Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design, 2nd Edition

Bonus Level 9

Boss Design Template

Boss name: ___________________________________

Boss image: (Insert concept or inspirational image here.)

Description: (Write a short description of the boss; what is the boss’s personality and motivation?)

List of required animations including:

• Stand
• Idle
• Taunts
• Attacks (melee)
• Attacks (projectile)
• Hit reactions
• Death animations
• Victory animations

Movement patterns: (Add as many as necessary.)

• Move 1: (image and description of boss’s movement)
• Move 2: (image and description of boss’s movement)

Attack descriptions: (Add as many as necessary.)

• Attack 1: (melee, projectile, special)
• Attack 2: (melee, projectile, special)

Boss is defeated by: (How will the player defeat the boss? Does the boss have any weak spots or vulnerable states?)

Damage description: (What does the boss’s health bar look like? How is damage communicated to the player? Are any special visual effects required?)

Particle effects: (What visual effects are required for attacks, movement, or damage states?)

Projectiles: (If used, list what projectiles will be needed for attacks.)

HUD elements: (Are any additional HUD elements required for the boss fight, such as icons for QTEs?)

Sound effects list: (Match the sound effects list with the animation list.)

Voice effects list: (Match the voice effects list with the animation list.)

Special requirements for player character: (Are any special animations, effects, and so on required to communicate to the player what has happened to ...