The Lost Shadow
My Role
Programmer
Team
Mashed Potato
Duration
3 months
Completed
April 2022
Awards & Recognition
- Best of Visual Art - Game Talent Showcase Batch 1 (TGA)
Project Overview
In The Lost Shadow, the main character travels to the lost world, the land of shadows, and the world of light in search of his own memory. The core gameplay mechanic is the "Shadow Shift" ability, which allows players to switch between two different realities to overcome obstacles and solve intricate puzzles. I worked as a programmer on this collaborative project, which featured a team of level designers, artists, and sound engineers.
Overview
"The Lost Shadow" is a 2D puzzle platformer, where players explore atmospheric side-scrolling levels. The core experience blends parkour-style navigation, puzzle-solving through dimension shifting between the "Light Realm" and "Shadow Realm," and occasional enemy evasion, all while managing limited realm shifts.
Role: Programmer
- Took the initiative to start the project and formed the development team during my university path.
- Served as the primary programmer, designing and coding the game’s core systems in Unity.
- Worked alongside teammates to align the technical implementation with the game’s vision.
Key Contributions
- Shadow Shifting Mechanic:
- Programmed the shadow-shifting system in C#, enabling players to toggle between the Light and Shadow Realms, each with distinct environmental properties (e.g., layouts, object states).
- Implemented a resource management system with a finite number of shifts per level, encouraging strategic decision-making.
- Parkour Navigation:
- Coded fluid 2D platforming controls (running, jumping, climbing), ensuring responsive movement.
- Puzzle & Progression Systems:
- Built the key-and-lock system, allowing players to find keys and unlock new paths or trigger events.
- Designed puzzles that require clever use of shadow shifting within shift constraints to progress.
- UX:
- Ensured smooth realm transitions and enemy behaviors.
Achievements
- Successfully delivered a working game as my first Unity project, showcasing shadow shifting, puzzles and parkour.
- Participated in the Game Talent Showcase Batch 1 (TGA) and won "Best of Visual Art".
- Gained hands-on experience leading a team and solving technical challenges, such as ai bugs.
Skills Demonstrated
- Programming: Fast Learning in Unity and C# for implementing gameplay mechanics and systems within a tight 3-month development timeline.
- Game Design: Translated core pillars (parkour, puzzles) into functional and engaging mechanics.
- Problem-Solving: Overcame challenges like ai bugs and designing fair puzzles.
- Team Collaboration: Initially led the project before transitioning to a dedicated programmer role to address the team's technical needs.
- Rapid Development: Successfully reworked the entire game in just 1 month, demonstrating exceptional efficiency and adaptability.
Reflection
As my first Unity game during my university path, "The Lost Shadow" was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Initiating the team and programming the core mechanics deepened my understanding of game development, from technical implementation to player-focused design. It sparked my enthusiasm for crafting interactive experiences and taught me the value of iteration and teamwork.