Documentation + User Guide

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The following Devlog contains a reflection of my final game compared to my original concept, a summary of feedback received from recent playtesting, a general list of game features, an asset list and a summary of ChatGPT usage for the creation of Wings & Whiskers.

Reflection:

I believe the final build of Wings & Whiskers aligns really well with my original game concept. The art style, in particular, turned out exactly as I envisioned-warm, cozy and peacful. With more time, it would have been nice to include levels set at different times of day (e.g., sunrise or sunset) or in new environments (e.g., a forest or houses visible in the background). Housing in particular could have emphasised the sense of scale between the characters and their environment as highlighted in my concept Devlog, however, I'm still content with the final visuals.

Gameplay and level design turned out better than expected. The descriptions of game mechanics in my initial devlog were a bit vague, so it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, I’m proud of how each character ended up with distinct mechanics that encouraged cooperation between the two players. The levels feel balanced, offering equal gameplay opportunities for both characters. They are simple yet promote problem-solving and teamwork.

That said, there are areas I could improve and may revisit in the future. For instance, I sometimes had to combine sprites to make platforms longer or taller, which looks a bit abrupt. A similar issue occurred with the background, which I could fix by editing the sprites manually in a pixel art editor. I also would’ve liked to include sound effects for jumping and landing, as well as some ambient background sounds (e.g., wind). Before starting any future projects, I’d like to deepen my coding knowledge so I can rely less on ChatGPT assistance. Finally, although I wish I could’ve added more levels, I think the total playtime is sufficient for this final (assessed) build.

In summary, despite a few areas for improvement, I’m genuinely happy with how Wings & Whiskers turned out! :D

Feedback and final adjustments:

The feedback I received during my official testing session was already discussed in my final devlog. However, I also had the exciting opportunity to showcase Wings & Whiskers at an ICT expo last week! The reactions were really positive, and it was so fun to watch people play together and overcome each challenge.

This opportunity also allowed me to spot a few bugs and fix them before the final submission. For example, several cheats were discovered — which I've now patched. Some levels gave players unexpected trouble, so I’ve added subtle hints (which appear after ~30 seconds) and made small adjustments to improve clarity.

A user guide is available in the description of the game in addition to tutorial levels.

General list of features:

9 total levels- each containing a unique puzzle
Local co-op with 2 players
Unique abilities for each character-
- Whiskers is stronger and has a tunnelling ability
- Wings jumps higher/flies
Each character can interact with a Magic Stone that makes objects disappear/appear
A mega-jump can be achieved with the cooperation of both players
One collectible coin to find in each level (with UI on main menu keeping count)
Menu easter egg if all 9 collectibles are found
Tutorial levels and text
Sound effects, music and settings to edit volume
Level select on main menu- to replay or skip levels
Retry button and automatic retry when a character is lost

User guide: (warning- level spoilers below)

Title: Wings & Whiskers

A cute local co-op puzzle-platformer starring an unlikely duo: Wings the Pigeon and Whiskers the Ferret. Embark on a journey across the lush landscapes of Daisy Banks as you face a range of obstacles that can only be conquered through teamwork.

Controls:

Mega jump- have Wings stand on Whiskers and jump at about the same time (Wings needs to jump slightly later for momentum).

TAB	Main menu
R	Retry
O	Reset Collectibles

Wings-

Left Arrow	Walk Left
Right Arrow	Walk Right
Up Arrow	Fly

Whiskers-

A	Walk Left
D	Walk Right
W	Jump
S	Enter Tunnel

Main menu: Contains play button, level select and collectible tracker.

Level 1: Each character jumps across the swinging platform.

Level 2: Wings pushes the smaller box down from the well so Whiskers can jump up and across.

Level 3: Whiskers travels through the tunnel with S and walks to the Magic Stone, causing the scarecrow to disappear so Wings can walk through.

Level 4: Wings and Whiskers stand on top of the large box, performing a mega jump so Wings reaches the top right platform. On the platform, Wings activates the magic stone, causing the large, unmovable box to disappear which uncovers a tunnel for Whiskers to travel through.

Level 5: Together, Wings and Whiskers push the plank outwards, with the box towards the left-hand side, acting as a weight. Wings then carefully jumps from box to box, followed by Whiskers.

Level 6: Whiskers positions the wheelbarrow forward so Wings can push the pumpkin resting on the stall roof into it. With the pumpkin towards the back, Whiskers stands on the back of the wheelbarrow, causing it to tilt and then pushes the pumpkin to the Magic Stone. The Magic Stone then activates, allowing both players to continue forward.

Level 7: Wings and Whiskers perform a mega-jump so that Wings can quickly activate the Magic Stone (making the logs disappear) before the rolling wheel falls and blocks Whiskers' path.

Level 8: Wings and Whiskers perform a mega-jump so that Wings can reach the top left platform. With Whiskers activating the magic stone (making a platform appear), Wings pushes the pumpkin down and towards the seesaw. Wings and Whiskers then switch positions as Whiskers is strong enough to push the pumpkin onto the seesaw, acting as a weight. Whiskers can then jump up to the top right, followed by Wings.

Level 9: Wings stands on the right side of the seesaw while Whiskers travels through the tunnel to the top left platform. Whiskers then jumps down, catapulting Wings to the top right. Wings then activates the Magic Stone, making platforms appear for Whiskers to jump across.

End scene: Wings and Whiskers walk towards the right side of the screen as soft music plays. The camera then slowly pans to the right and "The End" fades in before taking players back to the main menu.