Game Concept Document

1. Overview

Game Title: Pet Adventure Saga

Concept Statement:

"Pet Adventure Saga" is a 2D side-scrolling action adventure game that combines character and pet cultivation, free skill combination, and a deep pet combat system. Players can freely mix and combine skills, and team up with their pets to solve different levels and powerful bosses. Through a unique and deep pet-raising system and dynamic combat strategy, the game encourages players to explore, experiment and develop their own distinctive gaming style.

Genre: 2D Side-scrolling Action Adventure with Pet Mechanics

Creative Intent:

Inspired by classic solo combat games and pet-centric games like Pokémon, this game blends both elements to overcome the limitations of traditional class-based side-scrollers. Players will enjoy a system that promotes creativity through skill customization and in-depth pet development, offering long-term gameplay depth and replay value.

2. Concept Creation Process & Influences

The design of this game "Pet Adventure Story" adopts the concepts of mashup design, transformative design and subtractive design, integrating two game types with originally different styles together:

On the one hand, it is a traditional 2D side-scrolling action level-clearing game, with the focus on character cultivation, character operation, skill combination, equipment growth and level challenges.

On the other hand, there are pet battle and breeding games, such as "Pokemon", with a turn-based system featuring capture, level-up, breeding, breeding and combat as its core gameplay.

This game does not have a traditional profession system and does not use a fixed growth system. Instead, it adopts the subtractive design concept and instead provides a very high degree of freedom through the "weapon + skill combination" mechanism. Players can choose different skills across different occupations and are allowed to select appropriate skills based on weapons. Freely combine to create your own combat style, and even combine skills to form interesting combinations such as melee mages and magical swordsmen.

The pet system also has been transformed, introducing the common pet mechanism in turn-based games into real-time 2d side-scrolling battles. This makes pets no longer just "follow" characters as decorations, but important companions with different combat abilities and multiple growth paths based on the combination of types and skills. At the same time, elements such as "capture and cultivation", "qualification fluctuation" and "diverse skill combinations" will let players' desire to explore and collect.

In addition, the game incorporates light sandbox elements: for instance, randomly refreshing pets in different maps, rare pets (like flash pets in Pokemon), skill combinations generating miraculous effects, and the interaction between treasures and map mechanisms, etc., creating high playability and diverse solutions. 

Source of inspiration

The design inspiration of this game mainly comes from the following works and experiences:

The Pokemon series - the source of the pet breeding system, the inspiration for capture, cultivation, skill learning and breeding mechanisms;

"Phantom Beast Paru" - The inspiration for pets and players to collaborate in battles. Pets are not only nurturing objects but also combat partners.

"Adventure Island" - Classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay, equipment growth system and skill release mechanism;

Some action games such as Cuphead and Rogue Legacy 2 - draw on their smooth action performance and two-player cooperative experience.

3. Audience and Competitive Analysis

Target audience:

For young casual and mid-core players, this game is not very difficult. The focus is on cultivation, collection, and free exploration and research of gameplay, so it is easy to get started. Meanwhile, the design of the levels enables players to play during their short leisure time and save the progress of their cultivation. The design of pets and the free combination of skills are particularly attractive to players who enjoy collecting and nurturing companions or exploring different combat styles. The art style and easy-to-understand mechanism make it suitable for young players and families.

Competitive analysis

Although many 2D action games (such as "MapleStory") have extensive character class development and combat mechanisms, while pet games (such as "pokemon") focus on turn-based battles, few games combine fast-paced action with in-depth pet mechanics. "Pet Adventure Saga" creates a 2D side-scrolling adventure game for character cultivation suitable for casual players by simplifying and combining these advantages.

4. Game Treatment and Concept Features

Pet Adventure Legend is a 2D side-scrolling action adventure game that combines pet breeding, skill customization and dynamic combat. Players embark on an exciting adventure journey filled with battles, growth and mysterious powers.

Game world and story

The story takes place in a colorful and whimsical world where humans and magical creatures once coexisted in harmony, but an unknown force disrupted the balance of nature. The ancient ruins have awakened, fallen beasts wander around, and forgotten legends have resurfaced. The player is a young adventurer who possesses a mysterious artifact. He began to regain his balance, cooperate with the captured pets, uncover the truth through continuous adventures, and defeat distorted bosses in various elemental areas.

The story unfolds based on levels. Reaching the designated level will bring new stories and pets.

Core of the game

Battle: Real-time 2D side-scrolling action, engage in battles through skills, normal attack moves, and jumps, and challenge various monsters. Players can bring their pets into battle and use AI to fight alongside them.

Skill system: There is no traditional career system. On the contrary, combat ability is related to the type of weapon. Players can freely combine five active skills and two passive skills, and the interaction mode of many of these skills depends on the weapons equipped. Players can freely develop the gameplay they want, such as "Melee Mage" or "Elemental Swordsman".

Equipment cultivation: Equipment can be obtained through various means, such as crafting and direct dropping. Equipment can be enhanced to obtain more powerful attributes and effects.

Pet Mechanism: Pets are not merely for decoration - they engage in battles, level up, and possess unique skill systems. Players can catch pets on the map, breed them and even pass on skills from generation to generation. The attributes (various qualifications) of each pet are randomly selected within a certain range according to its species. Different kinds of pets have different special skills. Collection and multiple trainings are encouraged.

Exploration: The map contains platform elements, puzzles, hidden paths, randomly generated rare pets or hidden treasures. There are optional challenge dungeons in the game.

Artistic style and conceptual aesthetics

This game adopts a cute art style, similar to the common art style of Nintendo casual games. This style is more easily accepted by casual players, attracts young players, and supports the readability of fast-paced battles at the same time. The animation is smooth, clearly conveying the use of actions and skills through strong Outlines and vivid effects.

The maps of different levels are composed of various terrains, such as crystal caves, forests, underwater cities, etc., and adopt a simple, bright and cute style. All kinds of monsters and pets of different styles encountered.

Innovation and Highlights

Free skill combination: Freely choose skills across different occupations, and any combat style has the potential to be the strongest.

Real-time pet battle: Unlike traditional turn-based pet games, here pets assist players in battles through their own actions.

Reproduction and mutation: Pet offspring can inherit special skills, increase attribute restrictions, and even have unique appearances - forming a cycle of "collection and evolution".

In the scene, you may encounter rare mutant pets. These mutant pets will have unique colors and higher ability talents.

Dynamic map events: Hidden maps can be accessed by meeting various conditions, such as specified items or pets.

In this game, players can:

Discover your unique combat methods through the skill free combination mechanism and find joy in continuous attempts.

Create your own unique and powerful pet through pet breeding and skill building.

Pass various levels and defeat powerful bosses through your own exploration or cultivation.