Gameplay

Core Loop

The player battles through level through a combination of combat and platforming
Thorough exploration of areas rewards the player with better equipment in order to progress more easily
Though the player returns to start on death, permanent progress such as shortcuts, boss clears and player upgrades enable easier progression to the same point on subsequent runs
A successful start-to-finish run should take no longer than a couple hours, but the game offers more playtime due to the likelihood of needing incremental progress through multiple runs

9 HP, when depleted the run ends and they return to the village as a new cat
Player can run, jump and attack at close range
Cast spells using permanently unlocked spell stones
Loot is gained through exploration and by defeating enemies
- Loot consists of resources and new equipment/upgrades
Spend resources in the village to unlock new facilities and purchase new equipment

Player will find new Spell Stones, Runes, and Slots through progression and as loot
Spell Stones each contain a different spell
Runes buff the stone they are attached to
Slots allow the player to equip Stones, more slots = more spells equipped
Player can tinker with Spell Stones, Runes and Slots at the village and campfires
Spell Stones have a number of sides like a die, each of which can have a rune slotted into it
Each rune provides the spell stone with a global buff that is applied on every use, as well as an effect that only activates if the spell stone ‘rolls’ that rune on a per use basis
Spell stone slots might be part of a ‘gauntlet’ or piece of equipment
Gives a lore/story reason for getting new slots unlocked
Spell stones are slotted into a slot
Cool 3D menu where the player can see the gauntlet and select the slot they would like to change
Changing faces on a slot could also be a cool menu with a rotating cube or something similar

Simple enemies scattered throughout levels, minimalist hp and move pools - randomised loot
Spawned on a per-run basis
Tougher opponents/encounters (akin to mini bosses) guarding more significant loot/unlocks or level progression
- Defending a fixed reward
- More challenging than regular enemies

Cinematic introductions
Lore implications
Complex fights with more than one phase - most challenging hurdles of the game
Fixed rewards
Die permanently - maybe they shouldn’t but defeating them allows for a ‘shortcut’ which skips them out?

Throughout the levels there will be some ‘rest’ areas
These will be optional spots where the player can setup a camp
- Instead of setting up camp, they can choose to ’loot’ the camp for extra resources
- This allows experienced/good players to benefit without actively penalising weaker players (they only lose ‘potential’ rewards)
Provide a hazard-free room where the player can:
- Take a breather
- Adjust their equipment
- Fast-travel to other camps
- Players will have the ability to ‘bank’ their money (send it back to the village) which saves it for future runs (maybe a mole/carrier bird npc)
Camps do not persist across runs
For a bit of added flair we’d like to add an npc to the camps
- Plays an instrument/camp theme
- Can be talked to for guidance/hints potentially?
- An extended scope feature