The game is set in the modern day, and while no exact year is given, there are several references to 80's and 90's pop culture. The protagonist is a ten-year-old boy, and there are two antagonists: a childish man who wants to make the world into an urban paradise, and an Ambiguously Human cult leader who wants to make it into a natural paradise. The latter antagonist is having his followers turn people into monsters, claiming he's bringing them to a higher plane of existence. In reality, he has other plans for them. There will also be a recurring villain, a bully from the main character's school.
Also, I am aiming for a 2-D platformer.
edited 17th Feb '11 8:06:30 AM by Spectrum8
This game will involve Everything Trying to Kill You, so there will be a wide variety of enemies. Also, the suburban neighborhood is the very first area, so I think I would save tougher enemies like gangsters for later. If there are backyard pools, the main character will be able to swim in them.
I'm trying to decide whether the actual gameplay should take place on the sidewalks, in the backyards, or both. Only a few houses can be entered.
The Art of Theft provides a few good ideas as to how you might turn some average-looking urban/suburban settings into a platformer-esque obstacle course. Just in more of a stealthy way than an actual platformer way, and with a few little gimmicky features like umbrella swinging.
Still, it's free, and not too difficult to play all the way through, so I'd recommend looking into it
if you haven't already.
edited 17th Feb '11 10:17:08 AM by Toodle

...as an area in a Platform Game or Metroidvania? For example, would the protagonist be able to enter houses or backyards? Also, what kinds of enemies would inhabit a suburban neighborhood?