Make a 2D platformer in Unreal engine 5 C++

By saljuselaksa August 03, 2024 Post a Comment

Make a 2D platformer in Unreal engine 5 C++

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Creating a 2D platformer in Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) using C++ is a rewarding project that blends the power of Unreal’s cutting-edge technology with the classical charm of side-scrolling gameplay. This guide will walk you through the basic steps of building a 2D platformer from scratch, assuming you have some familiarity with Unreal Engine and C++.

Setting Up Your Project

Create a New Project: Start by launching Unreal Engine 5. In the project creation wizard, choose the "Games" template, then select "Blank" as the project type. Make sure to enable the "Include Starter Content" option, as this will give you some basic assets to work with. For our purpose, we will be coding in C++, so make sure to select the "C++" project option.
Setup Project Files: Once the project is created, UE5 will generate several C++ files and open Visual Studio (or your preferred IDE). You’ll find YourProjectName.cpp and YourProjectNameGameModeBase.cpp as key files where your game logic will reside. However, for a 2D platformer, we need to create specific components.
Install Paper2D Plugin: Unreal’s native support for 2D games is provided through the Paper2D plugin. To enable it, go to Edit -> Plugins, search for "Paper2D," and enable it. Restart the editor when prompted. This plugin provides tools for 2D sprites, flipbooks (for animations), and tile maps, essential components for a 2D platformer.

Creating a Basic 2D Character

Create a Character Class: In Visual Studio, create a new C++ class derived from APawn or ACharacter. To do this, right-click the "Source" folder in your project, choose "Add New" -> "C++ Class," and select ACharacter as the parent class. Name your class PlatformerCharacter. This class will serve as the blueprint for your player character.

Setting Up Sprites and Flipbooks:

To give your character a visual representation, you’ll use sprites and flipbooks. First, import your 2D character sprites into Unreal Engine. These could be PNG files representing your character’s idle, walking, jumping, and other animations.
In your C++ class, add a UPaperFlipbookComponent to represent these animations.
Here’s an example of how you might define this in your PlatformerCharacter.h file:

cpp
#include "PaperFlipbookComponent.h"

UCLASS()
class YOURPROJECTNAME_API APlatformerCharacter : public ACharacter
{
    GENERATED_BODY()

public:
    APlatformerCharacter();

protected:
    virtual void BeginPlay() override;

public:    
    virtual void Tick(float DeltaTime) override;
    virtual void SetupPlayerInputComponent(class UInputComponent* PlayerInputComponent) override;

private:
    UPROPERTY(VisibleAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Category="Character", meta = (AllowPrivateAccess = "true"))
    UPaperFlipbookComponent* CharacterFlipbook;
};

In the constructor of your PlatformerCharacter.cpp, initialize this component:

cpp
APlatformerCharacter::APlatformerCharacter()
{
    PrimaryActorTick.bCanEverTick = true;

    // Create the flipbook component and attach it to the root
    CharacterFlipbook = CreateDefaultSubobject<UPaperFlipbookComponent>(TEXT("CharacterFlipbook"));
    RootComponent = CharacterFlipbook;
}

Movement Logic:

To make your character move, you need to handle player input and update the character’s position accordingly. Unreal’s ACharacter class already has built-in movement logic for 3D characters, but since we are working with a 2D game, we need to adjust this.
First, bind the input actions in SetupPlayerInputComponent:

cpp
void APlatformerCharacter::SetupPlayerInputComponent(UInputComponent* PlayerInputComponent)
{
    Super::SetupPlayerInputComponent(PlayerInputComponent);

    PlayerInputComponent->BindAxis("MoveRight", this, &APlatformerCharacter::MoveRight);
    PlayerInputComponent->BindAction("Jump", IE_Pressed, this, &ACharacter::Jump);
    PlayerInputComponent->BindAction("Jump", IE_Released, this, &ACharacter::StopJumping);
}

Next, implement the MoveRight function:

cpp
void APlatformerCharacter::MoveRight(float Value)
{
    // Add movement in the right direction
    AddMovementInput(FVector(1.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f), Value);

    // Flip the character when moving left/right
    if (Value < 0.0f)
    {
        CharacterFlipbook->SetWorldRotation(FRotator(0.0f, 180.0f, 0.0f)); // Flip
    }
    else if (Value > 0.0f)
    {
        CharacterFlipbook->SetWorldRotation(FRotator(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f)); // Normal
    }
}

This code snippet allows the character to move left or right along the X-axis, with the sprite flipping appropriately when moving in the opposite direction.

Creating the Game World

Designing the Level:
- Use Unreal’s tile maps to create your 2D level. You can design your level by creating a new tile map asset, where you lay out the tiles that represent the ground, platforms, and obstacles.
- Navigate to Content Browser, right-click, and choose Paper2D -> Tile Map. You can then start adding tiles by dragging in sprites into the tile map editor.
Collision Setup:
- Each tile and sprite in your game world should have collision settings, ensuring the player interacts correctly with platforms and obstacles.
- For your character, ensure the root component’s collision settings are configured to interact with the environment. For instance:
```
cpp
CharacterFlipbook->SetCollisionProfileName(UCollisionProfile::Pawn_ProfileName);
CharacterFlipbook->SetGenerateOverlapEvents(true);
```
Creating a Simple Game Mode:
- In Unreal, a GameMode class defines the rules of your game, including the default character, HUD, and more. Create a new C++ class derived from AGameModeBase, and set your PlatformerCharacter class as the default pawn.
- In your YourGameModeBase.cpp:
```
cpp
AYourGameModeBase::AYourGameModeBase()
{
    DefaultPawnClass = APlatformerCharacter::StaticClass();
}
```
Spawning Platforms and Hazards:
- To create dynamic elements like moving platforms or hazards, consider creating them as separate actor classes. You can define their behavior in their respective Tick functions or through Blueprints.

Adding Game Mechanics

Collectibles and Power-ups:

To introduce collectibles, create another C++ class derived from AActor. This class can represent items like coins, health packs, or power-ups. Use collision components to detect when the player picks them up.
For example:

cpp
void ACollectible::OnOverlapBegin(class UPrimitiveComponent* OverlappedComp, class AActor* OtherActor, class UPrimitiveComponent* OtherComp, int32 OtherBodyIndex, bool bFromSweep, const FHitResult& SweepResult)
{
    if (OtherActor && (OtherActor != this) && OtherComp)
    {
        APlatformerCharacter* Player = Cast<APlatformerCharacter>(OtherActor);
        if (Player)
        {
            // Grant the player a reward or power-up
            Destroy();
        }
    }
}

Enemies and AI:
- Introduce enemies by creating another character class, where you define AI logic to patrol, chase the player, or perform other actions. Unreal’s AIController and behavior trees can be used to implement complex AI behaviors.
- For basic AI, you can handle movement directly in C++:
```
cpp
void AEnemyCharacter::Tick(float DeltaTime)
{
    Super::Tick(DeltaTime);

    FVector NewLocation = GetActorLocation();
    NewLocation.X += DeltaTime * Speed;
    SetActorLocation(NewLocation);
}
```

Health and Damage System:

Implement a basic health system in your character class. Create a variable to track the player's health, and reduce it upon collision with enemies or hazards.

cpp
void APlatformerCharacter::TakeDamage(float DamageAmount)
{
    Health -= DamageAmount;
    if (Health <= 0)
    {
        // Handle player death
        Destroy();
    }
}

Final Touches

Polish with Sound and Visual Effects:
- Adding sound effects for jumping, landing, and collecting items enhances the game experience. Unreal’s sound cue system makes it easy to integrate audio.
- Particle effects can be used to create visual feedback, such as dust clouds when the character lands or sparkles when collecting an item.
HUD and UI:
- Create a simple HUD using Unreal's UMG system to display the player’s health, score, or other relevant information. Bind these to your character’s variables for dynamic updates.
Testing and Debugging:
- Regularly test your game to ensure smooth gameplay. Use UE5’s debugging tools, such as breakpoints in Visual Studio, to troubleshoot issues.

Conclusion

Building a 2D platformer in Unreal Engine 5 with C++ provides an opportunity to delve into game development's intricacies while leveraging a powerful engine. This project can serve as a foundation for more complex games, where you can expand by adding more sophisticated mechanics, multiplayer features, or transitioning into 3D. The journey from a simple platformer to a full-fledged game is an exciting path filled with creativity and learning.

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Make a 2D platformer in Unreal engine 5 C++