Project

Pump Down The Flame

Fast-paced vertical 2D shooter-platformer set inside a collapsing, fire-engulfed building.

The player takes on the role of a firefighter whose primary tool—and weapon—is a high-pressure fire hydrant. The core objective is to climb the building, extinguish flames, rescue trapped civilians, and reach the top before structural damage causes a total collapse.

The central gameplay mechanic revolves around the dynamic pressure system of the fire hydrant. As the player ascends, they can connect the hydrant to water vents scattered throughout the building, increasing water pressure. Higher pressure results in a stronger, longer, and wider water jet, enhancing the player’s offensive and utility capabilities. However, pressure is a double-edged mechanic: while moderate levels allow precise control, excessive pressure causes instability, making movement harder to manage and forcing players to constantly balance power and control.

The hydrant is not only a weapon but also a movement tool. By firing downward, players can propel themselves upward in a jetpack-like manner, introducing vertical mobility tightly integrated with combat. This system blends shooting and platforming into a single interaction loop, requiring players to master timing, positioning, and pressure management to navigate the environment efficiently.

Environmental interaction plays a key role in the experience. Players can destroy walls, windows, and obstacles to create new paths, extinguish fires, or rescue civilians. Trapped people can be launched through windows or cleared paths and safely dropped onto rescue cushions below, using exaggerated physics and ragdoll behavior to add both clarity and humor to the gameplay. However, excessive destruction weakens the building’s structural integrity, introducing a global risk mechanic that discourages reckless play.

The game maintains constant tension through environmental pressure: fires spread, the building deteriorates, and vertical progression leaves little room for hesitation. At the top of the structure, players face a final confrontation against the source of the disaster, culminating the ascent in a climactic encounter.

By combining vertical progression, physics-driven movement, destructible environments, and a unique pressure-based weapon system, Pump Down the Flame delivers a chaotic and skill-driven experience where every action directly impacts both player mobility and environmental stability.