Post by castor on Nov 27, 2023 18:28:04 GMT -8
Tips For Boost Level Design
recently, i've been playing sonic unleashed, and have really been loving it. so, out of interest, i decided to check on roblox to see if there were any cool boost formula games i could play. however, after playing a few, i noticed the level design for them isn't exactly the best thing in the world, mainly consisting of long corridors mixed up by a homing attack chain. so now here i am, with some tips to help improve your boost level design.
1. Incorporate twists and turns.
this is a huge thing to consider when designing a stage. a player will just get bored if they have to run in a straight line for long periods of time. so, mix it up by making the level have twists and such.
when you really think about it, even with its platforming roots, the sonic franchise is known for, the boost formula's core design and philosophy can be easily traced back to racing games. in these, bends are added to the track to keep the player engaged (and to avoid only having to press one button the entire time.)
2. Create branching paths.
branching paths have been a staple of the sonic franchise ever since the first game, and this adds both replay value and a reason to explore. each level should include a main path that separates into shortcuts or an alternate route. these separate routes should reward the player for thinking outside of the box. as a result, the player becomes more engaged with your game, and gives them a reason to replay your stage.
3. Add platforming sections to switch up the pace.
though boosting the entire time may be fun, once in a while, toning things down a bit is a good option. it can also stop your levels from feeling too samey. a thing to be mindful of is the transition into it, though; if it's not easy to anticipate, players might run straight off the stage, so slowing things down a bit beforehand to give players a moment to assess what the game wants them to do is a good thing to keep in mind.
a good example of this is dragon road from sonic unleashed. right before a platforming segment, a spring shoots the player up into the air to give them a second to realize what's coming next. plus, it doubles as a cool setpiece.
4. Keep the levels at a decent length.
in my opinion, the optimal time for boost levels is about 3 minutes. going below 2 and a half minutes will make your level feel way too short. don't get me wrong; i'm all for short and sweet levels, but typically it'll just leave the player thinking it ended before it even started. as for long levels, anything that extends 6 minutes in length should happen near the end of the game, and there should only be about 2 of these at most. having lots of overly long levels will only make the player want to know when it'll end, so make sure to be mindful of your level's length.
and that's about all the tips i can think of at the moment. if you keep these tips in mind, your boost formula level design will improve in no time.
(also, a good resource for general level design tips can be found here:)
vugarblx.weebly.com/news/10-tips-for-designing-sonic-stages
recently, i've been playing sonic unleashed, and have really been loving it. so, out of interest, i decided to check on roblox to see if there were any cool boost formula games i could play. however, after playing a few, i noticed the level design for them isn't exactly the best thing in the world, mainly consisting of long corridors mixed up by a homing attack chain. so now here i am, with some tips to help improve your boost level design.
1. Incorporate twists and turns.
this is a huge thing to consider when designing a stage. a player will just get bored if they have to run in a straight line for long periods of time. so, mix it up by making the level have twists and such.
when you really think about it, even with its platforming roots, the sonic franchise is known for, the boost formula's core design and philosophy can be easily traced back to racing games. in these, bends are added to the track to keep the player engaged (and to avoid only having to press one button the entire time.)
2. Create branching paths.
branching paths have been a staple of the sonic franchise ever since the first game, and this adds both replay value and a reason to explore. each level should include a main path that separates into shortcuts or an alternate route. these separate routes should reward the player for thinking outside of the box. as a result, the player becomes more engaged with your game, and gives them a reason to replay your stage.
3. Add platforming sections to switch up the pace.
though boosting the entire time may be fun, once in a while, toning things down a bit is a good option. it can also stop your levels from feeling too samey. a thing to be mindful of is the transition into it, though; if it's not easy to anticipate, players might run straight off the stage, so slowing things down a bit beforehand to give players a moment to assess what the game wants them to do is a good thing to keep in mind.
a good example of this is dragon road from sonic unleashed. right before a platforming segment, a spring shoots the player up into the air to give them a second to realize what's coming next. plus, it doubles as a cool setpiece.
4. Keep the levels at a decent length.
in my opinion, the optimal time for boost levels is about 3 minutes. going below 2 and a half minutes will make your level feel way too short. don't get me wrong; i'm all for short and sweet levels, but typically it'll just leave the player thinking it ended before it even started. as for long levels, anything that extends 6 minutes in length should happen near the end of the game, and there should only be about 2 of these at most. having lots of overly long levels will only make the player want to know when it'll end, so make sure to be mindful of your level's length.
and that's about all the tips i can think of at the moment. if you keep these tips in mind, your boost formula level design will improve in no time.
(also, a good resource for general level design tips can be found here:)
vugarblx.weebly.com/news/10-tips-for-designing-sonic-stages
