NOTE: For a more in-depth and updated readme with more pictures and gifs check out our google docs.

Glendon Chua

Lee Yan Cheng

Grapple Hero

Apollo 11

The current pandemic probably has most of us rolling around in boredom every day, constantly trying to maintain our sanity and keep our minds occupied. Even we are! Hence we would like to embrace this opportunity to create a super exciting game to provide nostalgic entertainment and help cure your quarantine boredom!

Our generation grew up playing famous 2D platformers such as Super Mario Bros and we would like to try our hands on making our very own, to help people relive their childhood. Furthermore, we decided to put a twist on the classic 2D platformer recipe by including grappling hooks which is a feature that is missing on other popular 2D platformers! With limitless possibilities to utilize this amazing tool, you can even swing around islands and achieve your lifelong dream of being Spiderman/Tarzan! As for fans of action-adventure games like tomb raider, our game will undoubtedly satisfy your adventuring needs!

Currently, Grapple Hero will be developed on PC since the grappling hook might require more precision which is more suited to a mouse. If time allows, we might port it to Android to allow users to enjoy the game on their phones, allowing them to kill time during their daily commutes once the circuit breaker/quarantine is over.

We want to make a simple yet engaging tomb raider style 2D platformer PC game. It will be based around exploration with lots of grappling hook action with collectibles and awesome boss fights not found in any other 2D platformers.

Our target demographic would be the generation Z young adults, especially NUS students who have also played famous 2D platformers when they were young. The pixel art style is reminiscent of their favourite childhood games and the basic yet unique control scheme of Grapple Hero will surely make them feel at home! Players will be able to roam around freely and use their grappling hook to reach greater heights.

• As an avid retro gamer, I would like to try out different 2D platformers with pixel sprites, especially those utilizing unique mechanics like grappling hooks.

• As a fan of the Tomb Raider and the Uncharted series, I would love to play this game to experience again the thrill of survival and exploration of mysterious tombs which can be captured by the intriguing storyline and captivating atmosphere in this game.

• As a fan of Indiana Jones, I would like to experience the nail-biting adventures, the escapes from the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that he has gone through in the form of interactive media like games.

• As a student of NUS computing, I am interested in playing a game made in Unity to see how we can apply the concepts we have learned in school to game development.

Game name: Grapple Hero

Genre: 2D side scrolling platformer game with multiple levels featuring the grappling hook as core game mechanic.

Theme: Jungle, Ancient ruins, Caves, Tombs

Story: A treasure hunter named Hartin Menz arrives on the island of Lamatai, looking for valued treasure in ancient ruins. The treasure supposedly gives one the ability to possess superhuman strength. Hartin really wants it to find a girlfriend. However, the challenges that await him will scare even the bravest of men. Will he be able to obtain it?

• WASD and Spacebar to jump
• Grapple hook - Left Mouse button to shoot
  • Release grapple hook - Spacebar
  • Release grapple hook and boost upwards - Right Mouse button
  • Control swing with A/D
• Some items on the level can be interacted with!
  • Hit item away - Shoot grapple hook normally at item
  • Pull items to player - Hold S while shooting grapple hook at item
• Boost Jump Tech - Jump then aim Left Mouse to the ground and press both Left and Right Mouse buttons in quick succession

Basic Features

• Tutorial, Levels 1-4, Boss level, Escape level playable:

  • Well thought out level design with adventuring and exploration themes in mind. Coherent and interesting plot line for player to follow. Levels are challenging and require good control over the character and the grappling hook.The levels get progressively more challenging.

  • Multiple level hazards, good variety of enemies and AI - Spikes, Rivers, Falling Hazards, Crumbling Platforms, Ball Monster, Skeletons, Crow Monster, Ghost, Boss enemy

  • Basic boss fight

  • Fleshed out grappling hook mechanics- We utilized Unity’s physics engine to create satisfying player movement with the grappling hook. The grappling hook can be used to swing around the level, attack/push enemies, grab items and collectibles, truly an all-around versatile tool!

  • Basic game soundtrack that captures the mysterious atmosphere of a deserted legendary island retro style! We added plenty of sounds effects and a main theme to make the game more immersive!

  • Levels are well polished with sound effects, particle effects, camera shakes, lighting effects, shadows, hand-drawn animations and sprites that improve game immersion!

• Fully functional main menu, level select, pause menu, credits, and level transitions implemented. Players can track their highscores in the highscore menu and can freely restart a level from the pause menu if they get stuck.

• Collectibles system and highscore tracking

  • Collect crystals and rare gold coins littered around the levels! Highscores are tracked. Players have the ability to reset their highscores as well. Compete against your friends to see who can collect the most crystals! Every level has 3 hidden gold coins to be found!

Future Plans

• New area, more creative levels and unique enemies

  • More easter eggs/secrets in each level to be found

  • Improved enemy AI

  • Grappling hook upgrades

  • Difficulty setting

• In depth collectibles system

  • Give more purpose to crystals and gold coins other than for highscores

  • Potential upgrade system e.g. upgrade grapple range, increase run speed

  • Crystals can be used to buy player skins

• Port to android

• Unity: acts as the underlying game engine

• Visual Studio: IDE used for editing scripts in Unity

• C#: programming language supported by Unity

• Git, GitHub, Unity Collab: version control systems

• https://github.com/BigDoot/GrappleHero

• Check out our v1.2 release of the game! Follow the instructions in the link to try out the game for yourself!

• Gameplay Video and Tutorial level walkthrough

• Additional Source code control: Unity Collab Project Timeline *Due to privacy, only users within the project are able to view the commits, do approach one of us if you would like to view it.