Project
Essence
Project type: Game ConceptYear: 2022Location: Milan, ItalyPersonal
A 2D narrative game concept exploring urban surveillance, AI manipulation, and the struggle for consciousness.
Contributors
Yuwei Li
Roles
Visual Concept DesignerCharacter DesignerScene DesignerNarrative Designer
Skills
Graphic DesignUl DesignUX DesignCharacter DesignScence DesignProject ManagementBranding & Logo DesignNarrative Design
Details:
Overview
ESSENCE is a cyberpunk-inspired action game concept set in the year 3050 within the dystopian "Free City".
The game explores the moral and ethical implications of a world dominated by pervasive surveillance, advanced AI, and extreme class divisions. Players follow the journey of Scarlett Cipher, a resistance fighter battling a corporate entity called "Meta-City" that seeks to control human consciousness.
Narrative & Concept
- The "Tasmania Effect": The game's core philosophy centers on the risk of societal regression due to over-reliance on technology.
- Protagonist: Scarlett Cipher, a brave hacker with a unique "Catwoman" hidden personality—a byproduct of childhood AI experiments—which allows for diverse gameplay mechanics.
- Multiple Endings: Player choices and battle outcomes influence the narrative, leading to four distinct endings, such as "Lone Wanderer" or "Elite Resistance".
Design & Visual Identity
- Cyberpunk Aesthetics: The visual style utilizes high-purity orange and blue neon palettes to represent the contrast between human energy and digital intelligence.
- World Building: Scene designs draw inspiration from iconic urban landscapes like the Kowloon Walled City and Hongya Cave, creating a "high-tech, low-life" atmosphere.
- UI/UX Strategy: The interface features holographic displays and vibrant neon elements to provide an immersive, futuristic user experience.
- Logo Symbolism: Inspired by the "eye of the storm," the logo represents maintaining inner peace and independent thinking amidst external turbulence.