Bunny Rampage – Design & Technical Pillars

For: Development Team, Publishers, Potential Investors
Version: 1.0
Status: Pre-Production / Early Development

1. Core Design Pillars

These three pillars are the non-negotiable foundation of the game. All design decisions must feed into at least one of these.

• Pillar 1: The Power of the Powerless.
  • Goal: The player must feellike a small, agile creature outsmarting overwhelming force. This is not a power fantasy of sheer strength, but of cleverness and speed.
  • Implementation:
    • Gameplay: Combat favors dodging, parrying, and using the environment over direct head-on attacks. Enemies are larger, slower, and hit harder.
    • Systems: The “Burrow” mechanic (temporary stealth, quick traversal under obstacles) is a core ability. Puzzle solutions involve using small size to access vents, tunnels, and blind spots.
    • Narrative: The story is a classic underdog tale.
  • Pillar 2: Organic & Improvised Arsenal.
    • Goal: Weapons and tools should feel scavenged, improvised, and uniquely “bunny.” They should be surprising, humorous, and mechanically distinct.
    • Implementation:
      • Weapon Design: Every weapon is a found object or modified vegetable (Carrot Sword, Chili Grenade, Cabbage Shield). Their upgrades follow a “junk-tech” aesthetic (e.g., the carrot is first just sharpened, then later wrapped with wire and gears for more damage).
      • Tool Progression: New tools unlock new areas in a “Metroidvania-lite” style. Example: “Sticky Honey” allows Thyme to climb certain walls; “Explosive Dandelion” clears rubble.
    • Pillar 3: A History of Injustice.
      • Goal: The historical settings are not just backdrops; they are active antagonists and puzzle boxes. Each era presents unique environmental challenges and tells a chapter of humanity’s encroachment.
      • Implementation:
        • Era-Specific Mechanics:
          • Medieval: Avoid searchlights from guard towers, use trebuchets to create new paths.
          • Industrial: Sabotage conveyor belts to create platforms, use steam vents for super-jumps, avoid toxic sludge.
          • Future: Hack simple nodes to disable security drones, use optic fiber cables as ziplines.
        • Environmental Storytelling: Show the destruction of nature in each era—stumps where forests were, polluted rivers, cybernetic animals in labs.

2. Technical Specifications (Target)

• Engine: Unity (URP) or Unreal Engine 5. Rationale: Strong 2D/3D hybrid support, robust animation tools, and large asset marketplaces for prototyping. UE5’s Niagara could be great for VFX (explosions, steam, magic).
• Art Pipeline:
  • Character/Enemies: 3D models, hand-painted texture style (e.g., Team Fortress 2, Borderlands) to achieve the stylized look.
  • Environment: Modular 3D kit sets for each era, with parallax 2D background elements to create depth.
  • Animation: Spine2D for fluid 2D animation or a 3D skeleton rig. Priority is on smooth, expressive movement for Thyme.
• Key Code Features:
  • Custom Physics Controller: A must for precise platforming. Will need robust systems for slope handling, coyote time, jump buffering, and wall-sliding.
  • State-Based AI: Enemies will use simple, robust states (Patrol, Alert, Attack, Search). Complexity comes from layering different enemy types (e.g., a slow, armored knight + a fast, ranged archer).
  • Modular Weapon System: A base class for all weapons with standardized functions (Attack(), AltAttack(), CanUpgrade()). This allows for rapid prototyping of new weapon ideas.

3. Prototyping Priorities (In Order)

To de-risk the project, we prototype the core feel first.

1. Movement Prototype: A grey-box level to test core movement (run, jump, double-jump, dash, burrow). This is the highest priority. “Does it feel good to just move around?”
2. Combat Prototype: Add a basic enemy and one weapon (e.g., the Carrot Sword). Test the feel of attack, dodge, and a simple “parry” system. “Does combat feel satisfying and responsive?”
3. Era Mechanic Prototype: Build one vertical slice of a single mechanic from each era (e.g., a working trebuchet in Medieval, a conveyor belt puzzle in Industrial). “Does the era feel unique and interactive?”
4. Art Style Guide

• Inspiration References: Samurai Jack(sharp shapes, strong silhouettes), Cuphead (classical animation principles), Hollow Knight (atmospheric backgrounds).
• Color Palette:
  • Thyme: Bright, vibrant greens and whites. He should always pop against the background.
  • Medieval: Muted browns, greys, deep greens.
  • Industrial: Rusty oranges, dull steels, sickly yellows from gaslights.
  • Future: Cold blues, sterile whites, neon reds for alarms.
• Rule: The player’s eye should always be able to find Thyme instantly on screen.

5. Risk Assessment & Mitigation

• Risk: Scope Creep with three large eras.
  • Mitigation: Strict modular design for assets. Define a minimum viable product (MVP) for each era (e.g., 3 levels per era) before adding more.
• Risk: The combat feeling too “floaty” or imprecise.
  • Mitigation: Prioritize the movement prototype. Hire/contract a dedicated gameplay programmer early. Use extensive playtesting for feedback.
• Risk: The tone missing the mark (too silly, too dark).
  • Mitigation: Develop a strong narrative bible with key story beats. Use the environmental storytelling to carry the darker themes, while the core gameplay and dialogue can be more humorous.

6. Target Metrics

• Target Length: 8-12 hours for a main story playthrough, 15+ for 100% completion.
• Target Performance: 60 FPS on all target platforms at 1080p (4K on enhanced consoles/PC).
• Team Size: Core team of 5-7 (Game Director, Programmer, Artist, Animator, Designer, Sound Designer, QA) with potential for scaling.