Highlights of the Latest Update

Game Flow Improvements

• Progression loops have been refined to introduce abilities more effectively, providing players with safer, more engaging ways to practice before broader implementation.
• The Dash ability is now obtained very early in the game as the first upgrade, making movement more dynamic and engaging from the start.
• Navigation has been enhanced by reducing "dead space" and making routes more intuitive, guiding players naturally through the world.
• More visually distinct areas have been introduced to make navigation and orientation easier.

Polish and Feedback Integration

• Platforming, combat feedback, and overall game feel have been extensively improved based on community input.
• Colliders for hazards like lava and moving platforms have been adjusted to feel kinder and more natural.
• Player feedback, such as hit reactions and health indicators, has been improved for better clarity and responsiveness.

Combat Depth Enhancements

• Introduced a healing system: players can now collect mana by defeating enemies and use it to heal.
• Added combat-related collectibles, such as damage upgrades, to strengthen the heros abilities.
• Improved feedback for both enemies and the player during combat encounters.
• Introduced stronger and more diverse enemy types for greater combat variety and challenge.

Reworked Map System

• The map now displays the full world without abstraction and is revealed portion by portion, helping players track areas they have explored.
• Clearer game boundaries and map limits are displayed for better navigation.
• Players can zoom, rotate, and translate the map, making it a more interactive and practical exploration tool.

Gameplay and Level Design

Save Points

• Added save points or Shortcuts near critical encounters, like the Golem boss.
• Removed redundant save points to streamline game flow.
• Improved interconnectivity in the world for more rewarding exploration.

Platforming Challenges

• Reduced early-game platforming lethality by softening penalties for falls and hazards.
• Added visual hints and collectibles to guide players through complex areas.

Exploration and Navigation

• Introduced more visually distinct areas to make routes and landmarks easier to identify.
• Enhanced map navigation by allowing translation, rotation, and zoom tied to camera sensitivity settings.
• Improved map clarity to prevent players from getting lost or stuck in dead ends.

Combat and Enemies

Healing and Collectibles

• Killing enemies now grants mana, which can be used to heal the hero.
• Introduced combat-related collectibles, such as damage upgrades, to enhance player abilities.

Feedback and Immersion

• Improved visual and audio feedback for both player and enemies, making combat more responsive and engaging.
• Enhanced hit reactions, health indicators, and clarity of enemy resistances.

Enemy Design and Boss Fights

• Added new, stronger enemy types to diversify combat.
• Fixed bugs with bosses like the Golem to ensure fair and challenging encounters.
• Improved save points and shortcuts near boss fights to reduce frustration.

Lore System

• Players can now reread collected lore entries directly from the menu, enriching the storytelling and exploration experience (work in progress).

Art and Visual Design

Lighting and Colors

• Adjusted colors to improve hazard visibility (e.g., black water near bosses, green waterfalls).
• Added visual and audio cues for dangerous elements like light beams and enemy projectiles.

Audio

• New musics.
• Longer, more varied reworked music
• Better audio for invincible enmies.

Menus and Settings

We're working hard on this right now, expect a major evolution on this aspect in the near future

Language and Localization

• Fixed issues where the game defaulted to French, ensuring it respects Steam language settings.

Polish

• Redesigned the controls menu for better usability.
• Allowed players to exit the map using the "Back" (B) button for smoother navigation.

Bug Fixes

Collision and Movement

• Fixed checkpoint clipping issues, preventing players from spawning into death planes.
• Resolved movement bugs where players could unintentionally skip areas (e.g., jumping on water).

Miscellaneous

• Corrected lore messages to better align with the games tone and provide clear upgrade instructions.
• Fixed visual issues like enemies clipping into terrain and overly large text displays.

[ 2024-11-22 11:12:50 CET ] [ Original post ]