Project META has its first (demo) update! Weapons, Enemy Upgrades, and a ton of general improvements and bug fixes!
1. Weapons: This update reworks the Energy Weapons Power Set into the Summon Weapons Power Set. Currently, the available weapons are Sword, Shield, Kunai, and Spear.
a. Weapons and objects can be force grabbed from a short distance away, even when impaled into objects and enemies.
b. Bladed Weapons like the Sword, Kunai, and Spear can be stabbed into enemies and objects and cause more damage than regular hits, but create less force and knockback than Blunt Weapons like Shields or Punches.
c. Blunt Weapons like the shield cause more knockback force on enemies, but can't stab into objects or enemies.
d. Be aware that this is a brand new implementation and still requires a LOT of testing and bug-fixes until it's stable.
e. Many more weapon types will be available in the full game!
2. Enemy Updates: All enemies have been given an update and are now tougher, more optimized, modular, and have a few new tricks.
a. All enemies now have a limited teleport ability when they are unable to reach the player, such as when on the roof of a tall building or if they become stuck behind walls.
b. All enemies have been given a boost in terms of damage and collision resistance. This should make combat at least a little more challenging.
c. Ninja Enemies can now dodge, disappear, have more martial arts attacks, and have a few new special abilities.
d. Ninja Movement has been.....improved?
e. Robot Enemies have an increased range with their flamethrowers and laser vision, and their aim has been improved.
3. Sound Effects: Weapons and objects now have varied sounds and collision effects when hitting specific objects or enemies.
a. Weapons will spark and use metal-on-metal sounds when hitting hard, metal objects or robot enemies.
b. Weapons will use metal-on-flesh sounds when hitting human enemies like the agents and ninjas.
c. Note: These sounds are just the first iteration, and will be updated/replaced in future updates.
4. General Gameplay Additions
a. Added options for "Unlimited Enemies" which will continuously spawn enemies when one is defeated without restarting or switching to a new wave.
b. Added options for "Unlimited Waves" which will still use the X enemies per wave format, but will keep creating new waves.
c. Added volume control for music player.
d. Added many more spawn locations for enemies in Millennium City.
e. Updated Info Tab of Player Menu with new descriptions for power re-works, images that correspond with power sets, and clearer instructions.
f. Update Power Wheel to show names of powers, and added new image for Web Power Set to match the others.
g. Added Targets to Superhero Base to practice stabbable weapons.
PLUS! Some awesome new concept art for a future character!
Optimizations
a. Added LOD's to enemies to reduce CPU load when enemies are at far distances.
b. Added LOD's to more buildings as well.
c. Added functionality to reduce unnecessary poly's on Agent enemies.
d. Pistol Agents and Rifle Agents have been merged into one single enemy type: Agent Shooters. This will be a small memory improvement for now, but huge later on when more shooter types are introduced.
e. Various code optimizations.
Bug Fixes
1. Fixed an error where enemies would not despawn when pressing the Cancel Scenario button in the Player Menu.
2. Fixed bug that could possibly cause an error with loading levels.
3. Fixed bug where LOD's would cause enemies to disappear entirely.
4. Added more safeguards against falling outside of the play area which would make the player have to restart.