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Game Design Project: Entry 7 - The 9 Dungeons and their Nordic connection

 I am quite surprised and kinds disappointed that I didnt make this connection sooner. The Research facility is has 9 departments which will be referred to as dungeons from this point on. I was looking for inspirations and design ideas to make each of the dungeons distinct with regard to their level design, how the map is laid out, what kind of enemies are more commonly seen, what hazards are predominantly present etc. From a level design perspective this is crucial to figure out as this creates an sense of  predictability and familiarity for the player even if the levels are randomly generated.


I had to add a few more new dungeons to get the number up to 9 so that it can fit with the Norse myths. Each dungeon in the game is analogous to the mythical realm with regard to their atmosphere and art direction. So I decided to name it Yggdrasil, so just like how the mythical cosmic tree is at the center of the cosmos and is connected to every realm, so is the research facility and all of the dungeons within it.

The dungeons are modeled after key traits of the realms such as the Mechatronic forge being analogous to Musphelheim, the dungeon has a lot of fire and molten metal related hazards. Similarly the abandoned research study are is overrun by psychos and is analogous to Hel.

This is a great foundation to work off of and I hope to make more meaningful design decisions  within this regard.


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