Ice & Fire
Walkthrough (YouTube): Ice & Fire
Steam Workshop: Ice&Fire Steam Community
Notes: This level was built with the BattleBlock Theater level editor.
Design process
This level aims to combine as many mechanics as possible to create a fresh gaming experience at every moment. The difficulty gradually increases in the level, and the player will be a BBT master after completing this level.
The core of the design is to let players get more familiar with a mechanic and then challenge their skills. For example, players first step into the jump introduction area, which requires some repeating jumps and bounces. When they reach the top and regard themselves as masters of jumping, a more challenging jumping area is in front of them, encouraging them to challenge their limits.
Level layout
Level iteration
Original version
Playtest feedback:
I get many positive feedbacks from the playtest. Players think that the level is cool and full of fun, but there are criticisms as well. Players felt that to complete the level, timing needed to be perfect. They felt that that players needed some space to make mistakes.
Changes made:
In area 2, I change the boat to lift. The lift boxes can better test the player’s jumping skill as well as give them chances to fail without death.
In area 3, the combination of wind and spike blocks is replaced by laser and bubblegum blocks. The original version is too fast for players. They don’t know what happens even after several deaths. The new version gives players some time to react to the lasers and again practice their jumping skill.
In area 6, the puzzle-solving becomes easier since players now have three boxes instead of two. Optimization of checkpoints also helps players to reduce repeating deaths.
In area 7, more lava blocks are placed to let players grab the monkey bars more easily.
In area 9, one of the buzzsaws is deleted so that players are more likely to kill the raccalope at the first time.