Bifröst: Through the Realms

Rift Ability Design

Overview

Bifröst: Through the Realms will feature an array of versatile abilities. Beyond the utilization of the Bridge Ability, Rifts will supplement the majority of a player’s alternative movement, combat, and speed-running capabilities.

Defining Rifts

Unlike the Bridge, Rifts are selectable abilities that augment the player’s active “weapon”. They do not cause the player to change dimensions.

Goals

  • Create nuanced opportunities to approaching different segments of a level’s speed-running accessibility

  • Feel impactful to combo with other Rifts

  • Provide clear feedback and purpose to the player for each Rift niche

1.0 Utilizing Rifts

Rifts should be intuitive to use and understand. Rifts should possess no specific instances during play in which their application does not produce a single, straight forward effect.

Rifts will be used by the player’s (Attack) key. When a Rift is used, the following occurs:

  1. The effect of the equipped Rift will activate.

  2. The equipped Rift will enter a brief cooldown state.

The length of a Rift’s cooldown is separate from all other Rift cooldowns, allowing the player to switch between Rifts to combo different Rifts in quick succession, and not a single Rift rapidly, consecutively. The duration of a Rift’s cooldown period can be adjusted per Rift, dependent on how potent the effect of the Rift is.

The player can switch between their accessible Rifts using the (Wheel) key. Holding the (Wheel) key will allow the player to equip a Rift from a wheel-menu selection UI element. This element will track the player’s cursor.

Conceptually, each Rift should be derived from one of the Nine Realms of Norse mythology, and command a corresponding element.

3.0 Rift Concepts

Isa (Ice) Rift Concept

A multi-faceted Rift that can provide unique movement capabilities through its physical presence in the level, as well as defensive capabilities by providing cover.

Steinn (Earth) Rift Concept

A versatile Rift that can plant portals on a surface. After activating, it will pull everything inwards, allowing the player to “grapple” while also displacing enemies.

2.0 Unlocking Rifts

The player will start with no Rifts. Throughout the game, the player will unlock new Rifts from checkpoints in a level called Runes.

Upon pressing the (Interaction) key, the player will absorb the Rune to learn its corresponding Rift. A menu showcase will pop up with an video demonstration of the new Rift in action, as well as a description of the Rift’s abilities, in order to teach the player.

Time will be paused during this showcase, and it can be dismissed by the player upon pressing any button to continue.