Exo: Breakpoint

Early footage without level design (not final)

My aim with Exo: Breakpoint was to break free from the usual FPS demos, rather than a straight­forward corridor shooter or a static arena, I wanted to build a dynamic, open-world wave-based PVE prototype that:

• Dynamically scales difficulty by runtime balancing of spawn rates and enemy types

• Integrates a signature ability (“Breakpoint” slow-time) that both feels dramatic and impacts combat pacing

• Supports varied terrain traversal rather than a flat arena

Exo: Breakpoint aims to deliver a loop of:

1. High-octane combat—fluid shooting with responsive locomotion in an open hub

2. Tactical slowdown—activating Breakpoint to plan your next move, reposition behind cover, or pick off clustered enemies

3. Progression feedback—clear wave counters, score updates, and evolving enemy behavior that reward mastery

By blending these, players feel both powerful (with their arsenal) and strategic (managing cooldowns and terrain), keeping each run tense and replayable.

Note: this project uses the FPS Game Starter Kit by SB (Unreal Engine 5, C++ / Blueprints) to implement core player mechanics—locomotion, weapon firing, and a foundational inventory UI

Examples of what I worked on:

• Created a wave manager system in C++ to dynamically schedule, trigger, and balance enemy waves based on gameplay progression

• Developed the core Breakpoint mechanic that slows the world around the player, complete with synchronized VFX and cooldown management

• Designed a four-portal, ~0.4 km² open combat arena with strategically placed cover and spawn points to support wave-based encounters and showcase gameplay mechanics

• Laid out distinct approach paths into each arena, balancing directness vs. tactical flanking

• Placed signature set-pieces as navigational beacons and integrated elevation changes—ramps, crater lip, rooftop perches—to enable high-ground tactics and Breakpoint slow-mo showcases

• Created a flexible spawner that adapts spawn locations and enemy types

• Enhanced the enemy AI so enemies intelligently pursue the player

• Implemented a day‑night cycle with volumetric clouds and time‑of‑day lighting shifts using the
  So Stylized sky solution

• Refined character locomotion for responsiveness and added a dynamic field‑of‑view effect tied to speed

• Created on‑screen indicators for wave progress, score, and Breakpoint ability status with real‑time updates

• Designed the end‑of‑run screens that display performance metrics and the ability to restart

Main character blueprint