Know any good fast-paced games?

This is a general game design topic in several forums/media. When looking for a new game to play, I often stop to topics like ‘Know any good fast-paced games?’.

But fast-paced can mean almost anything, so let’s consider a small scale example:

1. Total fast-paced insanity

• very fast movement
• full arsenal of advanced movements (e.g. double-jump, dash, teleport)
• crazy animations

Cool games examples: Matterfall, Seraph, Holodrive

Matterfall — Movement mechanics

2. Almost real

• movement speed matches real human sportsman’s or martial arts master’s
• some advanced acrobatic movements (no double-jumps or wall-run though)
• realistic animations, some crazy physics

Cool games examples: My Friend Pedro, AC Chronicles

My Friend Pedro — Movement mechanics

3. Realistic

• movement speed is realistic (maybe with some Hollywood influences)
• no advanced movements, except short rolls
• realistic physics

Cool games examples: Shadow Complex, Deadlight

Military Pistol Jogging: MoCap Animation

What type of movement do you like the most? How would you see a platformer game?

We envision much action going on in Boom Squad, however, we wanted to induce some fast-paced feel by a very smooth realistic movement. So we placed the movement between the 2nd and the 3rd category.

This article is part of the ongoing series, “Our Ship It Journal”. Written by the team directly involved, the series looks at the full, uncut journey of creating an independent game studio.