Cave Runner
Designed a metroidvania map for using a game kit.
Date
November 2025
Role
Level Designer
Contribution
Designed a metroidvania map using the pre-existing mechanics and systems in the Cave Runner kit in Construct 3
Skills
Construct 3
Final Level Screenshot
Development Process
Room and Area Design & Power Up Locations
Detailed Level Sketch
Playtesting Feedback & Fixes
To Fix
Consider
Good
Eric
Area 1
One block higher at the beginning
Went right to the missile
Getting all the pickups even not needed
Falling is fun
Area 2
Panic run lava room
Like the split up room
More enemies in accessible split room
Actually go down to save before going to next lv
Feels very vast - slow?
Maybe the player wont be able to jump to lava if they dont know what the item is (heat suit)
Went to the blocked area and realized missed rocket
Getting stuck in the breakable block stair room
Maybe the parkour is hard
Area 3
Like the stairs parkour would be interesting with the enemies
Dying might be very punishing
Not getting the items in the long room cuz parkour is too long
Panic in the chaos room
People can farm a rocket and bypass the wall if there are enemies in the same room
Like the missile lava room in ruins - but cant see enemies well esp where the hornets spawn from
Gets stuck in the energy room after getting it in ruins
Went back to Area 1
Backtracked to fall and got the energy with hi jump
Area 4
Getting the missiles but not enough enemy rush
Lot of health and energy if you backtrack
Shooting upward changes gameplay a lot
Reflection
What went well:
- I was able to create a map with over 30 minutes of playtime.
- I was able to use the mechanics given to me from the kit and create a new, creative mechanic, the platform-creating puzzle with the breakable blocks.
Challenges:
- It was difficult to know some parts of the map that would soft locktlock the players and keep track of the player power-up progression before playtesting.
What I Learned:
- Importance of playtesting and using player-friendly approaches in teaching new mechanics, including combination of existing mechanics.
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