Unreal Engine 5 · Solo Prototype · 3 Weeks
A pressure-driven third-person survival prototype built around pursuit AI, state-based mechanics, physics interaction, and clear player feedback.
Toddler Rampage was built in approximately three weeks to validate a compact survival loop: find Mommy and survive a 120-second timer while escaping store workers and managing escalating “Tears Pressure.” The focus was not visual polish alone, but proving that simple systems could create urgency, readable failure states, and player-driven chaos.
Systems Breakdown
Every system pairs an animated gameplay clip with the Unreal Blueprint behind it. Click any Blueprint to view it full size.
01 / Controller
Custom third-person controller focused on responsive movement and gameplay readability, with camera behavior that reacts to player state.
02 / State Mechanic
A temporary high-speed sprint state that escalates movement, visuals, audio, and emotional intensity.
03 / AI
Store workers use NavMesh-driven patrol and chase behavior to create consistent pursuit pressure.
04 / Failure Architecture
Centralized game state logic controls the survival timer, Tears Pressure, win state, and shared Game Over flow.
05 / Level Design
The grocery store layout creates tension through aisle choke points, visibility breaks, and risk-reward movement paths.
06 / Interaction
Pushable objects act as dynamic obstacles that can obstruct or redirect store workers during pursuit.
07 / Feedback
Layered crying loops and collision feedback reinforce urgency and help communicate pressure changes to the player.
08 / UI
The UI communicates pressure, failure, pause state, and input mode changes with minimal friction.
Project Overview
A short-form prototype designed to test whether pressure, pursuit, and physical obstacles could create a complete playable loop quickly.
Challenge
Build a readable survival prototype with escalating urgency and clear fail states within a short production window.
Solution
Combine pursuit AI, a timed pressure system, state-driven movement, physics obstacles, and responsive audiovisual feedback.
Outcome
A playable vertical slice validating the core loop and demonstrating rapid Unreal Engine prototyping.
Core Game Loop
The loop is intentionally simple — pressure builds every second, and the player has to keep moving toward the objective.
Move through aisles looking for Mommy while learning safe paths.
The timer and pressure UI increase urgency every second.
Workers patrol, detect, chase, and convert contact into failure.
Push carts, boxes, and cans to interrupt routes and buy time.
Pressure peaks as routes collapse and the player must keep moving.
Reach the objective before pressure or pursuit ends the run.
Design intent: a compact loop where pressure narrows options, AI creates movement, and physics gives the player an active way to fight back without combat.
Lessons Learned
A small number of readable systems can create strong player urgency when feedback is clear.
What Worked
Next Iteration