About the Mechanic
Propeller mechanics is one of the critical elements in the Royal Match game. It can play a highly active role when users are crafting their own strategies within the game. When used on its own, it may be the weakest among power-ups, but it becomes quite powerful when combined in combos.
There is a GIF above that demonstrates how the mechanics work. As you can see, when a swipe is made with any stone, the mechanism activates. Upon its initial activation, it breaks the items or obstacles in the cells above, below, to the right, and to the left (Figure 1.1).
When you tap on it, the mechanism activates in the same way as shown in the GIF.
Figure 1.1
After the propeller takes off, its aim is to destroy any obstacles on the board if they are present and collide with them (Figure 1.2). If there are no obstacles, it randomly selects an item and shatters it (Figure 1.3).
Figure 1.2
Figure 1.3
Furthermore, there are a few factors in the propeller mechanics that enhance the visual experience and feeling that I would like to address.
After taking off, the propeller creates a feeling of approaching the screen by increasing its scale. In the following images, I have captured three different snapshots of the propeller's movement at different moments to give an idea of how its size changes (Figure 1.4 - Figure 1.5).
Figure 1.4
Figure 1.5
Additionally, after the propeller takes off, it leaves a shadow on the board, significantly intensifying the sensation of approaching the screen (Figure 1.6). While playing the game, we not only feel it in the X and Y planes but also in the Z-plane. However, it's not an artificial sensation; it's a feeling strengthened by both mechanics and design. This makes the gameplay much more enjoyable.
Figure 1.6
What I love most is that all these mechanics and design choices are made to harmonize the game as a whole. In other words, the angle at which the shadow falls and its distance from the propeller are not random but perfectly synchronized with the light cast onto the board. If you pay attention, you'll notice that all items and shadows are influenced by the same light source, including the propeller's shadow (Figure 1.7).
Figure 1.7