"The Inside Story of how Hyper Light Breaker Became an Open World Roguelike" is a video published by Noclip - Video Game Documentaries that delves into the development process of Hyper Light Breaker, a game by Heart Machine. The video explores the challenges faced by the team and the significant shift in the game's design from a level-based roguelike to an open-world roguelike. The story features various team members discussing their roles and experiences in the development process.
The video begins with an introduction to the game Hyper Light Breaker, which is built on the 3D tech of Heart Machine's previous game, Solar Ash. The initial design was a level-based roguelike with procedurally generated levels. However, after facing challenges in creating engaging levels and considering the workload, the team decided to pivot to a more groundbreaking idea: an open-world roguelike called "Pangaea."
The concept of Pangaea involved merging different biomes into one procedurally generated open-world map, providing a unique experience for players. This change aimed to make the game more exciting and manageable in terms of development time and resources. The tech art team focused on fine-tuning the procedural generation system to create diverse and engaging levels while maintaining a consistent look and feel across different biomes.
Despite the challenges in designing levels using math, the team was committed to achieving a dynamic and organic environment. They aimed to create an open-world experience that players would never see again once they died, making it a unique offering in the roguelike genre.
The video also discusses the reaction of the game's publisher, Gearbox, to the significant design change. Heart Machine provided Gearbox with detailed explanations and demonstrations to ensure they understood the rationale behind the shift. Gearbox ultimately supported the change, recognizing the potential for a more engaging game experience.
Throughout the development process, the team faced various challenges, including delays due to illness and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They had to make adjustments to their production process and hire more people to cover the ground lost over time.
The video showcases the work of different team members, including character designers, environment artists, and tech artists, as they collaborate to bring Hyper Light Breaker to life. The team aims to hit early access in 2023, with each developer focusing on their unique contributions to the game.
In conclusion, "The Inside Story of how Hyper Light Breaker Became an Open World Roguelike" offers an insightful look into the game development process, the challenges faced by the team, and the creative decisions that led to a significant shift in the game's design. The video highlights the dedication and collaboration required to create a groundbreaking and engaging gaming experience.
