BORIS THE SOVIET LOVE HAMMER
TECHNICAL SPECS
All is well in the motherland Soviet Russia. But the same cannot be said for the United States of Capitalism.
You are Boris, an ex-KGB agent, who has just moved to capitalist America.
You have embarked on a new mission in life, well at least as you see it.
Caught between fitting in and staying true to your roots, your mission is to liberate the enslaved workers from the corrupt executives.
Sneak, hide, and disguise yourself as you climb floor by floor to expose these shady dealings.
Just make sure you find the files you need in Boris the Soviet Love Hammer.
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Roles: Lead Audio, Narrative, and Level Designer and Lead Playtester
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Engine: Unity
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Language: C#
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Duration: 2-Semester Senior Project
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Platform: Windows (PC)
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Key Systems: Economic Gauge, Social Obstacles, Immersive Narrative
THE ECONOMIC GAUGE
To simulate the pressure of deep-cover espionage, I designed the Economic Gauge. This is the primary resource managed by the player. It serves as a mechanical deterrent against 'state-camping'; if Boris spends too much time in one disguise, he risks ideological stagnation, leading to a mission failure.
This system is deeply integrated into the game's core loop. The gauge functions as a central controller that drives adaptive sensory feedback: as the meter shifts, the environment art, NPC dialogue, and musical arrangements procedurally transform to reflect Boris’s current internal state.
SOCIAL OBSTACLES
Unlike traditional stealth games, Boris must navigate the unique hazards of a corporate office. He must avoid coworkers who want to stall him with small talk, security cameras that trigger alarms if he is caught in the wrong attire, and the middle manager who patrols the floor looking for any excuse to send him back to his desk.
Boris bypasses these traps by utilizing his dual-state disguises to blend in with specific groups. While the Communist outfit deters talkative coworkers, it prevents Boris from utilizing environmental hiding spots. Conversely, the Capitalist suit fools the surveillance cameras and allows him to use desks to hide from the middle manager. This creates a constant risk-reward loop where the player must choose between social immunity and physical safety.
THE AUDIO-NARRATIVE CONNECTION
One of the core values in Boris is its immersive storytelling. There is very little exposition beyond the tutorial blurbs at the start of the game; instead, the narrative is delivered through audio shifts and coworker speech bubbles. The first thing a player will notice when Boris swaps disguises is that the music changes from a high-pitched ditty to a low-pitched drone. If Boris is near coworkers, the dialogue also shifts from standard office talk like "Did you catch the game last night?" to more actionable, haunting phrases like "Free me, Boris." These elements, combined with the background shifts, reinforce Boris’s internal state as he climbs the building.