Kilonova

TEAM: Sleepy Spirit, 2023/2024
DigiPen Institute of Technology

Tool: Unreal 5

Role: Creative Director, UI Designer

Task Force: UI, Environment, Narrative

Embark on a journey of revenge as Sol, a warrior of the celestial cosmos, as she fights to repel the corruption that has shackled the creatures of a fractured world. Wield her cosmic strength to shatter your foes and expunge the malevolent influence of the cosmos most ancient enemy; The Kilonova! Will you avenge your people and free this world, or succumb to the entropy of its eternal power? The fate of the cosmos rests in your hands.

  • Defeat waves of enemies with cosmic powers
  • Luminescent, atmospheric, and impactful sound
  • Striking stylized low-poly visuals with an emphasis on celestial elements contrasted again harsh, jagged golden corruption
  • Beautiful celestial world, sprawling with alien foliage and fractured terrain
  • Deliver melee combos across three levels of increasingly challenging arenas

This game was developed as a student project at DigiPen Institute of Technology and was created for educational purposes only.

UI DESIGN

  • Designing UI Prototype
  • Importing, and laying out UI with Assets
  • Front-end programming with Unreal UMG. 
  • Animating with Unreal UMG

Before I design a new UI for a project, I reorganize color, and motion language to ensure the overall design elements are consistent.

Every new UI elements were made based on the keywords Cosmos, Astronomy, and Circular

Main Menu

Sub Menus

In-game

AB Testing

Contents Design

As we revamped the combat system, we had to redesign not only the tutorial UI layout, but also it’s structure and teaching methods. Collaborating closely with the co-creative director -also a level designer-,I transitioned the tutorial flow from displaying all instructions to a slide-in guidance system. This new approach ensure that players could focus on controlling their character without unnecessary interruptions, creating smoother and more intuitive onboarding experience.

  • Previous Tutorial: Players entered the tutorial arena, an overlay displayed the system instructions, and upon completing each objective, the next overlay appeared.
  • New Tutorial: Right after the game starts, the basic controls are introduced through a slide-in UI, minimizing disruptions. Players first learn combat mechanics by breaking a crystal blocking their path. They gradually progress through advanced movement (dash), heavy attacks, basic combos, advanced combos, special skills, and ultimate abilities, ensuring a smooth and natural learning experience.

Narrative Design

As the names of the characters were changed, major revisions to the story became inevitable.

Through a meeting with previous designers, They handed over me a full authority to reorganize the narrative.

As a narrative designer, I set the main goal to solidify the player’s purpose.

My approach was to redefine the characters’ personas and reveal details through dialogue and environmental props.

Drafts

Documents

UI Task Force

Narrative Task Force

Interested in cool Sleepy Spirit members? Explore our website!