A little over a year ago I had the privilege of working on Mob Entertainment's Design test for Chapter 4 of Poppy's Playtime! The test consisted of two parts, the first was to create a 2D topdown of the level and the second half of the test consisted of building out a playable 3D blockout of the level.
3D Blockockout - Video Playthrough
Part 1: 2D Topdown
Part 2: 3D Graybox Blockout
Chapter 4-2: Intro
Chapter 4-2 takes place roughly an hour into chapter 4. Doey and the player are escaping an abandoned prison and are attempting to reach Poppy. Along the way there will be booby traps that Doey has left behind to deal with any misfit toys.
Doey the Doughman as he appears Chapter 4.
Start of Level: After narrowly escaping from the prison, the player and Doey find themselves in a dilapidated laundry room. It has since been long abandoned, the floor has sunken in, leaving the two surrounded by debris and piles of rusting washing machines.
1. Start of Level: Laundry Room
Laundry Room - Starting Area.
The player and Doey look around and see that they are surrounded by broken down stacks of washing machines. If they player searches the small pit they are trapped in, they will stumble upon a yellow VHS tape.
After they place the tape into the VCR, a TV in the corner of the laundromat will turn on and begin to show part of an episode of the smiling critters before the tape eventually warps and deteriorates.
After they place the tape into the VCR, a TV in the corner of the laundromat will turn on and begin to show part of an episode of the smiling critters before the tape eventually warps and deteriorates.
The light from the tv playing will highlight a SWING BAR. The player can grab onto the bar and pull themselves up and out of the pit. Once they are out of the pit, Doey will grab onto the bar and pull himself up to the player.
As the player make their way back down into the destroyed room, they will be jump scared as MINI HUGGIES will begin to crawl out of the washing machines. The player can use their GRAB PACK to close the washing machine doors, to trap the huggies temporarily or push them away.
Note: The orange hand (Flaregun) can be used to defend yourself against the incoming enemies.
Note: The orange hand (Flaregun) can be used to defend yourself against the incoming enemies.
During this time, Doey will be able to grapple and absorb 2-3 enemies at a time, however the player need to find a way out before they are overwhelmed.
The player will need to look around the stacked machines and find one that can be pulled forward into the pit (Purple puzzle piece). Once the machine has been found and pulled down, the player can use the SWING BAR to pull themselves out of the pit. Once they are out of the pit, Doey will follow them up and the remaining huggies will run and hide.
The first Ollie call before leaving the laundry room.
The rest of the laundry room is closed off with only one clear pathway out. As the players exit the Laundry room they will be called by Ollie (WALKIE A.).
Ollie will tell the player that they can regroup with Poppy as she is just on the other side of the Incinerator Control Room exit door.
The player will make their way down to Path A.
Ollie will tell the player that they can regroup with Poppy as she is just on the other side of the Incinerator Control Room exit door.
The player will make their way down to Path A.
2. Corridor Path A to T Junction
The player walks down Path A to the T Junction. Ahead of the T-junction a door to Path B. There is also a hallway to the left of the T Junction that leads to the incinerator.
From the laundry room to the T Junction corridor.
The walkway to the incinerator room is partially collapsed, the player and Doey will have to use the SWING BAR to get across to the other side.
Once they reach the door leading to the incinerator, the path will be blocked by steam. On the other side of the steam is a door lock that can ben unlocked via hand scan. If the player were to attempt to walk through, they will die. Doey can walk through the steam, he will be melted by the steam but will reform unharmed. Doey is unable to block the steam for the player as the steam will just go through him.
Doey approaches the Path B door, leading to the Boiler Room.
As the player discovers that their path is blocked, Ollie (WALKIE B.) will call the player and inform them that they need to go down to the boiler room to remove the steam from blocking their path. Once the steam is gone, the player will be able to continue onto the incinerator room.
Ollie warns the player that the boiler room has been booby trapped by Doey. Ollie explains that Doey did so to prevent the other toys from messing with the boilers. However now you will now have to disarm the traps yourself.
Ollie warns the player that the boiler room has been booby trapped by Doey. Ollie explains that Doey did so to prevent the other toys from messing with the boilers. However now you will now have to disarm the traps yourself.
3. Path B - Hallway to the Boiler Room
Leaving the T junction and heading through the door, the player heads down a few set of stairs until they reach an obstacle. Just before the Boiler Room the player will run into TRAP #1.
Path B to the Boiler Room.
The first trap located just outside of the boiler room is a simple one. A large pressure pad in the middle of the hallway will drop a hammer down on anyone that steps on the pressure pad.
Path B - Trap#1 - Hammer The Player has to get Doey onto the pressure on the ground in order to bring the hammer trap down. Once the hammer is down, the player can jump onto the hammer to be taken into the ceiling.
Once they are in the ceiling, they will spot a battery that powers the trap. They can pull out the battery with their grab pack. With the trap deactivated, the player can then drop down from the ceiling and proceed to the Boiler Room.
Once they are in the ceiling, they will spot a battery that powers the trap. They can pull out the battery with their grab pack. With the trap deactivated, the player can then drop down from the ceiling and proceed to the Boiler Room.
Before entering the Boiler Room, Ollie will give the player a call (Ollie Call C) over the walkie talkie. Ollie will tell the player that the boiler room is filled with traps set up by Doey in order to prevent the other toys from messing with the factory.
4. Boiler Room
The boiler room is dark, dimly lit with tight winding corridors. There are three sets of boilers that the player will need to find. Each boiler will have a trap nearby that must be deactivated before they can access the pressure valve. Each Valve (represented by the purple puzzle piece) will need to be adjusted by the player in order to remove the steam that is blocking their path to the incinerator.
There are no enemies in the boiler room initially, but after 2/3 of the traps have been deactivated the traps, they will hear nearby vents open up followed by the barks of two PJ Pug-a-Pillar. They will enter from opposite ends of the boiler room to patrol the tight corridors in pursuit of the player.
Enemies Present: PJ Pug-a-Pillar
If a Pug catches the player, it is game over. However, if the player is with Doey when attacked by an enemy, Doey will grapple the enemy pug, preventing it from attacking/killing the player. He can only grapple one at a time. Doey can't absorb them as he can with smaller enemies, but his grapple will keep them occupied, giving the player time to escape.
PJ Pug-a-Pillar in Chapter 3.
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After being grappled for a few seconds, the pug will break free and then begin patrolling again. They don't see Doey as a target and therefore will only pursue the player. Doey will spring into action if he witnesses a pug chasing a player.
If the player is chased and Doey can't help or isn't near, they can escape by sprinting away and breaking line of sight. After a few seconds of being out of view, the Pug will give up the chase and resume patrolling the boiler room.
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Boiler Room Trap #1 - Electrified Water
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Player needs to get Doey to walk into an electrified moat that surrounds the gate to the boilers. Once Doey is inside the moat, the player will need to use their grab pack to place their hand on a nearby battery that is secured to the wall (welded in place and can't be moved).
The player will then use their second hand to grab Doey, who is conducting electricity from the moat. This will result in the battery in the wall overloading, deactivating the trap. |
Trap #2.
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Boiler Room Trap #2 – Around the Corner
In order to deactivate trap #3, the player must get Doey to hold onto the bars and head down the hall and around the corner. Once around the corner, the player will find an electrical wall outlet. They can grab the wall outlet and move back toward the boiler, but they won't have enough slack to reach Doey.
Trap #3.
The player will need to grab a nearby metal pipe (same kind used for puzzles) that hangs off of a nearby wall. The player will need to be holding the outlet, and the metal pipe, Doey will then stretch his hand over to the pipe, causing it to spark violently as the batteries powering the gate overload and explode.
Boiler Room Trap #3 – Heavy Gate
The gauges are protected by heavy electrified gates. Doey can walk through the bars of the gate but the player can't bump into the bars without dying/taking damage. They can use the grab pack to hold onto the the bars which will charge up their grab pack hand.
Trap #4.
The player will now have to use their electrified hand (green hand) to activate nearby switches). The player will have to charge up for each switch.
One of the switches is nearby, the other is down a corridor and the final switch is on ceiling. After activating all 3, the trap will be deactivated and the gate will open, granting the player access to the pressure gauge on the boiler.
One of the switches is nearby, the other is down a corridor and the final switch is on ceiling. After activating all 3, the trap will be deactivated and the gate will open, granting the player access to the pressure gauge on the boiler.
Boiler Room - Pressure Puzzle: Once all the traps are deactivated, the player will need to ensure that every pressure valve is balanced. They will need to interact with each pressure valve and release pressure until each and every gauge is equal.
Escaping a pursuing PJ Pug-a-pillar.
Once the pressure is balanced, the player will receive a call from Ollie who will let them know they can now head over to the incinerator. As the player and Doey exit, they lock the door to the boiler room behind them, locking them pugs inside so they can't pursue the player.
5. Incinerator – Boss
After receiving Ollie's call, the player will need to backtrack to the T junction and swing across to the incinerator door. Now that the steam is gone the player can now use the door's hand scanner to open to door.
Incinerator Boss Area and Control Room Exit.
The player and Doey enter a small room that overlooks a trash pit. To their left they will spot a walk way. They will attempt to walk across and everything will be fun until they reach the middle.
Once they have reached the middle of the walk way, a cut scene will activate with the incinerator roaring to life, the room turns bright red as fire erupts from the mouth of the now living incinerator.
As the player and Doey try to get away, the walkway collapses sending them plummeting into the piles of trash/debris below.
As the player and Doey try to get away, the walkway collapses sending them plummeting into the piles of trash/debris below.
Boss Fight Begin
From the garbage chutes (trash can icon) enemies (ruined critters) will be dropped into the arena at regular intervals in groups of 3-5. Doey can defeat 2-3 at a time, which means players will have to remain vigilant as they will need to be dodging enemies and the boss's claw attacks (claw icon). The player can use their flares (orange hand) to scare off the critters but they will be reliant on Doey to actually eliminate them.
If the player or Doey is grabbed by the claws, they will be lifted up and carried to the mouth of the incinerator. If either of them are dropped into the incinerator it is game over.
The player can use their grab pack to pull the emergency release on the side of the claw, this will cause the claw to open up and drop whatever it is carrying. Players can also do this to cause the incinerator to drop heavy objects onto enemies below.
The player can use their grab pack to pull the emergency release on the side of the claw, this will cause the claw to open up and drop whatever it is carrying. Players can also do this to cause the incinerator to drop heavy objects onto enemies below.
How to beat the Boss: After a few minutes of dodging, the player will hear a platform enter the arena on a track near the boss's claws. The player will have to use their grab pack to move and/or shake the cargo platform, causing it to drop explosive barrels into the incinerator.
They can drop the explosive barrels directly in the incinerator's mouth or trick the boss intro picking up a barrel. Each successful drop will result in a fiery explosion that may knock the player back as well as the platform above. The player will have to repeat this process up to three times in order to defeat the boss.
They can drop the explosive barrels directly in the incinerator's mouth or trick the boss intro picking up a barrel. Each successful drop will result in a fiery explosion that may knock the player back as well as the platform above. The player will have to repeat this process up to three times in order to defeat the boss.
6. Incinerator – Control Room/Level Exit
Ollie will call the player and tell them that they are right next to the exit, they just need to find a way out of the incinerator pit.
The player can look around the room and if they were to look at the ceiling, they will notice a platform hanging from the ceiling. Using their grab pack, they can reel the platform (claw icon) down. Doey and the player hope onto the platform, it carries them into the air. The player will then use their grab pack to grab a bar above the control room and reel themselves toward it, allowing them to jump onto the walking way leading into the control room.
Once doey and the player reach the control room, they will get another call by Ollie. Ollie will be glad to hear that the player and doey are safe. Ollie will tell the player that Poppy is on the other side of the control room, down Path C.
Once doey and the player reach the control room, they will get another call by Ollie. Ollie will be glad to hear that the player and doey are safe. Ollie will tell the player that Poppy is on the other side of the control room, down Path C.
The players will leave the office via Path C can make their way to the end of the hall, they will notice that the stairs leading up to the exit are destroyed. Luckily, doey can transform into a trampoline and bounce the player up to the level exit to finish Chapter 4-2.
Special thanks to the team at Mob Entertainment for allowing me to share my deign test!
- @Dannylv100
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