August 2025 - October 2025 | Unreal Engine 5 | Action Platformer
August 2025 - October 2025 | Unreal Engine 5 | Action Platformer
Level Designer, Gameplay Programmer, Concept Artist
Level Designer, Gameplay Programmer, Concept Artist
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Concrete Jungle is
Concrete Jungle is
An action-adventure platformer made in Unreal Engine 5. Use your magic monkey wrench to grapple onto bolts, swing on vines, and defeat an army of evil screws. This game was made as a part of PlayStation Career Pathways' "Ratchet It Up!" game jam, where teams of four competed for the best game under the prompt of "real world tool with mystical twist".
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
To answer the prompt, we wanted to create a monkey wrench that takes its name literally, inheriting the ability to cast monkeys and monkey paws at will. With plenty of brainstorming, prototyping, and blueprinting, we were able to create a weapon that feels both practical and mystical at once.
Our weapon, the Monkey Wrench, shoots robotic monkey's paws that latch onto purple Bolts. These Bolts are present throughout the level and do different things depending on their shape.
Working on a 4-Person Team
Working on a 4-Person Team
This project was an invaluable team experience. Not only did the small team size allow for each member to wear multiple hats and work closely together to make critical decisions about the game, but the limited time range (just eight weeks to make a presentable Unreal demo) meant each member was deeply involved in production and managing each other's time.
Gamers Don't Look Up
Gamers Don't Look Up
While Concrete Jungle is a third person platformer game, it has a lot of unique quirks that set it apart from games of similar nature. For example, the game's main mechanic is aiming at and shooting at bolts to swing off of them--something that requires you to look in places most players usually won't. How do we guide players to aim in the right places?
Tackling these kinds of problems took plenty of iteration and playtesting. Most of the feedback was tied into directing the player's vision throughout the level, and making sure they are eased into the mechanics of the level before challenging them. A significant amount of care went into making sure movement and aiming were seamless with both platforming and combat, whereas in the past those two aspects were at odds with one another.
Conceptualizing Characters
Conceptualizing Characters
Aside from gameplay design, level design and set dressing, one of my core responsibilities was working on conceptualizing the designs of characters and objects for my other team members to 3D model. We wanted to capture the animalistic feel that comes from a monkey wrench that shoots monkies, so our design involved researching a mixture of construction-grade hardware and rugged hunting uniforms. Designing items and characters involved lots of discussion, drawing, and redrawing again.
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