The epicenter of my project is the two separate modes of gameplay. I hope to integrate two diametrically opposed styles of gameplay––turn-based RPG (e.g. Pokemon, Chrono Trigger) and top-down shooter (e.g. Galaga, Touhou)––and allow the core game to be played in either fashion depending on what the player is more comfortable with. Some overlap will of course exist, such as equipment affecting both gameplay styles. Some encounters may force the use of one style or the other, and the final boss will be a test of both, with one phase for each.

In order to accomplish this, the brute force solution would be to code each encounter twice––once as an RPG and once as a top-down shooter. However, I feel that that is a very big ask and so my plan is to code one style at a time and focus on the mixing of the two later down the line. I want to make sure the pieces are sufficient before putting them together.