Gagglesworth
Larva
As the title suggests, layers of the undergrowth are basically just levels to dig entrances up to finally reach the surface. Let's say an ant queen burrowed too deep in the nest and took too long to lay eggs. During that time, the hot Sun managed to dry the dirt until it's brittle on the outside and it caves in. So basically, when the game starts, you start at level '3'. You have the decision to either dig yourself up to the surface(you have to dig out to level '2' and '1' and finally dig the surface entrance), or clear each level and take things slow. To make things interesting, the areas where bugs reside in will contain much more hostile insects after it is far enough from the exit/entrance, forcing you to dig up a level, use the food of that level, hit the point where there are no more easy insect pockets, go down to the level you started and clear out the hard to kill pockets of insects with more ants you invested in while clearing the upper level. Rinse and repeat until you reach the surface(unless you want to rush to the surface then ok). To balance it out, the entrances/exits are very close to each other and the queen, making it somewhat hard to intercept invaders. To keep you on your toes, the starting level will be plain, nothing special, the upper level will contain a slow but renewable food source, like woodlice burrowing into your tunnel system every once in a while, and the level just beneath the surface, will have something like mole crickets or other burrowing insects that will rush your queen unless intercepted, that spawns every several minutes.
Of course, such a feature does not apply to every level or freeplay mode. Perhaps choose a species or two that will experience this, as freeplay mode seems nice as it is.
Of course, such a feature does not apply to every level or freeplay mode. Perhaps choose a species or two that will experience this, as freeplay mode seems nice as it is.
