Game Concept

As the second assignment of KIT109, the following development log explores the working concepts of "Riff Wrath".

Working Title
Riff Wrath

Concept Statement 
Unleash your inner metal legend in ‘Riff Wrath’, a 2D, top-down arena game where you embody a metal guitarist who must battle waves of zombies, and save his fans. Set against a backdrop of a roaring coliseum, collect power chords and keys to amplify your musical combo, and deliver devastating riffs to crush your foes.

Genre
Blending action, music, and arcade, ‘Riff Wrath’ delivers intense, fast-paced combat driven by musical strategy,

Concept Creation Process
As a fanatic of the metal genre - particularly the extreme, death, and progressive sub-genres - I wanted to create a game as a homage to my greatest muse in life. Metal music has been the centerpiece of games such as Brütal Legend and Metal: Hellsinger, which showcased the potent fusion of music and gameplay. Taking inspiration from these titles, and incorporating my limited knowledge of game-making, I envisioned a 2D, arcade-y experience, set in a static, open world, which I anticipate will be painless to implement (as opposed to implemented rooms, or procedurally-generated areas).

The cover art of Brütal Legend, a love letter to metal music, in the form of a game.

In terms of graphics, I foresee an art style similar to The Binding of Isaac, which is cute yet dark, and also uses arcade-y, arena-like gameplay. As an artist, this direction aligns with my typical art style – cute and bold, with high-contrast colours.

A screenshot from The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+, showcasing its cute yet gruesome art direction.

Target Audience
I initially intended for ‘Riff Wrath’ to appeal to mainly metalheads of all ages, as they would find resonance in the game's homage to their musical passion. However, by also incorporating wave-based progression and an arena setting, which are reminiscent of classic arcade games, this game may also appeal to older, nostalgia-driven gamers. Additionally, the game's accessible mechanics and engaging gameplay make it suitable for casual players, who are often looking for quick and satisfying action. This fusion of music-based combat and nostalgic arcade vibes creates a unique appeal that could bridge generational gaps, inviting players of varying tastes and backgrounds. With simple graphics and a lack of demand on computer resources, the game would allow for smooth gameplay on a wide range of computers, ensuring that anyone can easily jump in and play.

Game Treatment
Step into the black leather boots of metal guitarist Davey, who is currently on tour with his band. As they play in a large, ancient coliseum, an invasion of zombies breaks in! Davey must defeat the waves of zombies, while protecting his adoring fans within the arena. His guitar, Ophelia, becomes your weapon, each chord a note of destruction against the encroaching undead. Accumulate new chords and combos by saving fans, defeating zombies, and exploring the arena. This arena, surrounded by beautiful porcelain pillars, serves as the open world of the game, with groups of zombies residing in various areas of the world.

Key Features

• Main menu with settings;
• Hand-drawn art and cutscenes;
• Exciting musical score;
• Singular open world;
• Wave-based progression;
• Movement (up, down, left, right);
• Execute musical attacks against enemies via keyboard combinations;
• Allies may convert to zombies if in contact for long durations;
• Classic hit point system with game over screen on kill.

Concept Art

An early draft of Davey's design and sprite design, alongside an example of what a chord could look like in the game world.

A later sprite design of Davey, which better aligns with the original vision. His design is inspired by Randy Blythe, the vocalist of Lamb of God.

References

Andrews, S. 2017. Screenshot from The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ review. Accessed 20 August 2023. <https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/binding-isaac-afterbirth>

'Brutal Legend'. 2023. Wikipedia. Accessed 20 August 2023. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%BCtal_Legend>

'The Binding of Isaac (video game)'. 2023. Wikipedia. Accessed 20 August 2023. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Binding_of_Isaac_(video_game)>

Cover art of Brutal Legend. 2009. Wikipedia. Accessed 20 August 2023, <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/BrutalLegendCover.jpg>

'Metal: Hellsinger'. 2023. Wikipedia. Accessed 20 August 2023. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal:_Hellsinger>