Touch The Sun

A friend and I were working on a platformer for a while based around climbing all the way to the sun. All of our work outside of this script was lost in a freak accident, but I like this script/outline enough to share. The premise is that our main character is ignoring their responsibilities in order to climb to the sun and is constantly being reminded of their left-behind life via voicemails once per level.

"Stage 1: Ground

Level 1-1: Ground level

The game starts on the sidewalk, with the character beginning the climb at the base of a building. The level ends at a jump from a smaller building to the side of a skyscraper.

1-1 Script: Dad – Hey. I was calling to remind you about that dinner at my place next month. Your sister is getting the weekend off. I was thinking that if you could do the same, we might drive up to the lake. Let me know.

Level 1-2: Back and forth

This level has the character jumping back and forth between a skyscraper and another large building. The level ends as the character jumps from the top of the large building onto the skyscraper.

1-2 Script: Chris – Hey, are you alright? It got weird last night. You didn't call after dinner. I mean, you don't have to. But you did before. Anyway, call me back if you get the chance.

Level 1-3: Skyscraper

 The level has the character climbing the skyscraper to the very top of the building. The city is far below the character now. The level ends with the character jumping onto a small cloud.

1-3 Script: Ray – Man, where'd you put that Mexican wrestling tape with the midget? I was telling Dante about that shit and now I can't find it. I bought a VCR at the flea market for like 3 bucks, its got a bunch of stickers all over it but that's no thing.

Stage 2: Sky

Level 2-1: Troposphere

This level begins with wispy cirrus clouds and flocks of birds. The character climbs through increasingly thicker clouds and volatile weather. The level ends at  the very top of a nimbostratus layer. 

2-1 Script: Dad – I was calling to try to get a hold of you but Ray was telling me that you aren't answering your phone. If you need something, you know I'll try to help. Just...uh...just...just get back to me.

Level 2-2: Stratosphere

This level has the character jumping between cumulus clouds and airplanes. This level should be filled with soft blue sky.

2-2 Script: Chris - Ray let me in. I had some stuff to drop off. We found the thing from work. I'm sorry. I don't know...but If you need help with rent, let me know. The firm gave me a good bonus, I can cover it. Wherever you are, just come back soon. We'll figure this out.

Level 2-3: Thermosphere and exosphere

This level represents the transition between sky and space. The beginning of the  level should start where the last level cuts off, but this level will have the sky blue transition to darker shades. This is where auroras occur and space detritus burns up to become meteorites. This level should end with the encompassing blackness of space.         

2-3 Script: Ray -  Hey, its Ray. Sucks about the job, man. I was pokin' around in your room and found your note. You playing around about that? Or are you really going to the sun?

Stage 3: Space

 Level 3-1: Space junk

This level should feature the character jumping between all of the flotsam and jetsam revolving around the Earth. Spent rocket chambers, junked machines and dirt. The player could climb through an abandoned, rotting space station

3-1 Script: Dad – Your roommate called me about what you are doing. He also told me about the job. Um...I don't know what to say. [long pause] I took out some of those books we always used to buy you with all the pictures of the planets and constellations. Is that where you are? Are you out there?

Level 3-2: Deep space

At this level, the character should seem lost in space. This is the odd emptiness of space, with distant stars and weird radiation. What the character is jumping on has  become abstract and illogical. This is where space madness usually sets in, but not for our guy!                

3-2 Script: Chris – I don't know if you are even getting these messages, but I want you to know that I get it. Like, I just get it. I get it. [pause] Me and your dad and Ray are on the roof of the apartment building pointing out all the stars that we remembered as kids. We're kinda drunk. I hope you get to where you want to go, but...I hope you come back. I miss you. [phone gets dropped and you hear a bunch of fumbling] Shit! [voicemail cuts out]

Level 3-3: Comet's tail

In this level, the character is climbing through the tail of a comet. The tail's blaze should grow increasingly larger and brighter as the level goes on. The tail has a bunch of fragments and chunks flowing through it for our character to jump on.

3-3 Script: Ray – So man, about that wrestling tape...Why you ain't got my shit when I let you hold it? Ha. Remember that shit though? Sittin' back and listening to Wu in the summertime? That was great, man. Let me know what it's like up there. By the way, Chris is pretty cool, man. Good on ya.

Stage 4: Sun

Level 4-1:

The approach to the sun starts reminding the player of the blackness of space. The corona will still be faint and thin, with the occasional coronal loop providing some flair.

 

4-1 Script: Chris – Jesus, I'm sorry about that drunk call. I took a big ol' chunk out of my phone. I don't even remember what I said...such a jackass. Ray told me you should be pretty close by now. I bet it's warm. You know how good it feels when you walk outside and that sun hits your skin? I imagine that's how you feel right now. Keep climbing. You'll get there!

Level 4-2:

The level draws out the approach to the sun. The intensity has increased, with the character jumping through the midst of a coronal transient.

4-2 Script: Dad – You know, I never told anybody this. When I was your age, I wanted to drive race cars for a living. I used to do a bunch of skids in the burn pit down the road. When the time I broke my leg, I had to put that off to the side. Then I met your mom...well, you know how the story goes...um...I guess I'm trying to say that I've got your back. Whatever it is. You should just keep going. Keep going. I...love you. 

Level 4-3:

The level is almost all heat and light. The only thing to break up the consistency is the flow of the plasma, swirling and rotational. The level ends with the character jumping into the sun.

4-3 Script: The level should feature audio blocks all around the level, right before particularly tricky jumping parts, as opposed to just at the beginning. This should be just anybody who we can grab to record something. Dad, Chris and Ray should give short messages, but let's just have as many opportunities to encourage the player as we can tastefully work in."