Hello hello Ducks! This is the final stretch for Duck Life 9 to release... JUST 3 DAYS LEFT! We're so happy about what the game looks like and all of the new adventures you will face!
We're going to recap all of the most important features coming to the game in these 3 days, let's go for it!
A new lick of paint
With every new game, we’re always trying to push the boundaries of how beautiful we can make the world around you, so this time we’ve decided to go with a lovely pastel art style, with calligraphic outlines to nail that painterly feel. Above you can see some of the visual development of how we evolved the look of the ducks, with the OG style on the left morphing into something a little *too* different in version 2, and being reigned back into something more familiar by the end. The result is a cute new spin on the designs seen in Duck Life Adventure, with slightly altered proportions, fluffy shoulders and some feet that lend themselves a lot better to the new 3D environment.
You’ve got a golden ticket!
Duck Life 9 is set in the tropical paradise of Featherhaven Island. The island is separated into 9 areas, but we’re not going to be spoiling them all today, where would be the fun in that?? Take a look below to see what we’re willing to reveal to you this week...
Cel shading
Cel shading is a great way to give a 3D object a cartoony appearance. When used right, everything will pop out with bright colors that help bring the world to life. Less is more and that’s what we’ve tried to do, many of the models use a simple gradient to help give a subtle bit of depth whilst the shadows are key to giving us our lighting.
Using the shadows right gives us lovely shapes that can turn a simple flat surface into a fluffy meadow worthy of lying in under the stars!
It's in the details
Sometimes it’s the little things that can bring the world to life, the visual effects (VFX) are a big part of that but it’s surprisingly easy to make them look realistic. Game dev tools are often made nowadays to do realism really well. The art is giving the game its character!
The VFX is a language of its own and helps make Duck Life 9 feel special. The glints on the water are more than just dots which give it a magical look. The waterfall itself spits out comicbook style shapes that help to distance the look of the game from many other games.
Training games are back
Training games are a staple of Duck Life and they will be returning in Duck Life 9! This time we have trainers from all over the animal kingdom, from Doug the Dog to Percy the Penguin - true masters of their skills. When you are below level 50 in a skill, you will do beginner training. Once you hit level 50 you can unlock pro training and train up to the maximum level of 100. Both types of training have 5 parts each, which you can unlock after every 10 levels. This makes a whopping total of 60 training mini games.
Perilous Planks
Perilous Planks procedurally creates a bridge going all the way from the entrance to the exit of the section, meaning each time you attempt this obstacle it will be a little different - memorizing the course won’t help you breeze through this one! The goal of this obstacle is very simple… Don’t fall off!! While this may seem easy to some, the true difficulty comes in when you combine the longer stretches with an overconfident speeding duck! If you are truly gifted in the ways of the running skill, you’ll be able to complete it without stopping or slowing down, but that of course, will come with practice.
That’s everything for now, but come tomorrow for another recap! Join our Discord channel to stay updated and join the discussion. We’ll also be posting trailers and updates on our YouTube channel, and if you’d like to wishlist the game, you can do so now on the official Steam page.
See you on May 7th.