This game idea comes from the link between Shaolin and Buddhism. In Buddhism, there is a belief that this universe is one of many in a flower garden that looks at each other. The game idea here is that you play as a traveler on a journey to face a trial given to you by a higher entity.
This higher entity gives you a lotus leaf that allows you to travel between universes and the player must interact with people and learn as much as they can from them for their trial. The player however cannot go back to a universe they've visited as he has to rip a leaf off the lotus flower to travel to the next, leaving the previous one behind entirely.
The player doesn't know what the trial is until the player has reached the final universe he can travel to.
Essential Experience -
The player interacts with NPC's on his journey, gathering as much knowledge and items for the unknown trial
Gameplay loop
Activity/Risks:
Explore and find things that will help you on the trial that’s been pushed onto you​
Risk: Not learning enough to overcome the trial
Rewards:
Learn about different cultures and different forms of fighting ​
Opportunities:
Receive teachings from people​
Learning more about the different beliefs and ways of fighting
Gameplay
The player will walk through a village which changes when you change between universes. I want the movement to be similar to the game journey so you can explore each level freely whilst trying to find hidden items or clues as to what might be revealed in the next universe. For example in one universe there could be a small crack in a wall and in the next, the small crack in the wall is now an entrance to another part the player can explore.
I am inspired by the world-building that is in Hollow Knight so ​player interaction with the NPCs will be a big aspect of the game.
Below I have put some images from an A.I. generated map to show how the landscape can change when the player travels between universes.
