the level with a clear two-act structure to introduce mechanics gradually:

Act 1 - Organic Threats:

Players encounter arachnid enemies that scale in size and difficulty, teaching combat fundamentals in a forgiving environment.

Act 2 - Technological Warfare:

Laser turrets protected by holographic arachnids force players to combine movement and combat skills. Turrets track player position with precision, requiring tactical use of the dash mechanic to break line-of-sight and attack from behind.

Design Challenge & Solution

Problem: Early playtests showed the turret encounters were too punishing, players didn't understand they needed to use dash defensively rather than offensively.

Solution: Redesigned turret placement and introduced environmental cues (visual indicators showing turret sight lines) to telegraph the dash-behind strategy. This reduces player frustration while maintaining challenge.

Key Contributions: