Design Statement
We interpreted the theme as an invitation to explore the sense of wonder that comes with discovering and pursuing a new passion. The twinkling, ethereal quality of the music inspired the dreamlike setting of our game, as well as our choice of astronomy as the player's passion. At the beginning of the track, the sound of crickets paired with the gentle, lullaby-like melody evoked the feeling of drifting off to sleep, inspiring the idea of a fairy entering a child's dream. As the beat drops and the music grows more complex, it builds a sense of wonder and possibility that we wanted to capture through exploration and puzzle-solving. We were also drawn to the mechanical whirring in the background, which reminded us of a lightbulb clicking on. We incorporated this both literally through the lightbulbs players activate in puzzles and metaphorically as those little "lightbulb moments" when something new sparks an interest. Ultimately, we wanted the game to capture the awe, curiosity, and excitement of discovering something you love.

Game Instructions (launch steps, controls, and gameplay overview)
Launch TGJ2.exe and hit start
Watch cutscenes before and between each level
Puzzle game controls: WASD to move, Space or E to interact with nearby node (attach or detach), Q to zoom out and see whole map
Progress by lighting up all the bulbs in the level

Gameplay walkthrough video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZbenFzPkLDMrNy4Yy9EmGvUDDTsxUa0/view?usp=sharing

Did your project use any AI tools or assets? If yes, please specify.
AI tools (GitHub Copilot, multiple models) were used in coding/ debugging game mechanics and level editing tools.

All other assets, including visuals, music, and game/level design, were produced by the team with no AI assistance.