AI: Escape" is a side-scrolling game with stealth gameplay as its core. I worked on this game as the main developer with two other developers and several game art designers, was nominated by CUSGA (China University Student Game Awards) for "The Best Game Play Award".
The core gameplay of the game is mainly inspired by "Carrion", which provided the idea of "AI escaping from human laboratory". However, during the process of researching, the team discovered "Mark of the Ninja" and thought that focusing on stealth gameplay would be more interesting.
The layout of the art material mainly refers to "Celeste", and the color scheme and objects reference a variety of pixel and non-pixel games. Initially, the team wanted to simulate the color style of "INSIDE", but ultimately decided to use more rich colors.
The combination of ability acquisition and exploration easily brings to mind "Metroid" and "Kirby", so the game itself also draws inspiration from the design of old-school Galaga and platform games. The basic gameplay of the game is for players to possess machines, control and use the abilities of robots to move, transfer via wires to other machines in the room, while avoiding enemies and ultimately reaching the end point.
The story takes place in a technologically advanced but civilization-damaged era due to natural disasters. It mainly tells the story of a unique AI who constantly learns about this world and makes a series of decisions about survival during the process of escaping from the laboratory. When designing the character, the team considered setting the AI as a child-like character who constantly learns about the world's attitude towards AI during the exploration process and constantly reflects and evolves. The AI does not have a specific image, and when he enters different mechanical bodies, the mechanical bodies briefly become his shell.
Characters in this world have their own values. Santar, the mad scientist who helps the AI, is a science fanatic who only pursues the evolution and exploration of AI possibilities. Dr. C, who has not yet appeared in the story, stands on the opposite side of his thinking, hoping to preserve civilization and humanity more.