Super Hero game, need inspiration!

[HarryBeck95]

Hi, I'm currently doing Games Design at college and I need to do research on different types of games. One genre of game that I am interested in creating is a free roaming game that revolves around Superheroes. If you were able to choose a feature in a superhero game, what would it be and why?

The more information you give the better. Also, you can give as many ideas as you like, thank you in advance.

 

[KevanG]

Well depending on what type of thing you were looking to do, you could have a variety of styles.

An old Lucasarts style point and click adventure with a murder mystery a la Powers. Shows how cops deal with Super powered people.

A game from the villains point of view. Show him to be more sympathetic than the 'heroes' who are jerks. He's still a bad guy but more about money than being bad.

A civilian gets drawn into the middle of some big ongoing storyline where they have no context for the situation and al they know is two groups who they never heard of are beating the hell out of each other. They have the choice to join either group and act as the only not crazy person/one with common sense and find out that sides story. Have to play it twice to get both sides and have multiple endings depending on choices.

A few things off the top of my head. I've been working on a book about Super people stuff for a while now.

Just don't make a game like X-Men Destiny.

 

[Soapy]

A game where you have to manage being a superhero with your normal public life.

 

[HarryBeck95]

Thank you, was really helpful! I love the idea of having a game where you can play it from either a superhero or Supervillian's point of view. Will definitely be incorporating that idea. As well as the idea of a civilian being stuck in the middle of 2 groups, they could maybe be taken as a hostage or something by one of the groups? Keep the ideas coming, they're really good! Also if you need any ideas with your book I'd be happy to help☺️

 

[HarryBeck95]

A game where you have to manage being a superhero with your normal public life.

Great idea, when you're your normal self you could go to work so you can make money to improve your superheroes/villains secret lair maybe? Will have a think about it but I really like the idea of your character not just being a superhero, that they could live a normal life too, thanks again

 

[KevanG]

I was thinking that it start off like Skyrim where something is happening with your character caught in the middle but no connection to anything. When they need to get out because something's exploding then one member of both teams at either end of a hallway offers to help them but they have to leave now.

Depending on how it goes the character could join either one and both have their own good and bad sides. One would be the 'villains' side but they aren't that bad and the 'heroes' side should be about the same. They're just people under the costumes. Your character could influence them in a few ways, like encouraging certain interactions between members or just being a psycho and trying to make them betray and kill each other. Depending on your actions, you could get kidnapped by the other team and if they like you then your original team could break in and rescue you, even if if was the villains breaking into the heros hideout.

As for the book, it's mostly done and I just need to modify some of what I had to the backstory I've been working on separately and work on the ending so it isn't as compact as I have it now.

As for Soapys idea, I was thinking about how when you balance your life you play like Peter Parker. You need to do your Super stuff but you also need to pay rent, eat, ect. You would need to figure out if you can leave your job to go help someone or risk getting fired by vanishing on them.

 

[HarryBeck95]

I was thinking that it start off like Skyrim where something is happening with your character caught in the middle but no connection to anything. When they need to get out because something's exploding then one member of both teams at either end of a hallway offers to help them but they have to leave now.

Depending on how it goes the character could join either one and both have their own good and bad sides. One would be the 'villains' side but they aren't that bad and the 'heroes' side should be about the same. They're just people under the costumes. Your character could influence them in a few ways, like encouraging certain interactions between members or just being a psycho and trying to make them betray and kill each other. Depending on your actions, you could get kidnapped by the other team and if they like you then your original team could break in and rescue you, even if if was the villains breaking into the heros hideout.

As for the book, it's mostly done and I just need to modify some of what I had to the backstory I've been working on separately and work on the ending so it isn't as compact as I have it now.

As for Soapys idea, I was thinking about how when you balance your life you play like Peter Parker. You need to do your Super stuff but you also need to pay rent, eat, ect. You would need to figure out if you can leave your job to go help someone or risk getting fired by vanishing on them.

In regards to your first point about being caught in the middle of something with no connection, I was thinking that the opening scene in the game could be your character in first person. They're hanging out in your luxury apartment with their friends enjoying life. When suddenly a hurricane (or other event that's similar) accursed and something flys into your character knocking them unconscious. Then you wake up in hospital connected to wires and machines, surrounded by doctors who tell you that you have some kind of medical condition that they have never seen before… it is later realised that you have some kind of super power! Then a character creation page appears where you can choose your characters normal name, age, how they look etc. Then you can go to a superhero supply store and customise your costume and buy weapons and everything like that☺️ Then straight away judging on your actions, you'll be either hero or villain.

Also, I love the idea of your character getting kidnapped and you have to rely on your team to save you. That could be the mission that starts a war between hero and villain!

 

[KevanG]

That would work as well. From a gameplay perspective it would probably work better since most people want to do stuff and not just talk. I've always been a fan of the regular guy in a storm of insanity though. I'm one of the weird ones where I always bump up my speech in Fallout and Elder Scrolls.

Depending on what's going on in the story world, Powers could be common and the doctors tell you that you're just beginning to change and since they caught it early they can help mold the shape of your powers into certain types then you can bring out the Thief, Warrior and Mage archetypes to base things on. Set up a combination like in D&D or something.

As opposed to a hurricane hitting, it could be blowout from a nearby Super fight. That could get you going if you wanted revenge for ruining your life or to join them and help as thanks for giving you powers.