Unreal Engine 5 Soulslike
Design Document

Basics:
Game references: Dark Souls II, III (combat system)
To add later: Elden Ring (horse). God of War (axe attack mechanics)
Genre: Third-person-action, soulslike

Aesthetical components:
Setting: dark fantasy, gothic, medievalism, realistic fantasy
Palette associations: dark-grey, boreal, autumnal, night
Emotional impact: despair, fear, anxiety

Technical information:
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 5, blueprints mostly, less C++
Platform: PC

Assets used in the sample:
Characters: Gothic Knight, Light Warrior, Ravens S2: Templar Knight
Animation: Frank RPG Warrior (Male), Frank RPG Spear, Sword Animset Pro
Weapons: Free Fantasy Weapon Sample Pack
Environment: Modular Gothic Temple (medieval/winter/snow), Gothic Megapack
Sound: Sword Sounds Pack, Footstep Sounds Pro
Music: Immersive Dark Ambient Music Pack
VFX: Niagara Footstep VFX

Level available:
Old churchyard: a horizontal linear level with several ruines spots with enemies spawned + a small bossfight area.
Mechanics
Implemented mechanics: movement, abilities, AI, bossfighting
Dynamics
Linear levels splitter on locations, connected by savepoints
Aesthetics
Medievalism and dark fantasy
Art samples
Dark Souls spirits as a source of inspiration. Human effigy. Sketch by Pyrrhulla
Elden Ring fingers/Gestures/Golden orders as a source of inspiration. Sketch by Pyrrhulla
Current Gameplay
Mechanics
Movement Mechanics

References: Dark Souls
Tools: Blueprints
Implemented mechanics:

1. Movement Mechanics (run, walk, sprint, jump, dodge)

Run
Walk
Sprint
Jump
Dodge
Combat Mechanics

Tools: Blueprints
References: Dark Souls II
Implemented mechanics:
  1. Equipping
  2. Draw weapon
  3. Target
  4. Attack (light attack, combo attack, heavy attack)
  5. Block
Attack abilities (sword and shield equipped)
Equipping
Draw weapon
Target
Light Attack
Combo Attack
Heavy Attack
Block
Blueprint examples (attack abilities)
Attack abilities (spear)
Gameplay Mechanics

Tools: Blueprints
References: Dark Souls
Implemented mechanics:
  1. Phantom Summon (Red spirit invades)
  2. Bossfighting
Red spirit invades
Red Spirit invades on hitting a trigger area
Bossfight
AI types and structure
Humanoid Enemy (Basic enemy, Boss enemy)

1. Basic enemy
2. Boss
AI structure of a basic enemy
Boss AI structure
VFX
1. Winter Storm Postprocess

Instruments: Unreal Engine 5 - Niagara, Photoshop
VFX created:
1) Show falling effect
2) Myst effect
3) Snow wind effect (direct wind, curved wind)
4) Disintegration after death
In game effects
A snow scene with VFX effects
Made on
Tilda