FPS System design

Tool: Unreal Engine 5.4
Platform: PC
Gameplay time: ~5 minutes
Team Size: Individual
Development time: 3 days

Walkthrough

Level Walkthrough

Summary

“Core-ruption of the Bandit King” is an engaging 1~4 player demo level for Borderlands 3, designed to deliver fast-paced combat and intriguing puzzle elements. This demo showcases a variety of technical systems commonly found in FPS games, showcasing my expertise in prototyping dynamic and immersive gameplay experiences as a technical designer.

Level background

Vaughn sends you to the abandoned Cliff Research Facility to retrieve the Worldbreaker Core, claiming it’s a powerful Eridian energy source that could revolutionize Pandora’s defenses or enhance Catch-a-Ride. However, the facility is still guarded by rogue security robots, forcing you to fight your way through. What he doesn’t tell you? His real plan is far less noble—he wants to power a “Hyperpower Slideshow System” to project shirtless flexing photos of himself for bandit recruitment. Unaware of the truth, you’ll battle through enemies, cross a crumbling bridge, and secure the Core.

level overview

Player control

Sprint – Left Shift (hold)
Change Ammo – Mouse Wheel Scroll
Pause – P (hit again to unpause)

level highlights

Leveled AI with scripted spawn waves and combat behaviors create a dynamic and engaging combat experience.
The power core, positioned in a towering structure, serves as a strong visual landmark to guide player navigation.
The player escapes the facility through a shortcut, then backtracks across the collapsing bridge while encountering tougher enemies and fleeing the explosion— demonstrating effective space reuse.
Set atop a Glacier Cliff, the facility offers striking, unique scenery to enhance immersion.
Gates and shootable switches feature sound and color changes as intuitive feedback, ensuring the player has a clear understanding of the mechanics.

Encounters

Leveled AI

AIs navigate and attack the player based on their type: melee enemies close in for direct combat, while ranged enemies maintain distance and attack from a few meters away.

As the player progresses, they will encounter leveled enemies, providing a steadily escalating challenge.

Weapon Switching

The player can switch to a higher-damage weapon during combat, but they must manage their resources carefully, as these weapons consume ammo quickly.

This is designed to encourage players to engage in combat regularly in order to obtain resources.

Resource Pickup

Ammo and health pickups spawn upon an enemy’s death.

Leveled enemies will drop leveled pickups.

Others

Shootable Switch Puzzle

The player needs to shoot the switch to open the energy door.

Destroy the power station to disable defenses and retrieve the core.

Quest & Dialogue

As in Borderlands games, the NPC speaks during the quest, providing hints and reinforcing narrative beats.

Receive the quest reward!!

Blueprint Showcase

AI Logic -> Initialize stats based on leveled stats, navigation and detection, attack, take damage and deactivation, spawn pickups
Melee AI Attack Logic
Ranged AI Attack Logic
Bullet Hit Event