At first, I didn't follow the light, but even though it was a little laggy, I was able to enjoy it until the end. Good job.
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Design Statement
When I first listened to the theme track, I felt a sense of longing, sadness, and hope. It made me think about a journey through a vast, lonely place, where the world is beautiful but something terrible has happened.
That became the foundation for Waddan, a short narrative game inspired by Libyan folklore, the desert landscapes of North Africa, and the history of colonialism.
You play as a young villager who volunteers to help a wounded stranger by traveling into the desert in search of a mythical creature called the Waddan.
One of my biggest design choices was to make the journey itself the main experience. We wanted the player to feel the distance, silence, and isolation of the desert rather than filling the game with constant challenges. We spent a lot of time working on the sand, the camel's movement, the environment, and the sound to make traveling feel meaningful.
We also used old cave paintings scattered throughout the world to slowly reveal the story, allowing the player to discover what happened rather than explaining everything at once.
Game Instructions (launch steps, controls, and gameplay overview)
The game runs on web:
Controls
* WASD / Arrow Keys: Move
* Mouse: Look around
* Shift: Make the camel sprint
* E: Interact, mount/dismount the camel, and collect water
* Left Mouse Click / Space / Enter: Advance dialogue
* Esc: Release the mouse cursor
Gameplay
You play as a young villager traveling through the desert with a camel, searching for the mythical Waddan to save a wounded stranger.
Start by reaching the oasis and collecting water. From there, follow the glowing star that guides you toward paintings hidden throughout the desert.
You can discover the first three paintings in any order. Each reveals another part of the story. Once you've found all three, the final painting becomes available.
Take your time exploring the desert and discovering its story. There is no combat, and the experience is primarily about exploration, atmosphere, and narrative.
Gameplay walkthrough video
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Y360ZEw4NmFNXvPOwb3D0aMthvDJdbfP?usp=sharing
Did your project use any AI tools or assets? If yes, please specify.
No AI was used in the making of this game
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