Hello,
This is SnakeEagle.
The main goals of this update are as follows:
1. Improved Player Controls
The action design of KILL THE WITCH is intentionally simple, with a limited number of moves that behave consistently. However, each action carries a certain level of risk—using the wrong move in the wrong situation can result in penalties.
This was designed so that, as players become more familiar with the game, they naturally learn to choose more appropriate actions, which in turn lowers the perceived difficulty over time.
That said, we also strongly agree that some actions leave room for adjustment.
Without compromising the core framework of the game, we will continue to carefully observe and refine the controls to create a more responsive and satisfying feel.
2. Clearer Distinction Between Easy / Normal / Hard / Lunatic
We aimed to more clearly differentiate each difficulty level so that each one has a meaningful purpose.
Our goal is to ensure that if you are able to clear a lower difficulty, you will be properly prepared to challenge the next one with confidence.
In addition, we have implemented improvements in other areas that we felt required refinement.
Among those who left negative reviews, most pointed to “controls” or “difficulty” as their main concerns.
Compared to the initial version—which may have felt like it forced a “hardcore” experience on players who were not yet ready—this update has been refined with much greater care. We are confident that it now offers a more polished and accessible experience.
Of course, this first update is not the end. We will continue to listen carefully and refine the game with speed and sincerity.
If you would be willing to share your thoughts on the updated version of KILL THE WITCH, we would greatly appreciate hearing your voice.
Thank you sincerely for your trust and patience.
*The patch notes below may contain spoilers regarding enemy patterns.
If you prefer to avoid spoilers, we recommend skipping the details and experiencing the changes for yourself.
Player
Increased jump acceleration so the player can reach maximum height more quickly, improving overall responsiveness.
Slightly adjusted the recovery time after the aerial downward attack at the peak of a jump.
Slightly adjusted the recovery time of the third hit in the standing attack combo.
Stage
Reduced excessive camera reactions during rapid vertical movement (such as jumping or using jump pads), which could cause motion discomfort.
Added a tutorial section exclusive to Easy difficulty.
Fixed a bug where jump height during scene transitions via jump pads varied depending on the frame rate setting.
Stage 2
Adjusted the spawn intensity of the “Ghost Bugs” during the stage on Easy and Normal difficulties.
Fixed a bug related to the arrow logic where players could still take damage even after correctly deflecting the projectile.
Stage 2 Boss
Reduced the amount of HP recovered by the boss on Hard and Lunatic difficulties when a Fake Heart is consumed.
Adjusted the number of “Ghost Bugs” that appear in Phase 2 for each difficulty level.
Fine-tuned Phase 2 patterns by difficulty.
Modified the end of Phase 2 so that the boss now releases a “Fake Heart.”
At the start of Phase 3-1, adjusted Easy and Normal difficulties so that only one “Mutated Angel Bug” appears.
Adjusted the boss HP in Phase 3-1 by difficulty.
Reduced the size of the arrows fired by the “Mutated Angel Bug” in Phase 3.
Simplified certain patterns in Phase 3 on Easy difficulty.
Other
Changed the unlock condition for the hidden achievement from “Clear on Lunatic” to “Clear on Hard or higher.”
Added 45 FPS and 30 FPS options to the target frame rate settings.
Adjusted the player’s physics interpolation method to improve movement stability in lower-performance environments.
Improved the UX navigation in the main menu when moving to “Quit Game” and “Options.”
1.1a Update
Feb 23 – 4:49 PM (UTC)
Player
Added input buffering to Attack, Jump, and Roll, significantly improving overall responsiveness. (For Attack and Roll, identical inputs are briefly prevented from immediately re-triggering via the buffer. This preserves the original design direction while improving overall responsiveness.)
Added input buffering to Up input, and adjusted the gamepad logic for Up input to further improve control feel.
Fixed a bug where attempting to jump again immediately after jumping would result in an unusually low jump.
The control-related improvements originally planned for v1.2 have been completed ahead of schedule and are now released early in v1.1a.
We would greatly appreciate your feedback.
*If the update has been applied correctly, “v1.1a” will be displayed in the bottom-right corner.
If not, please fully exit Steam and relaunch it.
Feedback is always welcome!