1.3 Research
Super Mario Bros:
Overview:
Super Mario Bros. is a classic 2D side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Nintendo in 1985. As Mario and his brother Luigi go through the Mushroom Kingdom to free Princess Toadstool from Bowser's clutches, the game follows their adventures.
Players take on the role of Mario or Luigi and have to make their way through levels that are full of foes, barriers, and power-ups. Eight worlds with four stages each make up the game, which concludes with a fight with Bowser (the final boss).
Many classic components of the video game industry were first introduced by Super Mario Bros., including opponents like Goombas and Koopa Troopas as well as power-ups like the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower. The sound effects and music from the game are also iconic and have come to define the franchise.
Controls:
Super Mario Bros uses extremely basic and straightforward controls. It was most generally played on the Nintendo Entertainment System (more commonly known as the NES). As you can see from the image below, the NES used a small, wired controller which housed four buttons and a 'D-Pad'.
Players who are easily disheartened after a few failed attempts should be able to pick up the game pretty quickly due to the straightforward game controls. They will be able to play the game for sustained amounts of time and not give up after a few failed efforts because of this. Furthermore, the basic design targets younger audiences rather well, since the controls are so simple to grasp. Below, you can see a table with the controls and respective buttons:
Jump / Swim Up
Sprint
or 
Move Left / Right
Features:
Simple game controls.
Simple game controls will allow all players to pick up the game reasonably quickly. This should allow the widest possible playerbase to get involved with the game. I aim to use around five or six control keys in my game. This should also make it easier for me to code.
Range of Levels and Maps.
Providing a range of maps and levels should make each run/session of my game unique and interesting. However, it will be extremely time consuming to develop different background styles.
Timer.
Super Mario Bros includes a timer which gives you a time limit for each level. I would prefer to leave each level with no time limit to give those who are younger and therefore may be worse at the game a chance to still progress without having to spend hours practising the game. However, I may need to include one if the game is too
Multiplayer.
I would like to keep the game to one player only. Having multiple players would likely be sufficiently more difficult to code / program.
Celeste:
Overview:
Celeste is a critically acclaimed platform game developed by Canadian independent studio Matt Makes Games. It was released in 2018 for multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
The game follows a little girl named Madeline as she climbs Celeste Mountain. She encounters a variety of obstacles along the trip, including hazardous terrain, dangerous environmental conditions, and mystical monsters. As they progress through each level, the player can accurately guide Madeline's movements due to the game's unique design.
Celeste is renowned for its meaningful tale and likeable characters in addition to its realistic gameplay. Through Madeline's challenges and successes, the game examines issues of mental health, self-discovery, and personal development. This game is popular with fans of platformers and independent games because of its striking pixel art, appealing soundtrack, and engaging gameplay.
Controls:
As in Super Mario Bros, Celeste uses very simple game controls which allows gamers of all different experience levels to enjoy the game straight away. There is a total of seven keys / buttons used to govern Madeline's movement and actions. Due to it's simplicity, it is very popular with younger audiences. From a survey on reddit, I found that the majority of the player base are aged from 12-18 (“Hello Celeste people : R/celestegame,” n.d.). Below, you can see a table with the controls and respective buttons:
W, A, S, D or Arrow Keys
Move
Left Mouse Button
Shoot
Right Mouse Button
Melee Attack
Spacebar
Jump
Shift
Dodge
Ctrl
Show HUD
V
Power Attack
E
Interact
F
Cycle Charm Powers
Features:
Soundtracks.
During the game, there is music playing continuously. I would like to do the same for my game to make it more enjoyable for those who play it. It may also be a way of promoting the game if it is catchy enough.
Dash Ability.
I like the idea of a dash ability. I think that it would add more excitement and adrenaline to the game if the controlled character was able to move at faster speeds. However, I don't know how this would fit into the platformer game which I am creating since it will be more combat-based than speed and agility-based.
Plethora of Levels / Challenges.
I intend to make my game challenging, but I don't wish for it to be too time-consuming. I found that for 100% completion in Celeste, it takes around thirty-seven hours of gameplay (“How long is Celeste?,” n.d.). I am aiming for my game to take significantly less time to complete.
Climb Ability.
In Celeste, Madeline is able to utilise specific climb and dash abilities. This is not a feature which I intend to include in my game.
Sonic the Hedgehog:
Overview:
The classic video game series Sonic the Hedgehog was created by Sonic Team and released by Sega. In order to defeat Dr. Eggman (the main boss) and save the world, Sonic, a blue animated hedgehog, must make his way through a variety of levels in the game defeating enemies and collecting rings.
Sonic the Hedgehog's gameplay is centered on speed, with Sonic's rapid running and jumping being the key element. While avoiding numerous hazards and opponents, players must collect rings and power-ups. Over the years, new characters and features have been introduced to the game's many sequels and spin-offs.
With subsequent releases of merchandise, an animated TV series, and even a feature film, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a cultural phenomenon. Numerous additional games have been impacted and influenced by the franchise, which is still well-liked by both longtime and new fans.
Controls:
Sonic the Hedgehog was played on either the Sega Mega-Tech or the Sega Mega-Play systems (see below). The controls used for the game were very simple since each action had a dedicated button which meant that desired actions could be completed instantly. These types of games systems were very popular in the 1990s and many arcade clubs were set up as a result of this. Below, you can see a table with the controls and respective buttons:
Walk / Run
( or ) + 
Super Sonic Spin Attack
Look Up / Crouch
, , or 
Super Sonic Spin Jump
(Sega Mega-Tech System, n.d.) (left)
(Sega Mega-Play System, n.d.) (right)
Features:
Super Sonic Spin Jump.
I appreciate the powerful jumping mechanic and hope to add it to my platformer game. This will assist me in adding the height element to my game to make it more enjoyable for the players.
Sprinting.
I am still unsure whether or not I will add a sprinting mechanic or I will have all movement set to the same speed. I believe that adding a sprinting mechanic will make it more fun for the player, however, I don't want to add too many different mechanics due to the risk of the game becoming too complicated for younger audiences.
Joystick Control.
My game will be able to be played online instead of on an arcade machine. Therefore, it will be using keyboard keys and will possibly also take game console controller inputs.
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