I've decided to start working on a project to help me mature as a programmer. I'm just starting out, programming in Blitz Plus. I'm also teaching myself C# at the moment, but I am nowhere near good enough to make a game in that language. I think I should start of by making a fairly simple platformer, that should be fast and action based. I would like a few puzzles that involve the main gimmick of the game to be interspersed throughout the game as well. I decided that the gimmick of the game should be for the main character to be able to stretch his arms like rubber to aid him in platforming. However, I am having trouble coming up with ideas for how the main character could actually use these powers in the levels. The levels should be built around the ability, and force the player to use the power in clever ways. Other than using the power like a grappling hook and letting the user stretch their hand through a mirror, then have the hand appear elsewhere, I can't think of any ideas. I was wondering if you guys could give me some ideas for the levels based around these powers or help me think of some different moves the player could use with the power to get me started?
Also, I was hoping that this game would be about as long as a Mario title(it will also be broken into different levels like Mario.) I am only a single programmer working on this project(also a beginning pixel artist). Is this too much work, since I am the only one working on this project?
I apologize for the wall of text. Any help is appreciated