Ethers Edge

Genre: 

Action / Roguelike / Reverse Bullet-hell

Concept Statement

Unleash hell upon interdimensional invaders to defend your home star system in this unique roguelike reverse bullet-hell game, Ethers Edge.

Concept Creation

Originally I was planning on creating a procedually generated hex-based tower defence game, but after a week of thinking about it, i've decided not to go with that as i've learn't procedually generated worlds are a massive undertaking. So, instead I've decided to go with a simpler game within the genre of Action/Roguelike/Reverse Bullet-hell. I believe this will be simpler, but also come with its own challenges.

My Action Roguelike Reverse bullet-hell game Ethers Edge, is inspired by my passion for Space, and both Brotato and Goobies which are both roguelike reverse bullet-hell games. Ethers Edge will try to combine elements of Brotato and Goobies, like the art style from Brotato with the one room mechanic and the card based shop system from Goobies, but I'll take it a little further.
Ethers Edge probably wont steer to much away from the traditional game loop of reverse bullet-hell games like, survive waves of enemies, pick a random item at the end of the wave, whether it is a passive or active buff using currency that you get from eliminating hostiles during the waves. With each new game you will get further and further, but there truly isn't an end to these games, unless story is implemented.

While Ethers Edge will use traditional elements such as the ones listed above, but it will also add in unique game mechanics such as, gravity wells around the star and each of the planets and planets will orbit the star creating an ever changing environment. All this will create a truly unique acton roguelike reverse bullet-hell experience.

Audience

Roguelike bullet-hell or reverse bullet-hell games are a popular mix of genres in video games that can be for a range of gamers, but are typically for those who are into challenging and fast-paced gameplay and for those who like experimenting with different builds in a game. 
Fans of traditional bullet hell shooters might find reverse bullet-hell games intriguing as they offer a new unique twist on the genre that they are so used to.  Players who enjoy navigating complex bullet patterns and testing their reflexes can find a new challenge in controlling the projectiles instead of the dodging them. Gamers who enjoy the strategic elements and procedural generation of roguelike games may be attracted to these games. The combination of permadeath, procedural levels, and upgrades can offer a rewarding sense of progression.

The overall demographic and target audience of roguelike reverse bullet-hell games is quite diverse encompassing a wide range of ages, interests, and gaming preferences. The accessibility and strategic depth of the gameplay contribute to their broad appeal.

Just like other roguelike reverse bullet-hell games like Brotato, Ethers Edge will try to appeal to everyone, with its cute art style, exciting gameplay, and unique game mechanics.

Game Treatment and Art

Description

Ethers Edge is an Action Roguelike Reverse Bullet-hell auto-shooter, where you play as an alien defending his Ethers Edge star system. Defeat hordes of intedimensional invaders while you collect and upgrade items to become more powerful in your goal to defend your Ethers Edge.

Gameplay

Gameplay will primarily be of your traditional Roguelike Reverse Bullet-hell Auto shooter games, where your goal is to survive as long as possible while defeating ever increasing waves of enemies, and collecting upgrades to bring destruction upon the enemies you encounter.

Movement

The core movement system of Ethers Edge, will be an 8-way movement direction system. Some movement altering abilities will come from the upgrades you get, like a Blink active ability that will allow you to teleport when you're in a tight spot, or a passive that will activate when a combo is broken to give you a speed boost, the bigger the combo the longer the boost lasts. Players will also be able to use the star and planets gravity wells to slingshot themselves when in need.

Upgrades

Ethers Edge will have an card based upgrade system in-place where, at the end of a wave the player will be presented with 5 cards to choose from each giving their own unique passive or active buffs for the player to choose from. Cards will have levels to them, so you can increase their level by collecting more of the same, and that will boost the cards effect, but also when a card reaches max level, it will give a bonus effect too.

Ethers Edge will have a system in-place called Relics. When the player finally succumbs to their demise, they can use points earned based on their score at the end of the game, to purchase Relics. Relics are permanent passive upgrades that will aid the player in their future runs.

Art Style

The overrall art style will follow in the footsteps of games like Brotato (metioned above for my inspiration) and the Binding of Issac. This art style doesn't have a specific name, so I will call it how it looks, Black Border Vector Art. I will most likely re-create some of the UFO's in the last picture and some of the creatures in the 3rd picture, as i'm not very creative in the art department.

An example of the Black Border Vector Art - (Credits to creators of Brotato, Blobfish)

Another example of the Black Border Vector Art - (Credits to Bleedingcool.com)

An example of cute character designs for possible enemies - (Credits to Vectorstock.com)

An example of a simple design style for planets - (Credits to Vectorstock.com)

An example of potential character designs - (Credits to Vectorstock.com)