REBoRN

20 MONTHS (FEB 2024 - CURRENT)

Action RPG - UE5 - Senior Level Designer

Action RPG level design built around systemic combat, layered encounters, traversal gating, and reward-driven exploration.

- Multi-State Space, Player Progression in the Same Environment

Vulnerability State

The level begins with the player unable to attack, forcing stealth traversal while establishing spatial memory through a clear landmark and a visible but unreachable reward.

Recontextualized Return

After regaining combat ability, a shortcut returns the player to the same space, now enabling combat and access to previously unreachable rewards. The layout is reused without structural changes.

- Systemic Enemy Escalation

Controlled Onboarding

Enemy behavior is first introduced in a contained space to establish readability and combat language.

Elemental Variant & Mixed Configuration

The enemy later returns with elemental variation and layered configurations, increasing spatial pressure and decision complexity. Escalation comes from encounter composition rather than raw stat increases.

- Exploration & Reward Layering

Secondary Routes

Optional paths incentivize exploration without breaking pacing.

Positional Advantage Discovery

Secret traversal unlocks combat advantage in high-pressure encounters.

Delayed Hidden Path

Early environmental cues encourage return after progression abilities are unlocked.

Exploration is consistently reinforced through spatial memory and layered rewards.

- Traversal Gating & Ability Integration

The player can only advance through this section after mastering the Warp ability introduced earlier.

This moment validates prior learning by requiring its practical application to progress. From behind the enemy, the recently visited village remains visible, reinforcing spatial continuity and environmental awareness.