Hey everyone!
It’s been a while since our last update, and we haven’t been sitting still — we’ve been hard at work on two major levels: the Mines and the Temple.
New Levels
Gameplay-wise, these levels are ready, but there’s still plenty to do with art and narrative. That said, we’re excited to share what we have so far and show off a bit!
We’ve also started work on the next big level — the Empire’s Capital, where Leon and his buddy Ray find themselves after the Temple of Death. Here, Leon will need to hide out in the Slums, sneak through both the Lower and Upper City, and even visit the Imperial Palace. It’s shaping up to be a huge level, so there’s a lot ahead.
If we look at the game as a whole, about one-third of the planned content is already done. That’s pretty amazing, and we’re really proud of how far we’ve come. The game is growing, evolving, and slowly filling out with content from every angle.
Meet the Updated Gigachad Leon
We’ve been working on a new model for Leon. The old “virgin” sprite is out, and now we have “chad” Leon stepping in.
Not all animations are replaced yet, but we’re already loving the result. It looks awesome, and with this new model you can finally see Leon’s two tails — just like a proper magical jinko! What do you think of the new Leon? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
New Enemies — The Winged Yokai and Bomber
In the Mines, Leon will face a brand-new enemy.
This dangerous bruiser is armed with bombs, which he skillfully throws at anyone who dares cross his path. He not only spices up the combat but adds chaos to the arenas (though, honestly, there’s plenty of that already, right?). Plus, he has a hilarious explosion animation after death.
In the Temple, Leon will face an aerial attack for the first time.
Meet the Tengu — a winged demon. You’ll have to jump and dodge hard to take him down.
Combat System Enhancements
We’ve refined one of the coolest parts of the game — the bloody execution moves. Previously, Leon unlocked the ability to finish off enemies by building a long combo. Now, he has to either deal heavy damage or catch the enemy at a vulnerable moment.
For example, the Naginata-wielder is a tricky, sneaky foe who tries to hit Leon from a distance with his weapon. But if you break his naginata with a powerful combo, he becomes exposed and ready for an execution — goodbye, see you in the next life!
We’ve also added tons of new finishing move options for all enemies (just need to get the art done). Imagine surfing on zombies, knocking down everyone in your path — would you want to ride the zombie wave?
In general, zombies as enemies have gotten better and more effective.
True to classic zombie form, they attack in hordes, surround Leon from all sides, and feel like a real, terrifying threat. Massive battles with them look gruesome and spectacular.
We’re continuing to work on new combos, moves, abilities, and strikes to keep the gameplay exciting, challenging, and varied.
What do you think of the news? Let us know in the comments what excited you the most, and just say hi to let us know you’re alive and waiting for the game!
With love,
The HEART ABYSS Team
