Level design is a vital aspect of video game design that involves planning and executing game environments, challenges, and goals, which forms the essence of a video game. Game designers use various techniques, including verticality, lighting, obstacle placement, level loop, and playtesting to create effective game levels that provide immersive gameplay experiences. Additionally, game designers employ various strategies, such as thinking beyond the level, balancing challenge and reward, and modeling real-world environments, to create game levels that support the game’s overall storyline and world-building. Effective game levels examples include The Last of Us, Super Mario Bros, and Half-Life 2 that utilize these techniques and strategies to create engaging gameplay experiences.
Introduction
Level design is one of the most essential aspects of video game design. It is a complex process of creating game levels, where game designers need to consider various elements like environment, characters, design, sound, and storyline. The process of level design can be quite daunting as it requires a wide range of skills, knowledge, and creativity. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the world of level design, exploring techniques, strategies, and examples.
What is Level Design?
Level design involves designing the gameplay and environment of a video game level. It is the process of planning and executing game environments, challenges, and goals. Level design is the backbone of the gaming industry that forms the essence of a video game. The design is instrumental in setting the difficulty level, pace of the game, and determining the player’s progression. Level designers create a balance of challenge, exploration, storytelling, and gameplay in a video game.
Techniques for Level Design
Game designers apply a variety of techniques to create effective game levels. These techniques include:
1. Verticality – Level design elements like tall buildings, mountains, and cliffs add a sense of height to the game, which creates a sense of exploration and intrigue. Verticality in level design can also impact gameplay as it allows for unique strategies like gaining high ground, avoiding hazards, and flanking enemies.
2. Level Loop – Video game levels usually have a starting point and endpoint. In-between these points, players face various challenges and obstacles. The level loop technique ensures that players encounter different obstacles in a cycle, repeating a pattern that creates a sense of rhythm and pacing. The level loop helps keep the player engaged and motivated throughout the game.
3. Lighting – The lighting element of level design can evoke a wide range of emotions in players. Brightly lit areas can imply safety while dark areas can create an eerie or anxious atmosphere. The lighting of each game level can create a unique ambiance, creating a unique experience for the player.
4. Obstacle Placement – This technique involves placing challenging obstacles throughout the game level. The goal is to ensure that the player encounters difficulty but can overcome the obstacles with experience, patience, and skill. Obstacle placement should be designed in such a way that it teaches the player new skills, tests their limits, and challenges them.
5. Playtest – It is important for level designers to playtest their levels to ensure they provide the intended experience. Playtesting is the process of testing game levels with players – this can help identify potential issues, weaknesses, and strengths. Playtesting levels can provide useful data to video game designers that can be used in improving the game.
Strategies for Level Design
Level design strategies involve the techniques used by game designers to create game levels. These strategies include:
1. Thinking Beyond the Level – A game level is not just a collection of obstacles and enemies. The level design should support the game’s overall storyline and world-building. Game developers should plan levels that take players on a journey through the game’s world and story.
2. Balancing Challenge and Reward – Level designers should strike a balance between challenge and reward in levels. Providing sufficient rewards to players can motivate players to complete the level. However, levels should not be too easy, or players may lose interest. Similarly, levels should not be so challenging that players become frustrated and give up.
3. Working with the Engine Limitations – Game designers often have to work within the limitations of the game engine – this means that game designers need to be creative in designing levels that work within the engine constraints. For example, if an engine can only handle ten enemies on the screen, the designer could create a level with ten distinct challenges rather than ten identical enemies.
4. Modelling Real-World Environments – Video game designers can create realistic environments by modelling real-world environments. Creating realistic levels can deepen the game’s immersion, making the game more enjoyable for players.
Examples of Level Design
Now that we’ve discussed the techniques and strategies used in game level design, here are a few examples of game levels that apply these concepts:
1. The Last of Us – The game level design in The Last of Us is outstanding. The game’s environment, the post-apocalyptic United States, is designed with great attention to detail, making the game experience more immersive. The game’s obstacle placement is thoughtful, with enemies spaced out in a way that challenges the player but is not overwhelming. The level loop technique is also evident, with players traversing several areas before returning to the starting point.
2. Super Mario Bros – Super Mario Bros is a classic example of great game design. The game’s levels are well-designed, simple to understand, and offer a challenge that increases with each level. The game designers utilized the obstacle placement technique to great effect, ensuring that each level’s difficulty matches the player’s skill level.
3. Half-Life 2 – The game’s level design of Half-Life 2 is brilliant – it creates a sense of urgency and danger throughout the game. The game’s lighting is used to great effect, with bright areas creating a sense of safety, while dark and dingy areas create a sense of unease. The game designers made great use of verticality to add complexity to the game.
Conclusion
Level design is a crucial aspect of game design, helping to create immersive gameplay experiences. Whether it’s designing obstacles, enhancing lighting, or using verticality, level designers must use a variety of techniques to ensure each level is well-balanced and engaging. Additionally, they must implement strategies for storytelling, balancing challenge and reward, and working within engine limitations. The examples of game levels discussed in this article illustrate effective level design techniques and strategies. By fully embracing these concepts, game developers can create an immersive and unforgettable gameplay experience.