Split and Fuse 2D Sprites (LocoRoco Style)

[Cellenseres]

I’m looking for someone who’s willing to help me with coding a Feature similar to a Feature from the Game Loco Roco.
In each Level, the player starts as a small blob collecting items, finding secrets hidden in the level and collecting fruits that lets the blob grow (which adds another blob into the player blob).
I plan to have up to 29 blobs per level (+1 for the player).
With a button click, the big blob should split into many small blobs (into as many as the player has collected this level).
When holding that button, the blobs should begin to fuse together again.
This can be seen in this gameplay video from the original Game (at 2:10min):
Gameplay Loco Roco (Youtube)

• The player should be able to control all separate blobs at the same time (not only one)
• The blobs should have a minimum-size (when split) and maximum-size (when fused).

I already worked out a small prototype, controlling multiple small blobs.
The blobs are 2D-Sprites with Softbody Physics (created by skinning the 2D Texture in Unity and attaching spring joints to each bone which are connected to their neighbours. (attached a video of the prototype)
Prototype Video (Youtube)

Any idea How to accomplish a similar effect to the original game?

[Kurt-Dekker]

I forgot just how slick that game was… such polish, plus the sound effects with the little kids voices. Wow, that was really some good stuff. I don’t think I ever finished it but I played it quite a ways.

Breaking it down, there isn’t any transition between the two states… it just goes from being one blob to the multi blobs on the very next frame.

I assume they just evenly distribute the small blobs where the large blob used to be and send them on their way.

In reverse to join up I guess it uses some kind of heuristic to steadily increase the number of individuals that it gloms into one big one, perhaps initially by a limit distance, with the limit steadily increasing as you hold down “join” button, or as the shapes get larger.