The final “look and feel” is composed of multiple lights. We may use only a few of them at a time. Besides having an effect on the scene’s aesthetics, each one has a different impact on the difficulty of the level. Components, that light minerals from the player’s direction usually make it easier, those that light their opposite sides make it harder.
- Ambient light: A stronger ambient light makes the level easier, it makes minerals easily distinguishable from all sides.
- Directional light (The ‘sun’): Most levels become more difficult when the ‘sun’ light dominates the level. The camera is usually orbiting around the mine making the player periodically see the minerals from their bright and dark sides. Recognizing mineral constellations become alternately easy and tough within the same level.
- Player’s spot light: The ‘torch” that lights the center of the mine from the player’s view point. It can be permanent on some levels but usually activated by the corresponding power-ups.
- Mine center’s light: The light source that most mines have at their center and shines outwards. It gives the mines the most mystic and aesthetic look from among all lights, however
- Fog: Applying ‘some’ fog influences only the look of the mine. With increasing densities we can even hide the farthest minerals, emphasizing the need for players’ memory. Adding some color to the fog we can even bring some sulphurous atmosphere into the level.
Besides strength, these lights can have different colors that again make the challenge easier or harder. Using more neutral colors help the player rely on mineral’s colors and textures, colored lights make some minerals hardly distinguishable. (Although the scene itself gets an appealing unique look)
Combining these techniques consciously we can achieve any difficulty and make the level challenging in very different ways.