Dino Runner

My version of Dino Runner with double jump feature made in Unreal Enginge 5.

Controls:
Jump - W/Up/LMB/Space
Crouch - S/Down/RMB/Ctrl

Case Study:

I made this game to explore how a double jump feature would affect Dino Runner and also to practice working with the engine.

To make sure this feature actually contributes to the gameplay, I also added obstacles that were twice as high as normal, forcing the player to use double jump.

This led to some problems:

Problem 1:
In later stages, when the game became much faster there wasn't enough time to perform two jump over a tall obstacle.
Solution:
Reduced tall obstacle size from 2x to 1.5x.
This led to double jump no longer being required to jump over them which also changed its functionality. It became a tool for flexibility (e.g. jumping over multiple obstacles).

Problem 2:
The player could sometimes land directly on an obstacle without any chance to react.
Solution:
I added the ability to fall faster while in the air by holding the crouch button. Additionally, upon landing, the character immediately crouches if the button is still held.

Problem 3:
With double jump no longer being mandatory, players could play for a long time without using it and/or even knowing it existed.
Solution:
Turned it into unlockable ability. Just before the tall obstacles appear, a pickup spawns that unlocks the ability and notifies the player.

Key Takeaway:
Changing a mechanic’s role can be more effective than forcing its usage.