Level design for first 10 levels (18th November)
Level 1
Easiest level.
Warmup phase (first 30-60 seconds have "Moons" spawning). 2-3 letter words for the moons. Moons are the "terrestrial" type. So they have no special effects when destroyed.
After this phase "terrestrial" type asteroids spawn in. 1-2 letter words. Slow moving. (20-30 seconds barrage phase).
Note - we can decide what to do with resources and materials given to players later on. Most likely useage would be for players to craft items or upgrades when not in a match.
After this the level is completed and the player is awarded with a "Gravel" type material which gets added to their resource inventory.
Base mechanic of typing to shoot obstacles is introduced in this level.
Theme of the planet is just rocky, gravel, mud and stones.
Level 2
Warmup phase (first 20-40 seconds have "Moons" spawning). 2-3 letter words for the moons. Moons are the "terrestrial" type. So they have no special effects when destroyed.
After this phase "terrestrial" type asteroids spawn in. 1-2 letter words. Slow moving but in multiple groups. (30-40 seconds barrage phase). "Moons : Vulcanian" type spawn and players can shoot them to clear all asteroids on screen at the same time.
New material collectible introduced in this level - "Magma"
New mechanic for this level - "Moon : Vulcanian"
Theme of the planet if firey and vulcanic.
Level 3
Warmup phase (30-60 seconds). Terrestrial asteroids with 2-3 letters.
Slower than the previous level where players had to use "Vulcanian" Moons to win (and learn mechanic).
After 30 seconds "Cryogenic" Moons start spawning as the number of asteroids increase. Players can destroy these whenever there are too many asteroids on screen at the same time.
New material collectible introduced in this level - "Ice"
New mechanic for this level - "Moon : Cryogenic"
Planet is Tundra and ice themed.
Level 4
Level is a bit longer than the previous one (90-100 seconds).
Asteroids are a bit faster.
Both "Cryogenic" (CM) and "Vulcanic" (VM) spawn.
Players can choose which moon they want to attack to destroy.
VM - More powerful since it destroys all asteroids on screen but the number of letters to destroy it is 6 in this level.
CM - weaker since it just slows down asteroids on screen but the number of letters to destroy it is 2 in this level.
If players destroy a VM when a CM is also on screen it neutralises the ice of this moon and makes it a neutralised terrestrial moon. Neutralised terrestrial moons are just as useless as normal terrestrial moons in terms of gameplay but destroying them gives players a new material called "Crystal."
New material collectible introduced in this level - "Crystal"
New mechanic for this level - Interactions between "VM" and "CM." Introduction of "Neutralised Moons" (NM) and "Crystals" as an ingame currency.
Planet is jewel themed.
Level 5
Level is a bit shorter again (50-80 seconds).
Asteroids in this level still have 2-3 letter words but move a bit faster than before.
New mechanic for this level - "Vulacnian Asteroids" (VA) and "Cryogenic Asteroids" (CA). First level with no moons at all.
VA destroys terrestrial asteroids nearby and neautralises CA.
CA slow down all asteroid types except other CA equally but neutralise VA.
Destroying Neutralised Asteroids (NA) also yields "Crystals."
Planet's aesthetic is a combination of rocky, gravel and crystal themes but has no moons in its visual design in the planet selection screen.
Level 6
Level is longer (70-110 seconds).
Asteroids are slower but have 2-4 letter words.
"VA" and "CA" appear here too.
This level introduces players to how the different moons and asteroids interact with each other (whether they destroy, slow down or neutralise).
Destroying a VM during a barrage phase of VA would cause the Vulcanic asteroids near the moon to get destroyed but the others further away to get faster. Therefore players would need to be wise about when to destroy which kind of moon.
New mechanic - Interactions between Cryogenic and Vulcanian obstacles of different categories.
Theme of the planet is firey with icy poles.
Level 7
Level is a bit shorter again (40-60) seconds.
No moons.
Asteroids are much larger and slower. Words used in this level are words that are very big and can be broken into smaller ones. For example - BUTTERfly, HORNet, BIRTHday, CANada, etc.
On shooting these asteroids they break up into smaller faster moving ones.
To prevent players from spamming and writing the same word twice to kill the big asteroid and its smaller off shoots maybe there could be a pause animation where the asteroid freezes and starts to break apart for (2-3 seconds). This could force players to try typing the letters for another asteroid that is coming towards them.
New mechanic - "Asteroid : Gargantuan" (GA) is introduced.
Planet has a gravel theme but looks slightly cracked in the menu screen (to hint the arrival of GA)
Level 8
Level is longer (50-70 seconds).
New mechanic - normal waves of asteroids with 2-3 letters in addition to a few GAs.
VM and CM only spawn on this level if the player has 1 life left.
Theme of this planet could be more cyberpunk with moons warping in and out of the planets orbit to hint at the VM and CM spawning as lifelines.
Level 9
Level is shorter (30-50 seconds).
Asteroids with 3-4 letters spawn in this level.
CA type has 1-2 letters in them but move slower and act more like a buff to the player than a direct obstacle of nuisance.
New mechanic - Players must use CA to slow down the extremely fast off shoot asteroids that are created when GAs of this level are destroyed.
Theme - Frosty and gravel themed.
Level 10
Level is longer (60-100 seconds).
Using VA to destroy GAs causes the smaller asteroids to become VA as well. These move a lot faster and there is a higher chance of them reaching the player. Therefore players should avoid destroying VA before destroying GAs.