Ragdoll Mega Dunk

The idea

The premise starts from a claim about basketball: the dunk may well be its most exciting move, and the reason is how high the basket hangs. All sorts of people want to dunk in style, from real athletes to casual players, yet not all of them are physically able to get up there. In the game’s story, an association has stepped in and built a whole range of dunking environments, each one meant to help these hopefuls reach the perfect dunk.

Aim, release, steer

Each attempt comes down to three steps. First, press and hold the left mouse button, then move the cursor to point your player. Second, let go, and they set off running toward the far end of the platform. Third, once they are in the air, hold the button and move the cursor again to guide them.

Since letting go of the button is what starts the run, it is worth lining up the aim before you release. The mid-air control is your safety net: a run that starts slightly off can still be steered back toward the basket while the player is flying.

Watch the ball

What matters is the ball ending up in the basket. Your player can follow it through the hoop or stay out of it, and the dunk does its job either way. So when you are steering in the air, keep your eyes on the ball rather than on the body carrying it.

Try, miss, try again

A miss is not the end of anything. When the ball stays out, you can take the dunk again, which turns each course into a place to experiment with a different aim or a different correction in flight.