Fish Game will be a 2D, Action-Adventure Side-Scroller where the protagonist, Jay, aims to be the world’s greatest fisherman!
This is a collaborative project I am making alongside my co-founder Edward Bayona (@jimjamfiesta). “Fish Game” is a temporary title, as the title is currently being decided.
Fish Game first came into creation after my first Game Jam, GMTK Game Jam 2022. We began initial ideation and concept development in October 2022. There is no projected release date.
FISH GAME
Fish Game takes place in a fantasy world, riddled with diverse foliage and marine wildlife.
With 5 regions to explore, the player will encounter some familiar and not-so-familiar layouts. Ranging from lively beachsides to arid volcanic mountains, the world will incorporate a wide variety of “marine” wildlife that will make the protagonist’s dream more difficult than they initially thought.
Each region will feature a general color theme, as displayed to the right, with each region following a color map that gradients to its neighboring region.
WORLD CONCEPT COLORS
WORLD 1 | Grasslands Beach
This is the first world that you encounter and where Jay/e’s home resides.
Environment | Cool foliage, neutral terrain, warm waters, blue skies, and bright clouds.
A very breezy region with usually sunny weather and light clouds. There are occasional rain bouts at night, refreshing the landscape and giving the region its signature salty taste in the air. Clouds have quick movements and can be seen in a variety of shapes, taking form with the heavy winds with cascading tails.
Notable Foliage | There is a large variety of flowers and foliage to be seen along the winding coastlines and hills of W1. With longer grasses swaying in the wind, it’s easy to feel at peace and want to explore this region.
The most common tree can be attributed to a slender upwards-fern tree, shaped like a cypress cone, that easily flows in the breeze.
Demographics | The region is mostly inhabited by humans, birdfolk, and furfolk with a large variety of ages, given that is a very lively, bustling region.
This is a heavily populated area with a large fishing village on the west side of W1, with smaller, scattered villages throughout the region.
Lore
Guardian of the Coast - Manta Ray (Air Dash)
The longstanding guardian of the first region uses its powerful wings to create the winds and waves of the region.
It is a gentle giant that is rumored to protect those that find themselves stranded in the sea - giving them a ride back to shore and disappearing just as quickly as it appears.
Its hooked tail helps to grab small objects it cannot maneuver with its sturdy horns atop its head. Its battering horns are utilized to craft the unique cliffs and rockfaces of the region, keeping the waves as safe as possible for its people.
The top of the ray is as blue as the water, blending in with wave patterns to mimic the appearance of water. The bottom of the ray is as white as the clouds, flying from high heights it would be hard to discern from the sky itself - making it elusive to the average eye.
Those who have heard the manta ray speak say he has an elderly, low, comforting voice that helps to calm those he rescues from uncertainty. People groups and families who have benefited from his aid, either recent or long past, give offerings and hold small celebrations for him.
Upon corruption from the Fish King, the Manta Ray loses control of its mind and wrecks havoc on the main village by battering into the cliffsides, creating dangerous wind speeds, and making the shoreline very dangerous.
Its special technique, Air Dash, propels itself through the air in a horizontal direction with immense speed to damage foes with its massive horns. An opportunity to attack the manta ray is when he uses his air dash, he lodges his horns too deep into the surrounding cliffs - giving the player an opportunity to pounce on his back and attack the Black Pearl lodged into his back - his critical weakness.
If the player stays on its back too long, after regaining its senses, it can use its two hook tails to grab the player by their hat and throw them off to the side - potentially causing a stun animation. The corrupt form does not have pupils, giving a soulless and mindless aura to the once gentle giant. When corrupted, the manta ray has a slightly varied, darker design.
Rumors have it that an abnormally large manta ray has been spotted in the clouds…
Players can choose to embark on their journey through the eyes of Jay or Jae!
Jay or Jae (Jay/e) operates as the main character, and the player is allowed to choose between the two at the beginning. However, the one not chosen will not exist in gameplay, as they are uniquely themselves. This will encourage players to replay Fish Game to see from the other perspective.
Jay/e is a rowdy and outgoing individual with a big heart, but a thick skull. They are an only child of a small family that operates the local bakery in their village. Their goal is to become the world’s greatest fisherman, but some otherworldly obstacles get in the way on the path to success.
However, their grandparents did certify them as the world’s greatest grandchild.
Concept Art & Design
As we seek to use a pixelated art style with sprites at approximately 96 x 96 pixels, we tried to express simple shapes and emoting through their clothing and hair.
NPCs Galore!
The player will encounter unique and impactful NPCs throughout the game, giving breadth and engaging stories throughout gameplay. Aim to complete character quests and earn relationships with NPCs to learn about the world’s vast lore and legends.
World 1 Inhabitants
Lynna - Part-Time Painter, Part-Time Cargo Mover at the Docks
