The Last Sentinel

Abstract

The Last Sentinel is a first-person 3D survival game developed as the final-year TFG project. The player assumes the role of María Cassandra De la Torre, a former prison sentinel stranded on an isolated island trying to survive environmental hazards and hostile occupants while attempting to re-establish contact with external authorities. The prototype combined conventional survival systems - resource gathering, stamina and health management, shelter and rest mechanics - with a 28-day hormonal-cycle mechanic that altered core parameters (stamina drain, recovery rates, sleep dynamics and related interactions) to influence player decision-making. The project was implemented in Unity and built from a mixture of custom work and thirdparty assets (Mixamo, Unity Asset Store, Blender). Design objectives included respectful and research-informed female representation, the introduction of an innovative cyclical mechanic, and the construction of a coherent single-player survival experience. Playtesting with participants aged 16 and over informed iterative adjustments to balance, HUD readability and onboarding. The work demonstrated that integrating real-world biological rhythms could enrich gameplay strategy and player empathy, while limitations in time and resources constrained feature scope and visual representation.