General game idea is a platformer puzzle game. You control a space rover (can only move left and right and fall), and a clone that can enter and exit the space rover. The clone you control can also jump and wall jump, plus drop bombs (that destroy certain squares in the level- or enemies) and build 1 short bridge at a time. Using these tools the clone can open up areas and build paths for the space rover to get to the level end. The goal is to save all three blue clones at the level end that have been kidnapped. Each clone as a bomb that goes off after a certain amount of time expires, so the faster you are, the more clones you save. The game play will be a mix of simple puzzles (what to blow up, when, and where to build bridges when) along with some fast platforming to execute on some of the puzzles as the clone. The game is called 99 clones as you start with 99 clones to complete the entire game. Death means one clone less, and a full level restart.
So far we have a few test levels in place. We have the clone entering and exiting the space rover, controls in place for the rover and the clone when exiting. The clone can drop bombs to open up areas of the level as well as build bridges across gaps so the rover can get to the end of the mission and rescue the 'blue' clone.
Next steps are add three clones to save rather than one and the bomb timers so the levels become timed. Also want to rework the 'Air' concept- idea is the clone when out of the ship has only 15 seconds of air. Air power ups can be found to extend this. After playing the test levels, I think this 15 seconds should be more like 20 to 30 seconds, or maybe even gone from the game. Watching my kids play I noticed it made them angry more than anything else! Maybe that's hard mode or something. We'll see! Also need to rework stage and level selection screens, along with adding dynamic enemies...then will come lots of level design work!