The thing inspired pixel art and custom dark shadows
 

Some sketches I did for a "The thing" inspired creature for my game, hope you enjoy

https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzUzMzAzNT...ZZ%2F%2FCR.png

ANd implemented version:
https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzU1MjEyMj...l/U%2BxUvx.gif

I believe the environment is critical when creating a horror atmosphere and since our game is made in C++ and all shadows and lights must be hand-drawn/animated, I now resumed some of the light "systems" polish. On the good side, with such a system the game will basically run even on a potato computer.

My aim here was not to create realistic lights but rather atmospherical ones.

- top layer got an alpha object with main shadow shapes

- all walls and big objects generate a shadow PNG

- light object shapes used to cut through the generated wall shadow

So each time a map starts the game will generate one huge shadow / light layer PNG. We also got light animations that we had to fake trough some torture procedures.

So here are a few possible shadow/light combos that we use in the game. Hope you enjoy

https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzUzNjE2OT...l/MoJAG%2B.png