Noroi

Position

Team Leader, Lead Game Designer, Lead Programmer, Illustrator, Animator

Contribution

Led an alternative control game project in which 4 students collaborated on an alternative control game challenge.

Duration

Team Size

Spring 2023 (2 week Project)

Genre

Engine

Arcade, Action Game

Unity

Platform

Alternative Control, PC

Noroi is a One and a half minute, high-stakes game that merges Japanese folklore with innovative gameplay, challenging players to target spirit weak points using a unique straw-man controller and a hammer.

Noroi was developed with 3 other game design students, and executed as a game design challenge presented to us to use non-traditional controllers.

Research and Planning

Drawing from Japanese mythology and modern anime culture, the concept of Noroi was heavily inspired by the popular anime series "Jujutsu Kaisen." The team found particular inspiration in the character Nohara Kugisaki, renowned for her unique cursing techniques rooted in the traditional Japanese ritual of "Ushi no toki mairi (Japanese: 丑の時参り, lit. "ox-hour shrine-visit").

Traditional Illustration of Ushi no toki mairi (Japanese: 丑の時参り) ->

<- Nobara Kugisaki (釘崎野薔薇), from Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦)

Inspiration & Cultural References

Creative Interpretation

While the original anime presented an elegant portrayal of this ritual through Kugisaki's flying nails and hammer, our interpretation in Noroi took this a step further. We've decided to replicate the visceral act of nailing a straw-man voodoo doll into the gameplay itself—thereby transmuting a captivating narrative element into an interactive, tactile experience.

Building the Game

Gameplay Loop

Our loop involves a seamless 3-step sequence that engages the player from start to finish:

Enemy spirits spawn as the game commences.
Players aim to eliminate these spirits by targeting weak points on a straw-man-shaped controller.
Through successful hits, players accumulate points and build up combo multipliers.

System Design & Teamwork

We also developed an in-depth system diagram outlining the game's conditions and mechanics. This not only provided a blueprint for the gameplay but also facilitated the efficient division of coding tasks among team members.

From Gameplay to Immersive Storytelling

With the backbone of the game firmly established through its core mechanics and gameplay loop, I focused on developing an immersive narrative. This was designed to not only engross players but also complement the gameplay intricacies.

Game Story

The narrative is intricately woven to align with the game's overarching theme of curses and retribution, enhancing the player's emotional connection to the game world.

In Noroi, you step into the shoes of someone with an unusual nighttime gig: you're a part-time curser. Typically, things go smoothly, but tonight is different. The souls you were about to curse have turned the tables, and they're coming for you. Your job? Use your unique skills to fend off these vengeful spirits and finish the job you started...

The addition of an engaging narrative serves to deepen the gameplay experience, offering players a compelling story that enriches the already exciting mechanics.

Crafting Characters & Visuals

To amplify the game's tension and narrative, we introduced a diverse cast of characters with specific design elements

Gakuran-Kun

Once a popular high school heartthrob, Gakuran-Kun was cursed by a spurned lover. His once-handsome face is now a twisted manifestation of the curse laid upon him.

Sato-San

An energetic new employee in a moderately sized company, Sato-san was cursed by a jealous rival who couldn't stand his growing favor among senior management.

Hina

A top student, Hina was cursed to make it seem like she took her own life due to academic stress. However, her spirit is resisting the curse, adding a layer of complexity to the game's objectives.

Our design philosophy focuses on making these characters visually captivating and easily distinguishable. They feature strong contrasting light to stand out from the background and rough, jagged lines to evoke aggression and movement, reflecting the game's high-stakes nature. A consistent theme across all characters is the incorporation of straw elements and distorted body parts, enhancing both thematic unity and gameplay experience.

UI Design

The game's UI follows this visual approach, incorporating rough lines that mirror the aggressive and fast-paced nature of the game. Our color scheme centers around red, white, and black, designed to allow players to quickly absorb critical information in a split second.

Custom Controller Design in Noroi

The synergy between gameplay, visuals, and UI is further elevated by our custom-built controller, meticulously designed to accommodate the unique hammering actions central to the game.

Material Selection

We chose a sturdy combination of foam boards and wood to withstand the repetitive hammering actions. This choice ensures durability while adding an authentic tactile experience for the player.

Functionality & Interactivity

Each designated hit point on the controller is marked with an 'X' and contains memory foam over a hidden circuit. When the player hammers down on these points, the foam compresses to complete the circuit temporarily. This sends a signal to the computer, registering both the hit and its precise location.

Notes

Controller Sensitivity

One of the most pressing issues is the unintended multiple registration of hits due to the slow inflation time of the memory foam used in the controller. Addressing this issue would improve gameplay accuracy and user satisfaction.

Animation Enhancements

Initially, we planned to include animations of nails flying toward hit points upon player action. Due to time constraints, this feature was shelved. However, we believe that adding such animations could significantly amplify the game's tactile and visual engagement.