Naval Skirmish Prototype – Gameplay & Feature Summary

This naval combat prototype was developed in roughly one month using Unity and C#. It is a physics‑driven ship combat experience where players control a sailing vessel, fire broadsides, manage movement, and engage dynamically with enemy ships that react, reposition, and fight back. The project blends realistic buoyancy, cinematic cannon fire, and AI behavior.

This is far from a finished game and intentionally lacks heavy polishing. The goal was to build a vehicle system grounded in physics, not just a simple movement controller. As this is my first attempt at vehicle mechanics, I wanted a real challenge. Instead of making a car or a plane, which operate in relatively stable environments, I chose a boat affected by buoyancy and waves to push my limits and explore complex physical interactions.

Core Gameplay Loop

Sail

Players control throttle and steering using intuitive input actions. Movement is fully physics‑based:

• Forward & reverse propulsion
• Realistic turning influenced by speed
• Automatic stabilization to prevent unnatural tilting
• Dynamic buoyancy reacting to real water height (Suimono)

Aim & Broadside

Each side displays a real‑time cannon trajectory preview using LineRenderers. These trajectories update every frame based on cannon orientation, gravity, and shoot force.

Trajectory Visualization

Each cannon has its own LineRenderer:

• Predicts projectile path
• Updates every frame
• Only visible when the correct camera is active
• Disappears during cooldown after shooting

This gives players clear feedback and tactical control.

Fire

Pressing the fire input launches a full broadside from the active side:

• Cannonballs spawn at each cannon’s muzzle
• Physics‑based force propels them forward
• Each projectile handles collision safely:
  • Disables physics on impact
  • Applies damage once
  • Self‑destructs after a short lifetime
• Sound Effect to simulate cannons shot

The player’s ship receives recoil force, pushing it slightly in the opposite direction for added realism.

On Death

When a ship’s health reaches zero, a full destruction sequence is triggered:

• Movement, AI, and shooting systems are disabled
• The ship slowly sinks below the waterline
• The game ends transition to end scene

Enemy AI Behavior

Enemy ships use a custom EnemyShipAI that creates believable naval combat patterns.

Broadside Positioning

The AI attempts to maintain a tactical position:

• Chooses left or right side randomly
• Moves to a broadside offset relative to the player
• Adjusts rotation smoothly using Slerp
• Controls distance:
  • Moves forward to close the gap
  • Slows down or reverses if too close
  • Speeds up if too far

Cinematic & Visual Features

Boat Tilt

The player’s ship gently tilts on the X and Z axes using sinusoidal motion:

• Forward/back rocking
• Side‑to‑side sway
• Adjustable speed and amplitude
• Adds life and motion to the vessel

Special Features Worth Highlighting

Realistic Buoyancy System

Both player and enemy ships float using real water height from Suimono:

• Calculates water height at ship position
• Applies upward force proportional to depth
• Dampens vertical velocity
• Creates natural bobbing and wave interaction

Dynamic Camera Switching

Players instantly switch between:

• Navigation view
• Left broadside
• Right broadside

Technical Strengths to Mention

• Physics‑based ship movement and buoyancy
• Modular cannon and projectile architecture
• Dynamic trajectory prediction using gravity
• AI broadside positioning and firing logic
• Event‑driven health and sinking sequence
• Cinematic recoil and ship tilt effects

Hurdles along the way

Floating

Challenges related to buoyancy, water height detection, stabilization, and maintaining realistic ship behavior on waves:

• Balancing buoyancy strength to avoid sinking or bouncing unnaturally
• Preventing the ship from flipping on its axis by applying stabilization torque without locking rotation

Shooting

Difficulties implementing broadside mechanics, projectile physics, recoil forces, and safe collision handling:

• Preventing double collisions from cannonballs hitting multiple colliders
• Managing recoil forces without breaking the boat’s physics stability
• Accurate trajectory prediction using gravity and initial velocity
• Disabling physics on impact to prevent cannonballs from spinning the boat

AI Behavior

Complexities in broadside positioning, distance management, firing arcs, and creating believable naval combat patterns:

• Making the AI move like a boat instead of sliding or rotating unnaturally
• Ensuring the AI positions itself on a broadside angle rather than facing the player directly
• Maintaining proper distance without overshooting or stopping abruptly
• Sinking the AI by reducing buoyancy strength without causing physics instability