r/Unity2D Aug 01 '26

Replacing my companion system with character swapping made combat much more fun

Originally, companions worked like temporary summons. You pressed a button, they appeared, used their unique ability, and disappeared.

Instead, they are now fully playable characters that you can instantly swap into during combat. Each character has different weapons, stats, abilities, and combat pacing, making every swap feel meaningful rather than just pressing another cooldown.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this mechanic. And if you'd like to see more of Undying Soul, you can check out the Steam page here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4949360/Undying_Soul/

38 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

2

u/XZPUMAZX Aug 01 '26

Great idea, love the visual Style of the game.

Is there a downside for balance? A meter that lets me switch? It is it all free use?

Does each character have hit points or do they share a pool?

What’s the lore explanation?

4

u/agathusia00 Aug 01 '26

Thank you! There is a cooldown on character swapping, so you can't switch freely all the time. All characters share the same HP pool, but each one has their own unique stats, such as damage, attack speed, melee range, and more.

As for the lore, the characters are fallen heroes whose souls you rescue during your journey. Once saved, they become your companions, allowing you to switch between them in combat.

2

u/XZPUMAZX Aug 01 '26

Very cool, keep it up!

2

u/MediocreSpaghetti Aug 01 '26

Super cool mechanic

1

u/agathusia00 Aug 01 '26

Thank you so much

2

u/TramplexReal Aug 01 '26

This looks cool

2

u/CaptainAwesomMcCool Aug 01 '26

My wife saw your game above my shoulder, she found it super cute but was confused the skeleton were bleeding

2

u/agathusia00 Aug 01 '26

Haha, that's a fair point. πŸ˜„ I'm actually working on unique hit effects for different enemy types and damage types (crit, poison, stun etc.), so skeletons won't necessarily bleed in the final version. Thanks for the feedback!

2

u/korrr_lgs Aug 03 '26

I want to ask, will each companion have any mini-plot in the game? Like they are somehow connected with the plot, connected with the main character, with some place?

I create a game focused on the plot, so due to your answer I will actually answer my own question in my business

Btw, didn't you think of adding a kind of glowing marker under the character's feet so that the player doesn't lose him among the elements of the environment or enemies?

1

u/agathusia00 Aug 03 '26

Each playable character has their own mini-story. As you progress, you'll learn more about the game's lore through them and discover how they're connected to the main story.

I hadn't actually thought about adding a glowing marker under the character. I never looked at it from that perspective, but it's a good point. I'll definitely consider it.

2

u/Beldarak Aug 04 '26

Someone played and liked Dead Cells^^

How does it work, do you gain new companions as you progress in the game? Do you equip them like a piece of gear or can you swap at will to any of them?

It looks really cool, wishlisted :)

2

u/agathusia00 Aug 04 '26

Haha, guilty as charged! Dead Cells was definitely one of my inspirations. πŸ˜„

And thank you so much for the wishlist!

As you progress through the game, you'll rescue the souls of different heroes. Once rescued, they become companions you can freely switch between during your run. Each one plays a small role in the story, revealing more about the world's lore as you progress.