Lil Gator Game is a new indie title that started out as a proof of concept by Scott Slucher called Playground Hero. Though it was originally just a tech demo, the circulation of a GIF of Lil Gator running in circles soon caught the attention of publishers. The demand for a game eventually became big enough to skyrocket the project into full production. Game Rant spoke with artist and director Connor Patrick Quinn about that process and how they hope to achieve the casual, childlike tone developer MegaWobble set out to establish.
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Lil Gator Moves with Wonder
Lil Gator Game is rife with imaginatively animated characters. Brimming with a childlike sense of wonder, everything from their appearance to their actions has been carefully crafted. The team describes Lil Gator Game as a game about movement, and Lil Gator has plenty of ways to get around the island on the lake. Players can craft a new shield and slide down a hill, or ascend a steep, rocky incline only a kid would dare climb. It’s even possible to glide across the island using only a shirt.
Every step and every action was created with care, and according to Connor, they didn’t need expensive motion capture equipment to get the job done—a simple mirror did the trick.
Using this technique for reference, Connor was able to give life to Gator’s animations. With a waddle here and a bounce there, their movements are full of cute, childlike character. Despite the game’s cartoonish style, the realism of the movements still shines through.
Explore the World of Lil Gator Game
Kid-like exploration is also a major theme in Lil Gator Game. Players will be able to explore the island inhabited by Gator and their friends. When putting the world together, it was important to make sure that the terrain lined up neatly with the mechanics of the game. From climbing trees to walking a tightrope, the world around Lil Gator has to be ready to receive whatever they have to dole out.
No matter where one wanders, there is always a new friend waiting for help. Whether it’s beating down cardboard bad guys or helping scare off a bird from the top of a tree, there are plenty of adventures and secrets to uncover on the island. Connor adds that the real fantasy adventure feeling comes from exploration and the wandering that happens between points of interest. It doesn’t matter where one has been or where they’re going, the MegaWobble team ensures there is something to catch the player’s eye atop every hill and around every corner.
Customization Lets You Explore Yourself
Players can also turn their exploration inward, helping Gator explore their own identity. When asked about Lil Gator’s bio displaying “they/them” pronouns, Connor’s response was that it felt “obvious” to make Gator non-binary. After all, it’s a game about experimenting with identity.
A variety of character customizations will be available as well, to help explore Gator’s identity further. Connor says dress-up is “core to the Lil Gator experience.” Lil Gator will be able to get crafting ideas from other characters they meet in the game that can be swapped out at any point during gameplay. Using papers collected throughout quests and island exploration, players can craft loads of new items such as hats, shields, swords, and more.
Lil Gator Game is coming to PC and Switch on December 14, 2022.
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