Game Concept DevLog

Operation: Lights out

Concept statement

Operation: Lights Out is a 2D isometric real-time tactical shooter for a hardcore, adult survival shooter audience. The player is a member of an elite anti-terrorist unit, descending through levels of a skyscraper to eliminate hostile threats while ensuring the survival of hostages. Combat is unforgiving 2-3 shots can kill or be killed. With limited equipment and an evolving environment, each decision must be carefully planned. Players are scored on performance and speed, with penalties for hostage casualties. Strategy, awareness, and precision are required for success.

Primary influences

the Rainbow Six franchise, Ready or Not, SWAT, Hotline Miami, Door Kickers 2, Project Zomboid. Game will play like Hotline Miami, SYNTHETIK: arena

Ideas and design choices

This concept was formed through a mashup approach, mixing elements from games such as Hotline Miami (high lethality and fast feedback), Ready or Not and Door Kickers 2 (tactical planning and threat assessment), and the deliberate, punishing mechanics of Project Zomboid and SYNTHETIK: Arena.

By merging arcade influenced real time combat with methodical, tactical decision-making, the game avoids both the over-simplicity of twin-stick shooters and the slow pace of turn-based strategy games. removal of excess UI clutter and action-game mechanics to create a tighter, more focused tactical experience.

• The player starts with limited ammo and gear, encouraging cautious play and scavenging. As the player will continue with their current equipment across levels until the end of the run or their death.

Hotline Miami

(image from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.steampowered.com%2Fnews%...)

• Cone of vision and fog of war restrict situational awareness, encouraging planning and information gathering.

Project Zomboid

(image from https://www.gamereactor.eu/project-zomboid-gets-multiplayer-beta/)

• Audio will follow the style of Door Kickers 2 no music, just tense ambient sound, gunfire, and communication chatter to provide more detailed info to the player.

Door kickers 2

(image from https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-flare-path-endangers-rangers)

•  Hostages must be kept alive or else the player will lose score once enough hostages are lost, you'll get the bad ending and no score

• Leaning and peeking mechanics allow players to scout before committing to fights.

Ready or Not

(image from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNihBSaD-J0)

• Gunplay is slow and deliberate, with penalties for firing while moving and realistic mechanics like slower reloads and weapon malfunctions.

Target Audience:

Adult players wanting a challenging, grounded tactical shooters. Fans of Hotline Miami, Door Kickers 2, Ready or Not, and SYNTHETIK players who value tension, precision, and realism over run-and-gun action.

Competitive analysis

Most 2D tactical games fall into two camps, fast-paced action like Hotline Miami or real time strategy like Door Kickers 2 which also has pause functionality. 3D games like Ready or Not or Escape from Tarkov embrace realism but require more system resources and time investment. Operation: Lights Out is designed to fill this gap creating hardcore, real-time, tactical gameplay grounded in realism with high difficulty, without needing a 3D engine or reflex-heavy mechanics.

Unlike Door Kickers 2, this game is entirely real-time with no pause feature, pushing players to think on their feet while still encouraging some amount of pre engagement planning. Hotline Miami inspires the high lethality, but here the pace is slower, more deliberate rewarding players who take their time and think tactically.

Combat is heavily influenced by Project Zomboid and SYNTHETIK: Arena, shooting on the move is inaccurate, reloads are slow, and weapon handling is key. While sci-fi SYNTHETIK’s deep gun mechanics are ripe for being adapted into a more grounded, realistic setting.

The use of audio minimalism from Door Kickers 2 enhances immersion, making the absence of music a feature. Every sound serves a purpose, hostage screams, gunfire, doors creaking open providing information to the player.

With its focus on hostage survival, real-time decision-making, and hardcore mechanics, Operation: Lights Out offers a unique hybrid of one foot in the arcade shooter genre, the other in hardcore tactical simulation, but without fully belonging to either. This unique position in the market gives it a clear identity and appeal.

Concepts

Concept gameplay

Stickman sprite sheets as a placeholder for the vertical slice to make sure i can met deadlines

Animation ideas

• Aiming down sights shows a laser which can be spotted if left up for too long.

• shift to jog/run hold right click to ADS. ADS takes a moment to raise the gun 

• The gun is semi auto but fires as fast as you can click the faster you click the more inaccurate you are, guns have a 5% chance to jam, spam reload to fix.

Concept UI

Gameplay loop

Main Loop:

Clear each floor of the skyscraper, rescue hostages, and scavenge for gear and ammo to continue progressing downward.

Combat:

Real-time, high-lethality gunfights. Weapons have timed reloads, the possibility of jamming, and require active management. Additional equipment such as stun grenades and frag grenades provide tactical options. Shooting while moving reduces accuracy significantly.

Movement:

• Running: Gun lowered; unable to shoot quickly. Best for repositioning.
• Walking: Gun raised; can shoot at any time but with reduced accuracy.
• Aiming (ADS): Very slow movement; high accuracy. Narrows the vision cone, creating tunnel vision.
• Leaning/Peeking: Step slightly out from behind cover. Lowers hit chance from enemies; useful for scouting or fighting safely.
• Crouching at Barricades: Player auto-crouches when near low cover for better concealment peaks up when player aims.
• Mantling: Allows traversal over barricades and low obstacles.

Major mechanics:

• Fog of war and limited vision cone enhance tension and planning.
• Leaning and peeking allow safe observation and tactical engagements.
• ambient sounds, footsteps, gunfire, and voice chatter to inform player decisions.
• Speed and hostage survival impacts score.
• Reloading and weapon malfunctions include quick-time events for increased tension.