The Harbor - Level Design Project

The Harbor aims to deliver an immersive, narrative driven stealth experience and is inspired by games like Thief and Amnesia. It is based on an original story developed by me in which the protagonist visits a remote harbor which remained isolated from the rest of the world throughout a long lasting, terrible storm. Thematically I’m inspired by the Victorian era industrial aesthetics and the Lovecraftian cosmic horror and I decided to deliver these aspects in the blockout, atmosphere and the lighting.

While exploring the harbor, the main character gets to discover what really happened during the storm and based on the player’s choices, the level leads to one of three endings (one of them being a secret ending.) It is also possible to collect lorebooks that are scattered throughout the level.

What I essentially wanted to achieve in this level was to attain a certain level of nonlinearity while not confusing the player. I aimed to place additional scripts like dialogues, level events and chase events in an order that would set the player up for a progressively and spatially unfolding narrative.

Controls

RMB: Inspect / Alternative Use / Grab object

LMB: Primary Use / Read / Throw object

SPACE: Jump

CTRL: Crouch

TAB: Open inventory

MMB: Zoom in

Version Changelog:

Test Build v1.0 - 29.04.2024

•  Initial test build

Test Build v1.1 - 10.08.2024

• Reduced the amount of AI enemies and tweaked their locations and patrol paths.
• Changed Eldritch Books as collectible elements to Manuscript Pages in order to better convey the story. These pages have written lore and are related to their wherebout. 
• Fixed a bug with climbable ladders and chains.
• Fixed different ending triggers so they can function without any issues.
• Set up a controlled and linear environment at the beginning in order to provide a tutorial.
• Made tutorial texts more consistent.
• Removed unnecessary dialogue.
• Fixed regular ending.
• Fixed door triggers.
• Fixed unnecessary narrow spaces.