2021-today

Gamedev, Game design

<aside> 📒 This began as my summary of Mark Brown’s (GMTK) **Boss Keys** series. Got expanded with my own observations about the genre

</aside>

Mark Brown’s dungeon graph (progress diagram) as a way to represent obstacles (locks) and solutions (keys)

Structure

Lock & Key formula

The formula:

• Come across a lock (a blocked path, like a lava-filled corridor)
• Find the key (new ability, ice missile)
• Make the connection between these two things, remember where the blocked path was, and find your way there

Examples of keys:

• The MacGuffin
  • energy cells to power up something (doors/equipment/transport)
  • set of explosives to break through a wall/reinforced door
  • special censer to ward off the undead/zombies
  • machete/sword for bushes/thorns blocking the way
  • lantern vs darkness
  • hazmat suit vs fire/poison/acid
  • climbing kit (rope, pitons, grappling hook) or ladders – verticality
  • compass vs disorienting landscape (like a shuffling maze)
    • chalk and normal mazes
• Special means of traversal (water-breathing, heat-resistance, spacesuits, wings, climbing)
  • Hunt down and cook the acid snails to get their acid resistance and travel through the "cavern of burning tears" (eating monsters to get their powers, Nethack style)
• Weapons that the bosses are vulnerable to