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Genre: Coorperative Roguelike

Platform: PC

Release Date: August 2023

Role: Designer

Superior is a multiplayer coorperative Roguelike in which Players acquire Super Powers to defeat evil former Heroes.

Powers come in a variety of flavors but they connect via a system of Keywords. Collecting Powers with common Keywords can unleash devastating effects as their properties combine.

As a Designer, my duties included the Keyword system that scaled Player strength through the Roguelike, the Power content that provided this strength, Player Weapons, and AI enemies.

Keywords

The Keywords system creates connections between Powers that share properties. Connections cause chaining effects that drastically increase the Player's combat ability.

Powers in Superior are arranged in themed groups that have several Keywords within them. Players can expect to match acquire Powers within a group and get chaining effects.

Advanced players can collect Powers from multiple groups that share Keywords. In this way, they can gain the chaining effects as well as branch out into different styles of combat.

Powers are offered semi-randomly, so Players need to try to predict which Powers will present themselves and how likely they will complete their builds given the depth of the run.

Shocking Punch

Shocking Punch sends out a Volt Disk that applies Shock to enemies.

High Voltage

High Voltage has a 10% chance to create a Lightning Strike whenever an enemy recieve Shock. This Lightning Strike always causes a Crit hit.

Hot Head

Hot Head creates a Burning Explosion when an enemy is killed with a Crit hit.

Lava Explosions

Lava Explosions creates a pool of Lava when an Explosion occurs.

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The result is a chain of powers: When the Volt Disk causes Shock, it has a chance to create Lightning that always causes Crit.

When this Crit kills an enemy, Hot Head causes an Explosion. When an Explosion occurs, Lava Explosions creates a pool of Lava.

Many other keywords exist in Superior and can create multiple branching builds for Players to try each run.

Weapons

Weapons in Superior define much of the Player's combat ability. Many have conventional shooter mechanics to make their behavior familiar to fans of the genre but also support Superior's unique gameplay.

Weapons also use Keywords. Typically these are used to scale the weapon's power by its type such as Pistol, Precision or Shotgun.

Players should try to choose weapon keywords that not only match their builds and items, but also work with their personal shooter playstyle.

Since weapons are dropped or purchased from a random selection, players may not have access to the specific weapons they want. This can drive players into different builds or cause them to gamble on the chance to find their ideal equipment.

Defender

The Defender is a Automatic Submachine gun with a high magazine capacity but low accuracy and range.

This weapon is great for using on the run against multiple enemies but players must stay close to their targets.

Automatic builds will find this to be a useful pick, but players should find better options for mid and long range enemies.

Charge Lance

The Charge Lance is a Precision weapon that deals high amounts of damage. The weapon requires a charge up that can punish missed shots.

Cluster Buster

The Cluster Buster is a Shotgun that launches projectiles that cause Explosions.

The Player can guide these projectiles with their cursor, but the wide initial spread can sometimes cause unexpected collateral damage.

Ultra Greatsword

The Ultra Greatsword is a Melee weapon with a massive damage radius.

Dashing while using this melee weapon will cause a spinning attack that can deal damage to groups of nearby enemies.

Players can use this weapon to augment their Melee builds and pair it with Melee Powers such as Frozen Punch.

Partisan

The Partisan is a Automatic rifle that is very conventional with reliable accuracy and average damage output.

Players experienced with shooters will be right at home with this weapon and will find success using it at mid range against a variety of enemies.

Other weapons may excel in specific circumstances, but this weapon is a very safe choice for all-around Automatic builds.

Ranger Magnum

The Ranger Mangum is a Precision Pistol.

The weapon is very strong but is best used close or mid range. Its high weapon recoil and bloom make it less suitable for long range repeated hits but a patient player can still find success.

It features a round reload scheme that can be fired without fully reloading its magazine.

Players can use this weapon as a close range alternative to longer range rifles to pick off enemies one by one.

Heat Vision

Heat Vision is a special weapon that is granted from a Power. It deals intense damage and applies Burn. The capacity of the weapon is slightly low but replenishes after a delay when not firing.

Players should try to line up enemies and blast them efficiently to avoid being left vulnerable during the recharge period.

Lasershot

The Lasershot is a Precision Shotgun.

The weapon can be fired like a normal shotgun but it can also be charged to tighten its spread and cluster its damage against single targets.

Players who have been investing in Precision scaling can use this weapon to support their build but also use a weapon that can apply multiple hits simultaniously.

S.M.A.R.T. Pisol

The S.M.A.R.T. Pisol is a Automatic Pistol that locks onto enemies and has near perfect accuracy as a result.

The weapon is a Pistol weapon and shares its low ranged damage output.

Players can use this weapon to cause On-Hit keyword effects despite its low damage at range.

It can also be used to reliably hit fast moving enemies.