Project Breakdown

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to design a plat forming and combat driven, third-person action-adventure level that immerses players in the rich, post-apocalyptic fantasy world of Rifts England. The level explores themes of identity, conflict, and redemption, placing players in the role of an outsider learning to navigate a mystical land torn between technology and ancient magic. The project aims to demonstrate how environmental storytelling, puzzle design, and combat can be combined to drive emotional engagement and world-building in game design.

Story

Set in the fragmented world of Rifts England, the story follows a former Coalition soldier—a cybernetic outsider seeking answers and redemption after abandoning her military past. Drawn by a mysterious pull toward the Millennium Tree, she stumbles into a region ravaged by Blood Druids, who have corrupted sacred altars and scattered the peaceful Druid clans. Though shunned at first, she discovers a rare ability to purify corrupted energy, setting her on a path to help restore balance to the land and earn the Druids’ trust.

Gameplay

Players take control of the Cyborg protagonist, exploring a layered, semi-open level filled with environmental puzzles, platforming challenges, combat encounters, and light exploration. The core objective is to purify two corrupted altars, each housed in a themed temple (Wind and Animal), and to lead the final assault on the Blood Druids’ stronghold. The player gradually unlocks magical abilities tied to the natural world (Wind and Animal), uses cyber-enhanced traversal, and uncovers the world’s lore through environmental details and light NPC dialogue. Along the way, they may also rescue lost Druids, strengthening their base camp and deepening their connection to the world. The level ends with a boss battle and the delivery of a symbolic magical item, setting the stage for future narrative progression.