Thinking About Vertical Levels and Camera Changes

I’ve been doing some experimenting with the camera and level layout in Moonlight Cow: Guardian of the Night, and I wanted to share a design question I’ve been sitting with.

Up to now, the camera has mostly been locked on the Y axis, which keeps levels very horizontal and familiar. It works well for readability and keeps things cozy, but as the game has evolved, I’ve been wondering if it’s holding back one of the core ideas of the game: the relationship between Luna and Pipkin.

Pipkin can fly, carry Luna, and interact with the world in ways Luna can’t. By keeping the camera locked vertically, that flying ends up feeling more like a small assist than a core part of exploration. I’m considering unlocking the camera vertically (in a controlled way) so levels can grow up and down, not just side to side. That would allow for more vertical exploration, light puzzle moments, and better use of Pipkin’s abilities.

This wouldn’t mean chaotic or hard-to-read levels. The idea is more about giving the world a little more breathing room and letting the companion gameplay shine, especially as the game progresses.

I’m still very early in development, and this demo is very much a work in progress. Nothing here is final. I wanted to put this question out there now because feedback at this stage actually helps shape the game in meaningful ways.

If you’ve played the demo or watched the clips: Do you enjoy tighter, mostly horizontal platforming? Or would you like to see more vertical exploration and flying play a bigger role?

Idea Clip https://birdtekgames.com/Storage/IdeaClip.mp4