First, I wanted to determine the dimensions and general flow of the area with an early, very basic, and raw version of the blockout. The entire boss fight was designed with a minimum of three exits from each room, encouraging continuous movement in a circular pattern — and with plenty of cover spots for the player. This design was made to give the player freedom of movement throughout the whole battle.
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted a pretty tough boss here. The entire hotel was designed to be unsettling, with a touch of horror mixed in, and for the final fight, I wanted to create a true hell on earth: a dense atmosphere with flickering, burning red lights, home to a deadly and quick boss.
During development, it was crucial for me to go through multiple iterations with an Environment Artist, Lighting Artist, and Sound Designers to ensure we achieved an uneasy and even disturbing atmosphere. The tension builds into a tense and dreadful nightmare for the boss fight — followed by relief once players discover Leon Rinder’s condition afterwards.
Bartłomiej Pyrko:
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