Avalanche

🧗 Kinematics of Falling Debris

Avalanche flips the script on traditional platformers. Instead of static ground, the environment is kinetic and procedural. Blocks fall from the sky, following rigid body physics (gravity + collision). The player must scale this chaotic, ever-growing pile of debris to avoid a rising liquid hazard (lava/water) from below. The "ground" you stand on is constantly shifting.

The challenge is purely reactive. There is no pattern memorization because the block spawning is stochastic. The player must analyze the trajectory of falling objects to identify safe landing zones (convex surfaces) versus dangerous kill zones (crushing impact).

🧠 Rapid Vertical Processing

Cognitive demands:

• Object Tracking: The brain must track multiple falling vectors simultaneously. Assessing which block will land flat (safe) and which will bounce off (unsafe) is a constant background calculation.
• Fear of Heights (Vertigo): The constant upward camera scroll creates a sense of urgency, forcing the player into "panic jumping," which often leads to errors. Suppressing this panic is key.

🎮 Mechanics: The Wall Jump

Movement physics:

• Friction & Grip: The sides of blocks are slippery. You can wall-jump, but you cannot hang indefinitely. This forces continuous upward momentum.
• The "Crush" State: If a block lands on your head with sufficient velocity, you are crushed. You must always be on top of the highest object, never underneath.

🏆 Survival Strategy

1. The "Pyramid" Rule

Try to stay in the horizontal center of the screen. Climbing on the edges risks getting trapped against the screen border by a bad block spawn. The center offers escape routes to both left and right.

2. Anticipate the Bounce

Blocks have restitution (bounciness). A pink block might bounce off a blue block. Don't jump for a block until it has settled, or you risk intercepting it mid-air and losing momentum.

🛡️ Technical Specs

Engine details:

• 2D Rigid Body: Uses a physics solver to handle the stacking stability. If a stack becomes too unstable, it topples, altering the level geometry instantly.

❓ FAQ