Hazardous Space

Origins of the project

Hazardous Space is the first project I’ve been assigned at Isart DIGITAL. The instructions are simple, make a game that uses only one button. Each student is free to create the game he wishes as long as it utilizes one button. Every aspect of the game, including gameplay mechanics and menu navigation, has to revolve around that unique button. It is a one-man project and each student is responsible for the creation of every component of his game (game design, programming, sound, 3D assets…). This formative project helped me learn about the different steps of creating a video game.

Concept of the game

In Hazardous Space, the player takes control of a spaceship that has to defend itself against waves of enemies and free civilian hostages. The spaceship cannot move or shoot and has to protect itself with a shield. The player has to activate the shield by pressing the button at the right moment to deflect incoming enemy projectiles. Any deflected projectiles will return to the enemies.

The game also provides drone management. Any enemy destroyed will drop a drone that can be automatically captured by the player. Drones serve as protection when the spaceship is hit. Instead of damaging the spaceship, the drone will destroy itself to protect the spaceship’s health points. These drones can also be launched as projectiles against enemies. By holding the button, the player enters a slow-motion state where he can lock enemy targets. When releasing the same button, drones will head toward targeted enemies like homing missiles.

You will encounter hostages in need of assistance. They’ve been captured by the enemy and you have to free them. The only way is to launch a drone at the enemy having the hostage under his control. Once the hostage is free, the player will gain one health point. If the player managed to free every hostage in the level, the player will be awarded a few upgrades to his spaceship: increased max health points and increased stock of captured drones.

Development

The game has been developed with the Unity Engine and programmed with Bolt, a visual scripting Unity plugin. Visual scripting tools consist of connecting nodes between modules to make the game work. It provides a visual graph interface and uses these graphical elements to create the game.

Most of the assets are free and had to be integrated by myself. This project has been very informative to learn how to use a 3D game engine and how to manage each component of a video game.

Influences

Hazardous Space pays homage to the classic shoot’em up games of the golden age of arcades. The biggest influence is R-Type. Not only Hazardous Space is a horizontal shooter like R-Type, but it has also drone mechanics similar to R-Type, where you can use a drone for protection or attack.

Another influence is GigaWing. In this game, you can use a shield to reflect projectiles to enemies. A good way to protect yourself while doing damage to enemies.

GigaWing (1999) © Takumi