Background

In a team of 2, my partner and I built a 2D game using Unity for Wellesley College's Intro to Game Design course during Spring 2023.

Preview

About

Black Cat Witch is a 2D platformer, where players assume the role of a resourceful black cat gifted with the ability to transform into a human (and back). The primary goal of this adventure is to embark on a quest to collect a diverse array of ingredients essential for preparing potions to aid the townsfolk in their unique needs while avoiding obstacles and enemies.

Story

Introduction
Owing to the widespread superstition associating black cats with bad luck, these felines have endured unjust treatment, despite sharing no distinguishing characteristics from other cats aside from their fur color. Inspired by the desire to change this mindset, my partner and I created a game that not only defies these notions but also celebrates the positive qualities of black cats.

Environment
Captivated by the prospect of crafting a magical, fairytale-inspired setting, we expanded the narrative by introducing mystical creatures and choosing to set the characters in a small town with a "cottagecore" aesthetic. We added to the idea by incorporating the black cat's ability to transform into a human form.

Cultural Narratives in Character Design
We carefully planned the representation of characters in the game. Characters were crafted with selfless motivations, reinforcing the altruistic nature of players' actions. We emphasized that the enemies and obstacles: slimes, bats, thorn bushes, and sharp rocks were not meant to be perceived as malicious entities but rather as characters to be navigated with care. The deliberate choice to disallow players from destroying obstacles was aligned with the Witch's overarching mission – to assist others without causing harm.

Mechanics

Building upon in-class demos on scripting, my teammate and I scripted characters' movements, progress to new levels, etc. using C# and Unity.

Playthrough