Creating the Battlefield: Level Design in Medic: Pacific War - Part 1

Alright, Medics, listen up!

We turned the tide of developing Medic: Pacific War a few months ago with our comeback devlog. As we face the inevitable challenges and consequential victories heading into the game’s eventual release later this year, we’re going to talk about our renewed yet familiar approach to making the game we’ve always envisioned it to be.

In this devlog, with intel coming straight from the top brass, our Lead Level Designer, we’ll break down our Level Design method for Medic: Pacific War.

Let’s get right into it, Medics!

Our Design Philosophy & Approach

Medic: Pacific War is built with the vision of immersing players as Medics in the historical battlegrounds of World War 2’s Pacific Theatre. Every level highlights the unique challenges Medics faced on the front lines, ensuring every situation presents a high-stakes test of skill and decision-making.

While there are a plethora of great examples of bringing simulated warfare in front of gamers’ screens out there, it doesn’t make it easier for us to balance historical accuracy with engaging gameplay, especially from a very unique perspective. Our design team carefully integrates real-world locations - such as the hospital in Pearl Harbor, the castle in Okinawa, and even Kakazu Ridge - while making sure that these elements enhance the experience rather than hinder it.

To capture the chaos and intensity of war without overwhelming “Medics”, levels are carefully designed around specific parameters and objectives. The active battlefield serves as an immersive backdrop, helping players feel the weight of their role as Medics without removing the fun and engaging element of gameplay.

Carefully placed moments of intensity and brief respites create patterns that imitate the realities of war - scaling chaos with decision-making and moments of calm before the next set of actions begin.

This approach makes every mission feel like they’re more than just blips of battles - it’s a continuous test of survival, adaptation, and tactical planning, where players are thrown head-first into the struggles and triumphs of wartime Medics.

A Medic’s War - Tactical Level Design

As expected, designing levels for a medic-focused, war-themed game is by no means an easy feat - one that goes beyond traditional shooter mechanics.

Unlike standard war-themed games where combat is the primary concern in terms of player immersion and gameplay, Medic: Pacific War demands an acute awareness of battlefield conditions that directly affect a player’s ability to rescue and treat the wounded.

This meant designing environments that accommodate mechanics rarely seen in other games, such as dragging a wounded soldier to safety while under fire.

To support core gameplay elements like locating wounded allies, transporting them, and/or administering treatment, level layouts integrate safe zones where players can stabilize casualties. More importantly, covers are strategically placed throughout levels, which can be seen as natural or man-made barriers (e.g., wrecked vehicles, sandbags, debris, etc.), which allow players to move around and through danger while minimizing exposure.

Much like other games, environmental hazards add the much-needed depth, especially with players not having the ability to counter danger sources. Minefields, for example, are obvious threats - but when carrying the injured, they become tactical obstacles. Other variations, such as trenches, foxholes, and fortified positions, provide temporary protection, but adaptability is critical.

Battlefields must feel intense yet strategic, demanding quick thinking and survival instincts. Medic: Pacific War captures the high-stakes pressure medics faced, offering a fresh take on war through level design that challenges players to