LOCKSTEP
A true puzzle game that rewards thinking over reflexes. There is no clock to race against. This game uses strategy over speed. Collect the correct key to open the matching door. Pull the lever to open the right gate. Push the crates in the best order or pick up boots to chart your way into finding the exit. Collect all the embers and find your way to the end without getting trapped.
How to play
Every level is winnable. The levels start off easy and get more difficult. Player can move 1 tile at a time. You need to collect all embers in the level in order to unlock the exit door. A red key goes to a red door, blue to blue. A yellow lever opens a yellow gate. You may not need to use every key or enter every door. Blocks may be in your way or be used to help you. Blocks can cover up water. Water boots allow you to walk through water. Teleporters will move you to a different area of the board. There is no undo button. You can get stuck on a level and click restart to try the level again. You can go back and select a level you already unlocked. You can only hold 1 key at a time, so plan accordingly. Some keys and gates are traps and will cause you to get stuck and need to restart the level. You may need to think about a combination of keys, blocks, and levers to find the right path to the end.
Behind the game
This game was being built for some time because of the puzzle aspect. I built the mechanics first — keys, levers, blocks, water, teleporters — and then designed levels around what each one could do. The levels needed to be thought out and traps put in place to try to fool the player. Multiple game mechanics were introduced to add more elements to keep the levels from getting repetitive. Uniqueness in each level drives the game to be a fun yet casual adventure.
Hints
The game begins to get more difficult at level 7 “Tread Water”. The photo below may provide a hint. This level requires precise placement of blocks and order in which to use keys and open doors. One misstep and you will need to restart the level. The remaining levels mirror these deceptive tactics and include more traps and further confusion.
