Erectin an Idea: Pleasure Island Video Game

SmartNoob89

Member
Original Poster
Hey there! Welcome to a section I hope to make use of regularly: Erectin an Idea! This will be place where I suggest ideas for Disney to implement, be they video games, tv, movies, or them park stuff. My first idea is one that I've been toying with for some time...


Introduction

One of the best games I've recently played is the Bioshock series. Everything about this series is near perfection: the environments, the creative gameplay, the creepy atmosphere, the graphics, the enemy design and especially the deep, compelling story line. Not only am I referring to the main characters arc, but the whole backstory on Rapture's rise and fall. This is a level of immersion and interconnectedness unlike any other game.

But why bring up Bioshock? Well, I thought Pleasure Island from Pinocchio would be a great setting for an adventure game that emphasizes creepy atmosphere and compelling story in a manner similar to Bioshock.

The Setup

This is just my idea on how such a game would play out.

It's been about a decade since the end of Pinocchio. The demonic Coachman is still at large, tempting mischief-prone lads to Pleasure Island and using the isle's horrific curse for his own personal greed. In spite of Pinocchio's escape, the Coachman's affairs have continued in silence and stealth.

You are an unamed 14-15 year-old lad/lass who lives in the seaside village. Your life has been generally carefree until one night, when your 11-year old brother disappears. After hours of seemingly- hopeless searching, you find a piece of your brother's belonging and hoof tracks leading to a pier. Despite these obvious clues, no one in the village can explain the nature of these tracks, save one: Pinocchio.

At first hesitant to tell you anything about Pleasure Island, he eventually mutters something about a ship "which arrives around midnight." Armed with this knowledge, you wait about the pier and sure enough, a coach filled with rowdy boys and a large steamship appears in the moonlight. You sneak aboard the boat, hopeful for answers.

...But alas, you get caught by the Coachman! None too happy to find a suspicious stowaway, the Coachman subjects you to brutal questioning. This interrogation goes on until you attempt to viciously tackle the fiend. But instead of anger, the Coachmen's face holds a wicked smile. Just before you can do anything at all, a painful metamorphosis occurs! Your limbs become hoofs, your mouth and ears elongated, and your skin grows brown fur! As you slowly lose your humanity and pass out, the Coachman laughs maniacally.

When you wake up, you find yourself in a cage amongst other donkeys. As you contemplate your seemingly hopeless fate, a small voice is heard. You look down and see Jiminy Cricket! He heard about your interest in Pleasure Island from Pinoch and see's you clearly need help. He busts you out of your cage and your quest now begins...

To be continued...
 

SmartNoob89

Member
Original Poster
Gameplay

The gameplay of Pleasure Island would be something along the lines of Zelda, God of War, and the Batman Arkham series, with an additional emphasis on exploration and puzzles. At the beginning, most areas are closed off and you'd need certain items to progress like rope or a match to light fuses. In tandem with finding these objects, you'll need to help the other prisoners of the island in order to learn secrets that'll help you at various points through out the game. Such assistance ranges from simple fetch quests to taking down specific enemies.

At the beginning of the game, you're trapped as a donkey. However, you'll eventually meet the Blue Fairy, who'll return you to human form, but allow you to keep the ability to switch between human and donkey form at will, resulting in a Majora's Mask/Twilight Princess-like mechanic. Some tasks can only be done as a human, while other's require you to become a donkey.

There are certain pros and cons to being a Donkey. On one hand, you can't use your items and cannot perform actions like climbing or speech. However, you can burst into fast sprints, attach yourself to objects like carts in order to move them and the ability to deliver precise, devestating blows to enemies through kicks and headbutts.

As you complete tasks and trash enemies, you gain EXP, allowing you to unlock new combos, bonuses and abilities for both human and donkey form. As this game's focus is more on story and exploration, this game's upgrade system is not quite as grandiose as God of War or even Arkham City. This game should be accessible to both kids and adults; why make things to complicated?

As for items, all match with the environment; you won't find any magic blades here! Your inventory is based on stuff the boys would use to conduct the mischief that the Coachman would encourage or the stuff Coachman's cronies would use, such as-

+ Metal Bat- Your primary weapon. While not too lethal, it can be a powerful when used in tandem with proper combos and item usage.
+ Whip- Taken from those black henchmen, this item can stun enemies, allowing an opening for bad combos. It can also be useful for grabbing object and swinging across specific chasms.
+ Matches- Can be used to light torches and set off explosive barrels.
+ Slingshot- Your basic projectile weapon. Comes in a wide variety of ammo, from basic stones to vials of strange goo. There uses outside of battle; up to you to figure them out!

These are the basic items. Other items require one to discover parts and make makeshift tools. Some are optional while others are necessary to complete the game. Don't worry, the game'll give you enough clues to figure out which ones are mandatory to build.
 

SmartNoob89

Member
Original Poster
Atmosphere/Graphics

Pleasure Island is game designed to hearken back to the old Disney films of the 1940's, with it's vivid yet toned down colors. The graphics have a character that is similar to games like the Jak series or the recently released Skyward Sword; cartoonish yet capable of turning dead serious at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, the world of Pleasure Island is defined by a lot of darkness, illuminated only by torchlight, neon lights, or moonlight. This builds the suspense of traversing the isle, never quite knowing what you'll run into. Essentially, this is a dark, Disney ghost story.

Content

While Pleasure Island is an adventure game with strong horror elements, it should not be confused with Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Bioshock or any other typical horror game. Kids are allowed to be scared; look at works like Coraline or ParaNorman! While this will be certainly way too intense for the wee little ones, Pleasure Island is a game that can be enjoyed by all ages. It's not soft by any means, but acceptable to general standards.

The various horrors you come across are mostly of the physical and psychological variety.
 

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