I want to take my foundation to the next level

Explore ways to advance your 2D platformer foundation beyond the basics.

Think about verticality#

Instinctively we tend to create levels in a long line, which can be great, but it can also mean your level starts to get really really looong. Don’t forget that you can add height to your level using the Mover elements, and that you can head up and down in depth using the stairs.

Can I make the Sideways Back & Forth Platform go further?#

If you scope in (with +) to the element twice, you’ll be able to select the end point, the platform and the start point individually. With grid snap on, move the end point further away. The platform will travel to wherever that end point is.

I want to make the the Double Jump or Invincibility Pickup last longer but can’t find the tweaks#

The logic that defines these two pickups is actually in the 2D Arcade Platformer Puppet. Scope in (with +) twice and open the Puppet Logic microchip (+) and you'll see the two value sliders for the duration of these pickups.

I want to have more than three teleporters in my scene. How is this possible with only three colour/pattern options?#

You can use the switches for the different colour/pattern types multiple times. Just make sure the later teleporters are powered off when play starts, and power off or destroy the earlier ones as the puppet goes through them, to be sure they can’t be enabled at all. Firstly add a keyframe to your scene. With the keyframe recording, tweak (+) the Teleporter Entrance and Teleporter Destination and press their power buttons to off with . Activate (power on) this keyframe when you want to power the teleporters off, and have separate keyframes for powering others on when you need them. We highly recommend you play the Keyframes and Timelines Tutorial to learn more about keyframes.

How do I use the Timer Gates?#

Easy! Stamp a Timer Start Gate and a Timer Finish Gate where you want them in your level! Once you run through the Start Gate the timer starts counting. When you run through the Finish Gate the timer stops. That's it! There's no wiring or extra logic required to get it working.

What makes the puppet move only on a 2D plane? Can I change it?#

Scope in (+) to the 2D Arcade Platform Puppet then tweak it (+). On the first page near the top of that enormous tweak menu there is a button called 2D Movement. This limits the character to a 2D plane and it's turned on by default. To turn it off just press on the button. Handy if you want to make a game that switches from 2D to 3D movement.

The puppet is a bit boring how do I change it?#

Firstly we recommend playing through the Character Art Tutorial to find out all about changing how puppets look. Once you’ve done that, make a remix of the 2D Arcade Platform Puppet and go wild.

The pieces are so grey! Is it easy to make it look nicer?#

We highly recommend playing the Coat, Style & Effects Tutorial to find out some easy ways to add colour and style to sculptures. Additionally, all the elements within the kit are quite simply made and can easily be manipulated in Sculpt Mode. We do recommend keeping all elements to the same scale though, as they work best at their current scale.