We previously talked about Matchy Star being a Match-Them-All twist on a Match 3 design, this time around we explore on the components that integrates the main content: the mechanic how it works, along with its elements dynamic.
Most Match 3 often define gameplay by arranging different grids, including challenges as you progress through levels. This design idea encourages collecting identical matches throughout a board, making it somewhat random and repetitive. Players often admit this is what makes the experience without any incentive, considering it’s a random chance of luck to pair up matches – which most developer tend to facilitate by limiting tiles or elements on the tile.
In Matchy Star there are multiple elements to consider into the Match-Them-All mechanic. First we have a square grid of 9 x 9, a total of seven stars – the base of the match 3 design; now incorporating new elements into the mix, we have the ships and the paths which can go through different challenges as we move forward through the levels. Mixing all of these elements together, we have a dynamic grid that will change in different shapes including different ship pathways to provide as many possible matches to be done with any of the seven stars spread out throughout the grid.
Click here to watch the video example of this
There is itemization to consider too, there will be items that drop on the board and items to be found at the shop. Items on the boards are considered somewhat of a loot drop, ideally mostly cosmetic items. There will also be items you can buy, which will provide for random stats that can help you advance through areas much easier.
So far we have included items that will feature speed, this will make the ship go at a different speed to help you make more matches without running out of fuel. There are also specific ones that will only trigger time assistance when you’re almost out of fuel, giving you a saving grace to recoup and find last minute matches to continue. More features include color bonuses, it gives a particular boost to the matches of the gems selected – providing for more money at the end. And also, fuel efficiency boosts making you spend less fuel as you make more moves.
Some of these items will become important at some areas where the challenges in time and pathways become difficult enough for you to require a bit of help to get through them. Time is a variable that comes along with fuel and and speed efficiency of the ships, which is why it takes the player to strategize and consider itemization part of their planning while doing matches.
Matchy Star has 11 Star Systems and each system has its own set of items and its own set of item powers it assigns randomly to the item. The items drop in bubbles and when you match them they go over to your item storage section on the right of the screen. Once you have 3 items, any additional items bump your oldest one meaning in each level you can only collect 3 items tops. Also one item is just a bundle of cash that can be used to buy upgrades at the shop.
Along this match 3 gameplay mechanics, there is more to discover from Matchy Star. By clearing levels you also get to discover more of the Matchyverse, and ultimately unlock characters that you can play with by the end of it (and that change the game dynamic). There is a garage shop in which you get to interact with the ships as if they were your pets, MatchyGotchy style – a lot of different layers that come together for the Matchy Star experience.
Matchy Star is still in development and you can support us by wishlisting the game right here on Steam ～☆
https://store.steampowered.com/app/782430/Matchy_Star/