Designing the unique cube-shaped Scanner boss in 4:Loop
4:Loop’s unique Scanner boss challenges players with navigation and coordination instead of direct combat. The cube-shaped enemy requires strategic teamwork to defeat, emphasizing decision-making and spatial awareness.
Mike Booth, Chief Creative Officer at Bad Robot Games and Game Director of 4:Loop, recently provided insights into the design process of a distinctive boss battle in their co-op shooter game. Unlike traditional boss fights, the Scanner, also known internally as “The Cube,” challenges players with navigation and coordination rather than direct combat.
Each boss in 4:Loop is designed to be unique in both appearance and behavior, requiring players to adapt with new strategies and teamwork. The Scanner exemplifies this approach by introducing a battle that relies heavily on spatial awareness and cross-map coordination. Instead of direct attacks, the Scanner deploys a “Laser Matrix,” a grid of dangerous lasers covering the entire map. Players must continuously move to avoid these lasers, as being hit can quickly take them out of the fight.
The Scanner’s design is centered around its cube shape, featuring six faces with nine destructible tiles each, totaling 54 targets. To damage the Scanner, players must destroy all tiles simultaneously, revealing the Reactor Core. However, the challenge intensifies as the Scanner rotates and resets damaged panels over time, requiring players to attack from multiple angles while navigating the tightening grid of lasers.
Once the tiles are destroyed, the Scanner’s Reactor Core is exposed for a brief period, prompting the team to coordinate a powerful, unified attack. This strategic moment is designed to emerge naturally from the boss’s mechanics, encouraging intuitive teamwork without explicit instructions.
4:Loop emphasizes decision-making, as players must choose their gear and abilities wisely based on the Probability Map, which forecasts the boss they will face. The Scanner battle, in particular, requires careful consideration of equipment that aids in navigating the laser grid.
The Scanner is just one of several bosses in 4:Loop, each crafted to test players’ problem-solving and teamwork. The development of the Scanner began with the concept of a large, floating cube puzzle, evolving into a memorable enemy that challenges players without firing a single shot.
Players interested in joining the 4:Loop community can connect through their Discord server at discord.gg/4LOOP.