The Other Side is a project I started because I wanted to make a platformer with lights being the main feature. Inspired by games like Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country, I created a mechanic where you grab a light crystal that illuminates your surroundings for a very limited time. If the time runs out, you must follow through the level with limited vision. It pushes the player to move fast but also be careful due to the harsh obstacles and challenges.

I've been developing video games for as long as I can remember, and this was the first time I set out to build a complete video game. I am the sole developer, programmer, and designer. Since my strengths are in design and engineering, my girlfriend, a graphic designer and animator, handled the art. I created a custom character controller for the game, mostly ignoring Unity's built-in physics to better suit my vision for a 2D platformer. I designed over 60 levels and scripted many enemies and obstacles to match the game's style and feel. I also built all the UI for the game, which I am personally very happy with. Overall, this is the project I am most proud of in my portfolio.

The Other Side has been a very beneficial project for me. I learned a lot about level design and creating a natural difficulty curve. I learned how to make complex UI with pause menus, settings, and title screens. I also learned a lot about creating save systems and handling progression overall. Even with all that, the greatest thing I learned from this project was game feel. By making simple tweaks like squishing and stretching sprites and adding particle effects, I made the game feel a lot more fun to play and stand out compared to the beginner platformers I made as a kid. Overall, this project turned into a very fun platformer, and I've gained a lot of knowledge and experience from this project.