“Prune” is a casual game, has twice received official recommendation App Store, also won the International Mobile Gaming Award for the most anticipated game, and the Indie Plus Contest prize. In addition to the game sounds, all designed and developed by Joel McDonald independently. Pocket Gamer commented, “Joel McDonald have done before,” Call of Duty “, he later free hand to do the” Prune “up. Thank God, he made the decision.”
At first glance, “Prune”, most of the players will be attracted by its minimalist style and gameplay. As everyone knows, only behind the complex work in order to prop up the innovative and minimalist design.
Gameplay Shanfanjiujian
The core gameplay is very innovative, but also very simple: cut off excess branches, so that the trees bloom.
(Finger across the branches, the branches will fall down, and then the rest of the branches will grow further.) But in the specific course of the game, there will be many factors that influence the growth of trees.
Sun: Bright pillar area, only trees to flower under the sun:
Source: Blue circular, come into contact with water will accelerate the growth of trees and flowers out of the blue:
(Bright white flowers on both sides, touching the water in the middle blue flowers.)
Stone: black circular exposed to stone trees will be hindered or broken:
(Touch the stones were broken branches.)
Fire: The red circular exposed to the fire began to burn the trees will be broken red branches:
Movable light source: black luminous circular, you can drag with your finger, it will affect the growth direction of the approaching trees:
There pollen setting, to the trees, “Archive” opportunities:
(Teardrop-shaped point is archived using water droplets, trees can be one after another.)
Later in the game, there are wires, gears, and other settings. With the advance of a progress of the game, new elements emerge until the last hurdle. Thus, a simple “cut out” of the core gameplay was not significant boring.
UI’s Shanfanjiujian
Gamezebo evaluation had a saying, “The most impressive is,” Prune “the interaction and simple operation combined with very perfect.” Only return to the menu bar, and canceled three shots, not even the option to start again.
The game, as long as the tree roots cut off, it can immediately start again. If an excessive number of times to start again, you can also skip to the next level. This is complementary to the simple interface limited functionality. Ready to skip out of this off to the next level, without any cost. In the details, “Prune” there are some supplements on the monotonous “minimalist” style.
Circular elements every zoom in and out
means to switch between Levels: Switching between sections is adopted Xinggui way, topography will also change, implying that the flow of time and the development of The plot: With these details, minimalist UI will not jerky, but it seemed convenient and beautiful.
Various elements of the game are very simple lines, almost no use of complex curves, it seems only able to make use of all Office in shape tools. Under contrast, highlighting the vitality of trees winding wound. The aesthetic screen itself is also unique: black for the tone, color elegant flowers, blank proper spacing. Various elements together, coupled with bamboo trees Chinese charm, Oriental-style aesthetics of color will build up. This minimalist 2D art style, perhaps technically difficult to reduce a lot, but consider the arts has become more important.
In the casual gaming circles, the “minimalist” likely to become the first choice for many entry-designers. Because the “minimalist” seems to be less demanding on technology, as long as there are creative, you can make a good game.
However, as noted above, “Prune” under the minimalist appearance, hidden gameplay, UI art and the many considerations, but also on the sound took a lot of effort. Developers need to carefully polish from the details in order to make the game content worthy of minimalist design, while retaining the style, but also to ensure that the game is complete.
Game design blog 