The Sentinel's Gaze (Le Regard du Sentinelle)

Stay perfectly still when the ancient Guardian Sentinel turns to look, or be pushed back in this motion-freeze challenge inspired by "Red Light, Green Light."

Game Overview

Inspiration: Red Light, Green Light (1, 2, 3, Soleil)
Genre: Motion Freeze Game
Controls: Motion detection (freeze when required)
Difficulty: Adaptive (level-based)
Duration: 2 minutes maximum

Objective

Primary Goal: Reach 100% distance to the Sentinel's pedestal

Win Conditions:

• Advance to 100% distance
• Complete before 2-minute timer expires
• Keep at least 1 strike remaining

Lose Conditions:

• Lose all 3 strikes (hearts)
• Time expires before reaching goal
• Cannot recover from major setbacks

How to Play

Controls

Motion Detection:

• Safe Phase (Green): MOVE - Tilt device forward to advance
• Warning Phase (Yellow): FREEZE SOON - Brief warning period
• Freeze Phase (Red): FREEZE - Stay completely still!

Key Mechanic: ANY detected motion during freeze phases results in:

• Lose 1 strike
• Pushed back (distance penalty)
• Must recover lost ground

Game Phases

1. Safe Phase (Green Glow)

Duration: 5 seconds at Level 1, decreases at higher levels

What to Do:

• Move your device forward to advance
• Tilt steadily to gain distance
• Watch for yellow warning
• Prepare to freeze

Visual Cues:

• Green screen glow
• Sentinel facing forward (🗿)
• Safe to move indicator
• Distance meter increasing

Strategy:

• Consistent forward movement
• Don't overextend
• Be ready to stop
• Watch timer carefully

2. Warning Phase (Yellow Glow)

Duration: 0.5 seconds (very brief!)

What to Do:

• STOP MOVING immediately
• Brace your device
• Prepare for freeze
• Get into still position

Visual Cues:

• Yellow screen glow
• Brief transition
• Sentinel turning animation
• Haptic pulse (if supported)

Critical:

• Warning phase still counts as freeze!
• Any movement detected = strike lost
• This is your last chance to stop

3. Freeze Phase (Red Glow)

Duration: 4 seconds at Level 1, decreases at higher levels

What to Do:

• STAY COMPLETELY STILL
• Don't breathe heavily
• Don't adjust grip
• Don't move at all!

Visual Cues:

• Red screen glow
• Sentinel facing you (👁️)
• "FREEZE!" message
• Motion detected warnings

Consequences of Movement:

• Immediate strike loss
• Distance penalty (pushed back)
• Double haptic pulse
• Visual feedback

Heads-Up Display (HUD)

Top Bar Elements:

Score (Left):

• Current point total
• Updates continuously
• Yellow/gold color (#ffe16b)

Level (Center Top):

• Current difficulty level
• Levels 1-4+
• Indicates phase timing
• Red/orange color

Time (Center):

• Countdown from 2:00
• MM:SS format
• Urgency increases when low
• Blue color (#8ab4f8)

Strikes (Right):

• Hearts (❤️) representing lives
• Usually 3 strikes
• Lost on motion detection
• Critical when at 1

Progress Bar:

• Shows distance (0-100%)
• Player position marker
• Sentinel at finish
• Visual goal tracking

Scoring System

Distance Points

Base Scoring:

• Distance traveled = base points
• 1% distance = ~10 points
• Full completion = ~1000 base points

Bonus Points

Strike Bonus:

• 500 points per remaining strike
• 3 strikes remaining = +1500 points
• 2 strikes remaining = +1000 points
• 1 strike remaining = +500 points

Time Bonus:

• 10 points per remaining second
• Fast completion rewarded
• 60 seconds remaining = +600 points
• 30 seconds remaining = +300 points

Final Score Calculation:

Base Score = Distance × 10
Strike Bonus = Remaining Strikes × 500
Time Bonus = Remaining Seconds × 10

Final Score = Base + Strike + Time
Example: (100% × 10) + (2 × 500) + (45 × 10) = 1000 + 1000 + 450 = 2450

Level Progression

Adaptive Difficulty

Automatic Level-Ups:

• Level 1 → 2 at 33% distance
• Level 2 → 3 at 66% distance
• Level 3 → 4 at 100% (if continuing)

Phase Duration Changes

Level	Safe Phase	Warning	Freeze Phase
1	5.0s	0.5s	4.0s
2	4.0s	0.5s	3.5s
3	3.0s	0.5s	3.0s
4+	2.5s	0.5s	2.5s

Difficulty Factors:

• Shorter safe periods = less time to move
• Shorter freeze periods = more frequent phases
• Same warning time (always 0.5s)
• Faster pacing overall

Strategies & Tips

Beginner Strategies

Movement Technique:

1. Steady tilts - Smooth, consistent forward motion
2. Watch for yellow - Always ready to stop
3. Don't rush - Controlled progress better than risky
4. Position early - Get comfortable before each freeze

Freeze Technique:

1. Two-hand grip - More stable than one hand
2. Brace against body - Rest device on chest/lap
3. Controlled breathing - Avoid chest movement
4. Mental prep - Anticipate freeze moments

Distance Management:

1. Consistent progress - Small gains each safe phase
2. Don't panic - Setbacks are recoverable
3. Time awareness - Balance speed and caution
4. Strike conservation - Avoid unnecessary risks

Advanced Strategies

Optimal Movement:

• Maximize each safe phase
• Quick acceleration
• Smooth deceleration before warning
• Predictive stopping

Freeze Mastery:

• Rest device on stable surface if possible
• Anticipate phase transitions
• Reduce all micro-movements
• Practice complete stillness

Risk Management:

• Aggressive early (3 strikes available)
• Conservative late (1 strike remaining)
• Time-distance trade-offs
• When to push vs. play safe

Expert Techniques

Phase Prediction:

• Internal timing
• Watch pattern variations
• Prepare 0.5s early
• Mental countdown

Perfect Stillness:

• Minimize breathing impact
• Eliminate hand tremor
• Stable grip maintenance
• Environmental awareness

Time Optimization:

• Maximum safe phase usage
• Instant freeze response
• No wasted movement
• Efficient distance gain

Motion Control Tips

Device Position:

• Comfortable forward tilt
• Easy to hold still
• Natural resting position
• Repeatable posture

Stability Techniques:

• Rest elbows on surface
• Brace device against body
• Use both hands
• Stable core position

Common Errors:

• Breathing movement
• Grip adjustments
• Reactive flinching
• Overcorrection

Common Mistakes

Movement Errors:

• ❌ Moving during warning phase
• ❌ Continuing motion too long
• ❌ Jerky, panicked freezing
• ❌ Overconfident rushing

Freeze Errors:

• ❌ Not preparing early enough
• ❌ Unstable grip/position
• ❌ Trying to "sneak" movement
• ❌ Poor breathing control

Strategy Errors:

• ❌ Too aggressive with 1 strike
• ❌ Too cautious with 3 strikes
• ❌ Ignoring time pressure
• ❌ Giving up after setbacks

Troubleshooting

False Motion Detection:

• Check calibration status
• Ensure stable surface
• Reduce environmental vibration
• Hold device more firmly

Can't Stay Still:

• Practice breathing control
• Improve grip stability
• Rest device on surface
• Take calming breaths

Phase Timing Confusion:

• Focus on visual cues
• Listen for audio (if present)
• Watch for color changes
• Practice pattern recognition

Accessibility Features

Visual Indicators:

• Clear color coding (green/yellow/red)
• Large, obvious phase changes
• Progress bar always visible
• High contrast display

Haptic Feedback:

• Warning pulse before freeze
• Error vibration on motion
• Optional (can be disabled)
• Helps with timing

Forgiving Mechanics:

• 3 strikes (multiple chances)
• Pushback vs. instant fail
• Recoverable mistakes
• Learning opportunity

Game Variants

Class Variations (Concept):

• Mage: Time Freeze ability (extends safe phase)
• Pacifist: Shield (absorbs first detection)
• Sage: Prediction hints (visual cues)

Modifiers (Future):

• Trembling Earth (vibration challenges)
• Shadow Steps (rhythm-based movement)
• Mirror Realm (inverted during freeze)

Practice Tips

Skill Building:

1. Practice freeze technique separately
2. Master motion control first
3. Learn phase timing patterns
4. Build muscle memory
5. Increase difficulty gradually

Training Exercises:

• Hold device still for 10 seconds
• Practice smooth forward tilts
• Transition practice (move → freeze)
• Timing prediction drills

Connection to Game World

Thematic Elements:

• Ancient Guardian Sentinel mythology
• Stone Curse lore connection
• Petrification Gaze concept
• Rune fragment rewards

Narrative Integration:

• Guardian training exercise
• Tests self-control and focus
• Ancient ritual reenactment
• Sentinel respect tradition

Quick Reference

Element	Description
Objective	Reach 100% distance
Timer	2 minutes
Lives	3 strikes
Safe Phase	Green - MOVE forward
Warning	Yellow - PREPARE to freeze
Freeze	Red - STAY STILL!
Win	100% + time remaining + strikes
Lose	0 strikes or timeout

Achievements

Perfect Stillness:

• Complete without any motion detected
• Extremely difficult
• Maximum bonus points
• Bragging rights

Speed Run:

• Complete in under 60 seconds
• Requires aggressive play
• High risk, high reward

No Strike Lost:

• Finish with all 3 strikes
• +1500 bonus points
• Shows mastery

Next Steps

• Try other mini-games: Spirit Maze, Cosmic Collector
• Master Motion Controls
• Perfect your Calibration

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Pro Tip: The key to mastery is anticipation. Start preparing to freeze about 1 second before you expect the warning phase, giving yourself extra time to achieve complete stillness!