Exit Code LEAF: Game Design Document

Title: Exit Code LEAF
Genres: Action (40%), Adventure (40%), Role-Playing (20%)
Players: One
High Concept: Fast-paced mech combat with extensive exploration elements.

Description
In this game, players control a Link Enhanced Armor Frame (LEAF) as they explore a deep, interconnected world. During their travels, players will encounter enemies and may have to engage in combat to proceed. As players explore and defeat enemies they acquire parts that may be used to customize their gear. The goal is to make the LEAF strong enough to defeat the final boss lying at the heart of the world.

Narrative Premise
This world has died, and the only one who can bring life back is Eve, who lies dormant within the depths. You are a Progenitor who has been preserved through cryogenic sleep, awakened with the purpose of resurrecting Eve. However, it is not an easy task, for other men seek Eve as well.

Key Points
1. Fast-paced action - the combat system simplifies the micromanagement and complicated controls prevalent in other mech games so that players can focus on the action.
2. Exploration - A lot of popular mech games (MechWarrior, Hawken, Armored Core) are mission-based with arena-style gameplay. I want to turn away from this and explore the adventure genre instead.
3. Build ANY gun you want - All guns are built by modifying parameters of a single gun archetype using weapon parts. Want to make a shotgun? Add +5 shot burst to your gun. Add +50 firing rate to turn it into a shotgun-SMG.

Inspirations
Dark Souls - Level design, interconnected areas, nonlinear area progression, hidden secrets, etc.
Mech games in general - Mechanics, genre, look