Customized Angel
UI Systems Design | Unity Implementation
Genre: Narrative Time-Loop Investigation
Customized Angel is a systemic investigation experience built around a repeating time-loop structure. Players gather visual and audio clues, track NPC schedules, and reconstruct events using a timeline-based deduction interface
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The UI was designed to support replay-driven discovery while maintaining clarity under increasing information density.
Design Objective
The core challenge was building a UI framework that:
Encourages observation without overwhelming the player
Organizes multi-loop data into readable structures
Supports pattern recognition across repeated timelines
Reinforces narrative tension without heavy HUD clutter
This is not menu UI — this is gameplay infrastructure.
Core Systems
1️⃣ Timeline Interface System
The timeline organizes visual and audio clues chronologically, allowing players to reconstruct NPC behaviors across loops
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Design Challenges
Prevent visual overload as clue density increases
Differentiate audio vs visual intelligence
Maintain chronological clarity across resets
Solutions
Modular clue cards with time stamps
Visual coding between clue types
Scrollable horizontal structure
Structured grouping by NPC
The timeline evolves from guided tutorial use to full deductive synthesis.
2️⃣ Telescope Observation Interface
Introduced in the tutorial loop
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The telescope allows players to observe NPC routines and capture visual clues
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UX Design Decisions
Lens vignette for spatial immersion
Zoom-state feedback for clarity
Capture confirmation animation
Direct pipeline into timeline system
The goal was to create an investigative rhythm:
Observe → Capture → Analyze → Replay.
3️⃣ Radio / Audio Intelligence System
The radio introduces sound-based clues that complement visual observation
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Design Focus
Clear differentiation from visual clues
Emotional tone reinforcement
Dual-channel information processing
Audio entries are integrated directly into the timeline, reinforcing unified data tracking.
4️⃣ NPC Schedule Monitoring
NPCs operate on time-sensitive routines
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UI Implications
Real-time HUD timer
Anticipation cues for scheduled events
Pattern recognition through repetition
Players learn behavior patterns across loops, transforming observation into strategy.
Progressive Complexity Framework
The structure moves from tutorial loop to advanced, high-stakes synthesis
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UI adapts by:
Increasing clue density
Reducing onboarding prompts
Shifting from collection to deduction
The interface scales with cognitive demand.
My Contributions
Designed and implemented the interactive Timeline UI system
Built telescope-based observation interface
Integrated audio intelligence into unified timeline architecture
Structured UI states for onboarding and progressive complexity
Designed loop-based UX flows supporting replay mechanics
Implemented UI prefabs and interactive systems in Unity using C#
Design Focus Areas
Cognitive load management
Information hierarchy
Diegetic interaction framing
Loop clarity & pattern recognition
System scalability across repeated timelines
What This UI Achieves
✔ Encourages systemic thinking
✔ Reduces clutter in a data-heavy experience
✔ Supports investigative pacing
✔ Reinforces narrative tension
✔ Scales with gameplay complexity
