Whats With the Art Style of the Buildings in Gears of War

Introduction

Crafting satisfying combat encounters is past no means a elementary feat. Few titles are renowned for successfully delivering gratifying gainsay scenarios for players to feel. Much tin can be learnt through analysing some of the best examples that are on offer, and extracting the key principles and they way they have been implemented to proceeds a better agreement of what makes them so rewarding. This is an assay of the Knock Knock level in Gears of War, taking into account some of Epic's publicised design principles as well every bit more full general understanding of embrace based shooter combat and level design.

Hourglass

1 of the much lauded aspects of Gears of War'south level pattern was its "hourglass" sequence construction. More open arenas, referred to by Ballsy developers every bit "combat bowls" are linked together by bars corridors. This creates an expanding and contracting volume of infinite as you lot move through the environment, which is where the hourglass dubbing comes from.

An abstract diagram depicting the "hourglass" construction.

Combat isn't exclusive to the areas considered the combat bowls. Gears of War volition frequently pit the the actor against enemies in corridor sections, only these tend to be calorie-free and fast skirmishes that provide piffling resistance. Information technology'south in the combat bowls that encounters truly flourish though.

Combat Bowls

The very nature of the combat bowls elevates the potential of any conflict that takes identify within them. The larger infinite promotes more motion from the histrion (most importantly, rotational and lateral movement) and allows for more interesting variation of geometry for the player and AI to interact with. This creates more tactical options for the player and allows for more surprises to come up from the AI.

Corridors

Although gainsay in corridors lacks the thrill of that in combat bowls, they still serve an important purpose. Continuous combat bowl after combat bowl would exist a very intense feel, merely it would be flat. There would be no juxtaposition to be able to truly appreciate the thrills of the high intensity. Too, pleasure can also be experienced from the low intensity offered by the gameplay in corridor sections.They are nifty for building atmosphere and creating context for the whole experience. These sections are also an opportune moment for delivering narrative and gameplay objective data, where the player is likely to be less distracted through curiosity that oftentimes comes with more open up spaces and their multiple points of interest.

Knock Knock

One of the finest examples of Gear's of State of war's combat see design is experienced in the chapter "Knock Knock" in Act 1. Delta Squad are on a mission to attempt and locate Alpha Squad and secure a sonic mapping device known as the resonator, who they were final known to be in possession of. Their search has atomic number 82 them to the plaza of the House of Sovereigns.

This is the footprint of the Knock Knock level visualised from a loftier level hourglass colour coded perspective. The red corridors bookend the green gainsay bowl. I've divided the combat bowl in half every bit the left half isn't really utilised for combat. An important note is the asymmetry of the combat bowl, as it helps the histrion distinguish end side from another.

Opening Corridor

The entrance into the corridor where the level begins is hard gated, so the actor cannot travel back to the previous area. The residual of the members of Delta Team are all positioned in front of the player and walk along a path only short of the end, encouraging the player to follow. At this point the role player is in a forced walk, ensuring that they tin't just run through to the leave of the corridor into the combat bowl alee. This dictates a minimum amount of time that the actor will exist in this corridor, and it used to play dialogue that briefs the player on their electric current objective and the plan of action to achieve it.

The only fashion here is forwards. The lighting at the end of the night corridor likewise serves to depict the thespian through the infinite, not forgetting to mention the lines and repetition of the architectural supports along the walls and border lines of the flooring tiles.

This serves the pacing well, equally information technology begins to provide some light relief for the player from the action of the previous combat encounter. There is also fiddling in the way of any distractions, which helps to more than effectively communicate the histrion'due south current objective. The tremor simulated through the employ of photographic camera milk shake, falling physics objects and grit particle emitters, starts to build tension and create an atmosphere of dread.

Detect that the construction of this corridor takes the form of a dog leg, where information technology consists of two 90 caste corners in opposite directions. It keeps the player's line of sight brusk, and adds variation in the histrion'southward trajectory to the go out. The exit is also aligned to provide proficient limerick of the actor's goal.

The composition of the leave doorway nicely frames the domes of the House of Sovereigns against the skyline, for like shooting fish in a barrel identification of the actor's destination.

Combat Basin

The player doesn't immediately appoint in combat when they enter the combat basin, information technology grants a moment to take in that this location was the scene of a prior boxing every bit evidenced from the devastation surrounding them. Then it rewards some light exploration through a pocket-size outbuilding immediately in forepart, containing ammo and grenades to replenish the histrion's stocks from the final encounter and prepare them for what'southward to come.

The player tin't miss the outbuilding staright in fron of them, plus two roadblocks are positioned that help funnel them towards the door.

You lot can't be likewise certain that the player has restocked on ammo at the end of a previous encounter in some other level, and so it is good practice to provide players with an early opportunity to do so.

The histrion is pulled towards the direction of the House of Sovereigns past a cardinal fountain, that serves every bit visual lure and landmark. The tension continues to build through the utilize of hushful voice chatter and furthermore with a scripted result of 2 Reavers triggered just before reaching the steps. They briefly come in and out of view as they scour the adjacent street, just beyond the level boundary to the left. Proceeding to explore this direction volition uncover a COG tag, one of the game's collectables.

The visibility of the fountain is established just before you get to the outbuilding and is maintained to lead the player to front of the edifice. It besides proves useful every bit landmark from which the player can easily reorientate themselves from.

As you tin see from the player path in green, that they are purposefully lured towards the most important locations in the outset half of the gainsay bowl. However there is room for exploration, which is rewarded towards the end where the Reavers appear with a COG tag.

The view across the purlieus actually makes the level feel larger, and the fact that in that location is activity happening across the purlieus gives the impression of a living globe that doesn't just centre on the player character.

As the actor ascends the plaza steps, they begin to see various sandbag emplacements and roadblocks positioned around the surface area, in improver to structural objects such equally pillars and cement blocks. This is the opportunity for the player to get a lay of the land and pre-emptively assess their surround, taking mental notes of where they can take cover and how they tin can navigate the space safely by using cover-to-encompass move.

The player is afforded a short up close look at the facade of the edifice, where they can run into four large biconvex doorways. The two centre  ones are open up and the two outer ones are closed. The open doorways provide a strong combat focus for the player of where the threat will originate from.

This area is very one thousand looking, with its large arched doorways, alpine imposing pillars and central focal fountain.

Structurally the concave facade allows for a front of greater width to fit within the player's field of view, as opposed to if it was flat, providing more for the player to visually monitor within those limits. It also  naturally places the player as the focus at the middle  of the round negative infinite, whilst likewise making it easier for the histrion to survey enemy targets.

Introduction

The role player triggers the appearance of Locust Drones, when they get into close proximity of the fountain. The Gunner class Drone takes upwards a position in the left open doorway to operate the Troika (a mounted heavy machine gun), and another Drone known every bit a Spotter takes cover in the sandbag emplacement in the right open doorway. These ii Drones hold their fortified positions, whilst a tertiary free roaming drone vaults over the sanbags in the left open doorway and skirts around the edge of the killzone.

The Locusts are spawned from out of view inside the House of Sovereigns, before emerging through the doorways.

The setup keeps the enemy targets shut enough to be visible all at once, and then the player can easily monitor.

They immediately open fire on the player and their ally team members, putting pressure on them to now instinctively anchor themselves into cover. The Troika is a formidable weapon and puts the actor at quite a disadvantage. This is the moment where the player has a brief moment to assess the situation.

Establishing the Combat Zone

The actor's territory and the enemy territory are clearly divers with the corresponding fronts, by the timing of the introduction of the Locusts with the actor'southward position. The player doesn't get to advance any further than the cover surrounding the fountain, before the Locusts brand their presence known. The suppressive fire they lay downwards also stops the player from advancing whatsoever farther forward. The ally squad members also take cover within this area, adding more proof that it is the player'due south territory. Two Locusts concur positons within the two sandbag emplacements, conveying the Locust's territory. The ane roaming Locust Drone helps to brand the standoff non experience too static, and provides some light harassment for the marry NPCs to brand them experience involved in the date and not come across as sitting idly by.

There are a few primal components to a combat loonshit for shooters with a cover system:

• Player Territory (aka Friendly Territory, Allied Territory or Safe Zone) - This is the infinite that the thespian occupies when combat is initiated. Information technology contains a generous amount of cover, making information technology relatively prophylactic to movement within. This is where the player formulates their plan to counterattack.
• Enemy Territory (aka Hostile Territory/Zone) - The equivalent for the enemy side, being where they launch their set on from. Information technology may also contain obscured areas from which to spawn more enemies from out of the thespian'due south view. It will generally have less cover options than that of the Player Territory.
• Actor Front end (aka Friendly/Allied Frontline/Border) - The furthest signal frontward of the Player Territory, an edge that when crossed ways the role player has exposed themself to increment risk of danger.
• Enemy Front (aka Enemy Frontline/Border) - The equivalent for the enemy territory in the player'due south direction.
• Killzone (aka No Man's State, Killing Ground or Expressionless Zone) - The space between the two Fronts defining the two seperate territories, by consisting of little to no cover. As its namesake suggests, information technology will almost certainly mean the finish of whoever is caught in here. This is the hurdle that the histrion must overcome to win the battle.
• Flank Road - This is the answer to the challenge presented by the Killzone. A path that circumvents the danger of the Killzone through apply of cover that links the Thespian and Enemy Territories together. It then provides an advantageous indicate of set on, either to the side of or from behind the enemy targets.

Hither we can see the foundation of a solid combat run into setup. Cover outlined in green represents cover in the player'southward territory, with comprehend outlined in scarlet cogent the enemy's territory. The dashed lines depict the respective fronts, the furthest forward point of the territory controlled by that side. This leaves the space in between equally the killzone

The Gunner on the Troika is too lethal to take on straight, and he'll hands impale the player if they endeavour to have him out with pop and shoot tactics. The actor can take out the Sentinel in the other doorway, but doing so volition causes a replacement to be spawned from inside the edifice to come and take its place.

The Flank Route

The situation is escalated slightly by the appearance of a Grenadier (a Locust Drone class type that wields a shotgun) bursting from the closed locked door on the right. The animation helps to bring attending to his presence, but it is besides chosen out to the thespian by an ally NPC and is marked as a signal of interest. Further encouraging the player to confront the Grenadier and accept this newly attainable road, is the amount of concentrated cover that bridges the player enemy territory to this doorway.

The ability to flank the enemy in this example is governed by this evennt being triggered.

The Grenadier appears just on the fringe of the player'due south view to the right, requiring them to rotate the camera a lilliputian to become a good view. Information technology makes for a standout introduction for this new enemy type.

The player finds themself in a long corridor when inbound the doorway, and it isn't long before it turns into a corridor combat section. An Emergence Hole appears around a corner part mode down the corridor, spawning 3 Locust Drones. The Emergence Hole volition respawn a replacement if whatever of these Drones are killed (up to a limit), and then destroying the Emergence Pigsty becomes a priority. The narrow infinite results in movement and cover options existence very limited, however some multifariousness is provided through the types of cover. At that place's total height cover, low embrace plus destructible encompass. The role player can peer around a colonnade to take aim, fire over the elevation of a roadblock or take a chance to advance forrard by vaulting the roadblock to hibernate backside a destructible crate.

The Emergence Hole appears obscured in this offshoot T-junction, that calls into question the player'due south Bolo grenade throwing skills.

The destructible crate ahead is a risky option, equally it volition only provide temporary salvation from gunfire and no protection at all from grenades.

At that place is a strong sense of purpose and bulldoze as the role player is funnelled through this path. Reaching the first central doorway allows the player to take out the Scout quite easily from behind. The view from this positon provides a strong sense of location as the player can run into back out to the fountain from where they started the encounter. Their squad mates remain in the ally territory and tin be seen still in danger from the gunfire of the Troika that now lies just alee.

This view of the fountain, the central landmark, restablishes the histrion's location.

Recuperate

The thespian is given a short pause from the action, once they complete the flank and elimiate the Gunner on the Troika. There is no possible route to progress inside the corridor, equally the path only beyond the positon of the Troika is blocked. An order to regroup exterior at the top of the plaza steps is given past Kim, the Delat Squad leader. With all possible threats eliminated, the player has an opportunity to resupply thmselves with ammo from fallen enemies or from the helpfully placed ammo and grenade pickup opposite where the Emergence Hole was.

The flank has virtually been completed, only continue in mind that the actor has already had to kill at least four enemies by this point.

The placement of the ammo and grenade pickup requires the histrion to have eliminated any nearby threat first. They are now in no danger from collecting these items.

A cutscene is triggered when the player goes back outside. This is a moment of complete inactivity for the player, further cementing that this is a rest menses. Information technology also sets up the climax to the encounter with a narrative shell. The cutscene results in the death of Reddish, one of your fellow squad members, from a Locust Sniper in the distance. This brings about an abrupt end to the role player's feeling of triumph, signalling that the fight is non nonetheless over and fuelling their last efforts in another shootout.

The flank route allows the role player to blindside the principal threat of the Gunner, making it piece of cake to take him out. The gratuitous roaming Drone is now caught sandwiched firmly in the killzone, making him extremely vulnerable and also quick to dispatch.

Climax

This setup efficiently reuses the same exterior combat area for the final face off, yet at the same time makes it experience different past reversing the situation. This is a sommon occurrence of the Gears of War gainsay encounter blueprint, where a player is tasked with launching an attack on a location so defending it once that has been accomplished. The fronts have been redirected at present that the Gears soldiers and the Locust enemy are on opposite sides from the previous engagement. The gameplay is significantly different, although the aforementioned space is existence used. It is no longer about advancing on a position and gaining ground, but now nearly staying in a confined portion of the combat bowl and property ground. Locust Drones are spawned from the bootom end of the plaza steps and try to advance up towards the player'due south position. The thespian now has the advantage of the loftier basis and the option to put the Troika to devastating utilize, despite the increased number of Drones. Plus the gainsay range is far greater from the positon of the Troika to the enemy forepart.

Every bit you lot can see, the new positions of the actor and the enemies brings new meaning to the same space.

This empowering position feels quite unlike from the beginning of the first half of the battle.

An of import observation hither is that although there are half dozen Drones spawned, simply 3 will advance up to the enemy frontline to assail. Combat layers are employed to create a feeling of having to deal with a larger force without actually overwhelming the player with big amounts of enemies all at the same time. While one-half the enemies are up at the frontline, the other half remain in the groundwork and will move between the comprehend at that place every now and again. Members of the 2d layer will join the frontline whenever a member of the first layer is killed.

Closing Corridor

The final remaining closed door at the front of the House of Sovereigns is unlocked once all the last remaining Locust forces have been depleted.

The last door is now open.

3 last Locust reside within, before the thespian can complete their objective. The appointment range has been brought back in considerably.

This leads to i last short corridor department, where the player faces three Locust Drones in shut quarters. marcus and Dom breifly reflect on the death of Carmine in one case the last grouping of Locusts are dead, before Kim unlocks another door into the main surface area of the House of Sovereigns to complete the objective.

With that the resolution has been brought to a close, and the hourglass sequence tin can then be repeated in a different way.

Recap

I'll just epitomize the points that have been discussed in a higher place, now that information technology has been covered in detail.

Playthrough

Hither's my playthrough of the level on the PC version of the game on hardcore difficulty, so yous tin can run into everything discussed in activity.

Lessons

There'due south a lot to takeaway from this come across, and then I'll try to summarise everything:

• Layout - The combat bowl is conspicuously laid out, so that player tin easily detemine Delta Squad'southward front, the enemy Locust forepart, the killzone separating the two and the flank road that links them. There'due south ample cover to provide options for both the histrion and other members of their squad, and it is amassed in a way that provides and promotes movement. In that location also needs to be space between the clusters of cover to provide some take a chance in the actor'southward motion where they betrayal themselves to danger. Plus in that location is a flank road that allows the player to bypass the killzone to get to the enemy targets and have up an advantageous positon to assail.
• Orientation and Navigation- The asymmetry of the combat bowl is important to make i cease distinguishable from the other, so the player knows where they need to be going if they get turned around. When promoting movement effectually a combat arena, it is also helpful to employ a singled-out landmark so that the role player tin hands go their bearings. The use of cover also instinctively highlights useful paths through the environment.
• Enemy Composition and Sequencing - The types of enemies the actor is faced with and the order they are thrown into the mix and the weather in which that is done is of notation. A Gunner on a Troika, a Spotter and a regular Drone + A Grenadier > An Emergence Hole and 3 Drones > Vi Drones (seperated into two layers) > 3 Drones. The player never has to concern themselves with more than than 3-iv enemies at a single time. High numbers of enemies isn't ever the best selection to challenge the player.
• Challenge  - There is a clear threat priority set at the offset of the run across with the Troika, and the goal to eliminate the Gunner operating it. The challenge is increased with the introduction of the Grenadier, a shotgun wielding Drone, in shut proximity to the role player's position, who will advance. This is further escalated past the Emergence Hole in the bars corridor of the flank road. The player must now face up multiple Drones in a tight infinite, plus seal the Emergence Hole or else have to dispose of Locust reinforcements every time they kill one (up to a limit). The actor doesn't have the luxury of beingness able to flank these enemies, they must instead rely more on popular and shoot tactics and take reward of their grenades on the tightly grouped germination of the Drones. This is where the combat difficulty feels similar it peaks. The challenge isn't created just by throwing more enemies at the player, or continuously introducing new enemy class types. Challenge tin be created by the circumstances of the type of state of affairs the player is in with those enemies. The Troika at the beginning is by far the most unsafe threat, but the thespian never faces too much trouble from it due to it becoming active when the player has lots of nearby cover options. The Grenadier is armed with a lethal shotgun, merely doesn't have many options for safe movement to avoid set on. However the fight through the flank corridor has the player more than or less pinned down with very limited options.
• Reward- Once the flanking corridor is clear of enemy reinforcements, it is then adequately simple to eliminate the Lookout and the Gunner on the Troika plus the remaining free roaming Drone in the gainsay bowl. Lastly although the histrion is faced past an assail past many Drones, it isn't hard to overcome them now that player has access to the Troika, and the fact that they are presented in two layers. The group at the back are non-threatening, so the player can easily focus on the grouping at the front until they are replaced by the second group. The player is rewarded for completing the flank past being able to merely wreak havoc with this weapon.
• Pacing - In that location'southward a momentum to the combat pace, where information technology continuously increases in intensity. The role player is immediately faced with the pregnant threat of a manned Troika accompanied by a couple of Drones. This is before long followed upward by the introduction of a Grenadier also every bit a new passage through the space of the arena. Entering this passage puts the thespian in a bars combat space where the player must deal with an Emergence Hole that spawns a squad of Locust Drones, and replenishes their numbers if not destroyed. One time the player takes out the Drone on the Troika, they are then able to operate it themselves against multiple Locusts in the contrary management the Gears soldiers attacked the position from. Turning the gameplay from attack to defend. That's fours times new elements are introduced to the combat see that causes the histrion to appraise or reassess the state of affairs and act appropriately.
• Recuperation - Just as important are the times the player is immune a moment to compose themselves, to take time to restore their health and restock their ammo. At that place are ii points for this, at the start before whatever action takes place and also once again when the flank is completed.
• Atmosphereand Context- There'due south a gradual buildup of tension earlier the starting time enemy threat appears. The tremor in the corridor, the hushful squad chatter once Delta Squad are out in the open, the moment of placidity and stillness as you take in the devastation of the metropolis around you and the stalking movement of the Reavers on the periphery. This excellently creates that calm before the tempest feeling, whereby although in that location is no bodily danger to the role player there is a perceived sense of looming threat that adds greater emotional weight to the combat. Likewise the death of Ruby, is also tied in at an appropiate time, with the thespian as Marcus Fenix being able to unleash their ache through the utilize of the Troika.
• Economical - There is well considered reuse of the main plaza space. The flank route provides a brief change of scenery with its interior before the histrion completes a loop back out into the open up outside for the climax of the battle. This is very efficient use of the space, which allows artists to focus their efforts on a particular part of the level that the player is going to become to meet the virtually.

Conclusion

Knock Knock isn't the only level in Gears of War that puts many of these points into practice, nor is it the beginning to start doing a lot of them. However the way in which it ties them altogether is what I call back makes it stand out. Nigh importantly the run into is built on a solid foundation of cadre proven principles. However there is a considerable amount of work done to give the action context, and to building tension up to that point that makes the action feel very fulfilling and memorable.

References

I highly recommend the following GDC presentations by Mike Zak and Joel Goodsell on the core principles of good combat encounter blueprint. Information technology is with much of the knowledge that I learnt from these that helped me to gain a amend understanding of combat in typical FPS and TPS games:

• Environment Blueprint in Halo 3 (audio)
• Environs Design in Halo 3 (slides)
• Creating Satisfying Gainsay Experiences at Insomniac Games

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Source: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-art-of-war-gears-of-war---knock-knock

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