The Laser Trials
Portal 2: The Laser Trials is a project I created to explore designing levels for an already-existing game. Thanks to Valve's Hammer editor, I was able to enjoy the advantage of having an extensive library of content at my disposal, while at the same time experiencing what it was like to familiarize myself with proprietary tools that were designed specifically for the game that I was making levels for.
My process for creating these levels usually began in Portal 2 's in-game level editor. It was effective for rapid prototyping of the puzzles, but often quickly became limiting when dealing with puzzle logic and more detailed elements. At this point, I would rebuild the puzzle from scratch in Hammer++, where I would incorporate the logic and tweak smaller elements as I tested the level.
Once the puzzle was cohesive, I would rebuild the level one last time, this time with an architecture that highlighted the puzzle's core elements. Then I would spend the remaining 80% of the time polishing the level (adding ant-lines for circuitry, setting up music logic, putting in arrival/departure elevators).
Hammer++ | Source
January 2025
Level Design | Puzzle