Light Reforged is a hack-and-slash story game that uses character from Norse mythology, including Baldr, who the players take control of. This game is playable with mouse and keyboard alongside full controller support.
During the production of Light Reforged, I was the lead programmer, creating and dividing up work between myself and my one other programmer. While this was an important part of my job, I was also in charge of creating the AI enemies and a few of the player’s gameplay mechanics. I also assisted our teams animator with the implementation of nearly all of our animations, focusing on the one’s meant for enemies and the player.
The player has two main options during combat, a sword for melee combat and a arm cannon for ranged combat. I helped with the development of the cannon, which takes a few seconds to charge up before it can be fired, hitting all targets that are in a line in the direction fired.
Throughout the course of the game, the player can buy abilities known as “Prismatic Light”. when dealing damage, the player charges up their prismatic light bar, which can be expended when fully charged, giving the player a passive ability alongside two “Special Actions”.
Within Light Reforged, there are four different standard enemy types alongside five bosses. The standard enemies include a close-range, melee grunt, a ranged enemy armed with a rocket launcher, an enemy type that buffs any allies within it’s range, and a enemy that self-destructs, damaging the player if they are within range.
Most of the bosses are based off gods within Norse mythology, including Loki, Thor, and Sif. Of the other two bosses, one is based off of the Valkyrie while the other is based off of the dwarf Ivaldi.
Showcasing some of the enemies within the game.
Prismatic Light is broken up between three elements: fire, cold, and wind. I helped with the coming up with the functionality for each elements passive and special action, but helped make the functionality of the two wind special actions: Gust and Steam Burst.
Gust is an ability centered on the player that knocks back any enemies within five meters. Steam Burst augments the cannon of the player for one shot, changing the weapon from a charged beam to a quick shotgun blast that damages and knocks back enemies hit by it.
The bosses each have their own unique mechanics, with the Valkyrie, Sif, and Thor being more mobile bosses. These bosses run around their arenas, chasing down the player.
Loki and Ivaldi on the other hand are most stationary, firing off attacks at the player. Loki needs the player to kill clones that surround him in order to drop a barrier that protects him, putting him into a stunned state. Ivaldi fights the player from within a mechanical suit that is normally immune to damage, but malfunctions after every attack he throws at the player, providing a window for the player to deal damage.
With Light Reforged, this was my first time having the role of a lead. This taught me a great deal on how to better work with people as I needed to make sure I know what they would be comfortable working on we can get the best work out of them as possible. I also learned how to better make and spread out my code so it can more easily be read and understood by others.
Showcasing Gust and Steam Cannon.
Showcasing part of the Loki boss fight.
Left to Right: Gust, Steam Cannon, Valkyrie’s Rain of Arrows attack, Thor’s Shoulder Charge attack.
Light Reforged
Lead Programmer | Control Freak
Project Info
Team Size: 15
Time Frame: 34 Weeks
Engine: Unreal Engine 5.2 (Blueprints)