Zenith: A Dark Strategy RTS Game (In Production)
High Concept
The Zenith compels you! Rise from centuries of imprisonment as the ultimate, malevolent force known as the Zenith. Brainwash legendary heroes to forge an unstoppable hivemind and conquer worlds, carving a dark chapter into their history.
Core Gameplay
The player takes on the role of the Zenith, who begins spreading influence through the core mechanics of the game, which include:
Battling: Like most RTS games, players can select heroes and issue commands such as moving, attacking, defending, and healing. Heroes can be selected individually or in groups. Heroes with different ideals have unique special attacks.
Observe: Players have camera control to navigate the battlefield and monitor their progress. The camera can be rotated to reveal hidden paths and vantage points, encouraging strategic planning.
Managing a Battalion: Players control a battalion of mind-controlled heroes. New heroes can be added to the battalion by weakening and capturing them. To grow stronger, players must strategically capture more powerful heroes.
Managing Resources: Players can equip and manage armor to enhance hero stats, further boosting their power.
Balancing Ideals: Players must carefully balance the ideals within the hivemind, ensuring that no single ideal grows too powerful and threatens the Zenith’s control. Once the balance is broken, the player will have a time limit on restoring balance, or the game ends. To maintain balance, players can capture heroes with opposing ideals, and release or sacrifice heroes who disrupt balance.
World & Aesthetic
Zenith transports players through medieval Europe and ancient China, blending the beauty of fabled worlds with the devastation of conquest.
The storybook-inspired visual style presents a stark contrast between the colorful, noble heroes and the dark corruption of Zenith’s rule.
Dynamic Music & Sound Design:
A progressive soundtrack evolves as the Zenith’s power grows.
Shifting musical motifs reflect the balance of power, intensifying when the hivemind teeters on collapse.
Personal Contributions
As a key developer of Zenith, I contributed to:
RTS Unit Control & Combat: Implemented dynamic unit selection, attack commands, and enemy AI behaviors.
UI System: Created real-time hero tracking via health bars, hero cards, and dynamic status updates that sync with battlefield events.
Interaction System: Designed a context-sensitive cursor manager.
Resource Management: Built a modular GameManager, handling scene transitions, hero data persistence, and game-wide state management.
Platform and ESRB
Zenith will be released on PC for Mac and Windows, along with a web build. The game is expected to be rated T for Teen due to cartoon violence and morally complex choices.
Game Differentiators
Immersive World: Unlike traditional RTS, the heroes in Zenith are idealistic with personal motivations and values. The player’s actions leave an impact. For example, heroes who escape may spread stories of the Zenith, influencing future battles and encounters.
Unique Strategy Gameplay: The Ideal System adds an extra layer of complexity. Players need to strategize in combat while also managing the ideological balance within the battalion. A careless decision could lead to internal conflict.
Villain Protagonist: In the Zenith, the player is an ancient, evil force that brings devastation to the world, which is different from many games with protagonists that protect the world.
First Playable
Now available! HTML version: https://chilishrimp.itch.io/zenith
Credits
Engine: Unity
Art Tools: Blender, Maya, Clip Studio Paint, and Adobe Substance Painter
Design & Development Team: Bria Eutsey, Emilio Gonzales, Maria Gavrilova, Mason Mockler, Max Somarriba, Mengying Jin, Sarina Varela, Xin(Catherine) Gao