This update focuses on wrapping up Mouse Controls, simplified the one button Solo Triggers, polish to the Combo Mechanics and New Content.
MAJOR CHANGES
- MOUSE CONTROLS: Fully implemented mouse controls (menus now fully navigable by mouse)
- SOLO: Solo Input is now simplified (Keyboard: Space and Gamepad: A) to help players stay in a state of flow.
- COMBO: Default starting combo effect is now a damage bonus instead of a speed bonus.
- NEW CONTENT: New Laser and Shockwave Enemies and New Combo/Dodge Upgrades
- BEAT SYNC: Adjusted overall beat-sync to align with the larger beat circle initially “touching” the small circle (was previously set to small circle glow and/or full overlap)
NEW FEATURES
- Round Start Options now have ??? events that hide information from the player.
- New Dodge Upgrades that “consume” your current combo count to activate an effect that scales the consumed value (heal/damage)
- New Shield Upgrade that’s triggered when you hit a certain combo count (combo count is reset when shield is “popped”)
- New Laser and Shockwave Enemies for later rounds.
- Since Solo Animation has simplified/sped up, the full character animations now play at round end instead. Order is randomized.
- Added Song Counter near player health bar
- Enemies are set to die to the beat of the music (timed to double time pacing so wait time isn’t too long)
- Enemies set to grey tint when “waiting to die” for clarification that they’re not active anymore
- Powered up enemies (via curse or mini boss) now have an inverted color for clarity
- Deal and Rerolls are now fully randomized instead of Deals being guaranteed after a certain point in the run.
- Deals and Rerolls costs now start at -1 HP and -1 MAX HP to promote early use
- Deals and Reroll costs double with each use (resets after run)
- If players prefer the old solo specific solo input as toggle can be found in the settings menu
NEW UPGRADES
- Auto-Beat on Solo: automatic beat hits when solo is active, will tick up combo counter
- Combo Speed Up: player movement speed is increased based on their current combo count (was previously the default combo effect)
- Combo Shield: Shield that protects for 1 Hit is spawned at 30 Combo but combo is reset when shield is popped
- Dodge Attack Up: x2 Damage for 5 Seconds if the player successfully dodges an attack (damage bonus stacks)
- Dodge Shockwave: on Dodge, create a shockwave that will do Damage x4 their current combo count. Combo count is then reset back to 0.
- Dodge Heal: on Dodge, heal x0.25 your current combo count. Combo count is then reset back to 0.
- Dodge Instrument: your instruments are no longer “disabled” during dodge and will continue to do damage.
- X3 Combo On Solo: combo count will tick up by 3 for each successful beat hit when in Solo (a progressive upgrade from x2 Combo on Solo Upgrade)
BALANCE CHANGES
- Starting Player Defence is slightly increased
- Starting Player Pick Up Range is slightly increased
- Starting Player Move Speed is slightly increased
- Starting Player Solo Duration is increased by 2 Sec
- Solo Clash Upgrade is now set to only positive effects (previously had a chance of negative and positive effects)
- Decreased overall difficulty in Tutorial
- Decreased dodge distance slightly
- Increased Enemy Spawn Speed in earlier rounds
- Increased energy item “life span” before despawning by x2
BUG FIXES
- Fixed issue where Kill Combo upgrade would sometimes continually tick up combo count
- Fixed issue where instrument transparency would inconsistently apply when dodging (indicates that instruments are disabled during dodge)
- Fixed Issue where Kill Combo Upgrade did not stack with x2 Combo on Solo Upgrade (now each kill will count as 2 Ticks to your Combo Count when in Solo if both are active)
KNOWN ISSUES
- Gamepad Prompt for Dodge Input in Tutorial is misaligned
- Round 10+ needs some balance changes for enemy spawn
- Upgrade Icons will sometimes overlap
- Rarely, killing certain enemies in certain animations can cause a small lag spike
- Round Start will sometimes have repeat rewards
- Instrument Transparency effect on dodge will sometimes persist
- Player can move during “Round End” freeze if they dodge at the right moment
- If player uses Deal on “New Instrument” upgrades, no effect will occur
- If player uses Deal on existing 4 or 5 Star Upgrades, no effect will occur
- Player’s can get soft locked if they die in the Solo Tutorial
- Player’s can get soft locked if the player lets the spirit energy items despawn in Solo Tutorial
- Instrument Switch Tutorial is too short
- Bass Instrument attack animation needs to be sped up to feel more “on beat”
Our next update will focus on Boss Battles and Meta-Upgrades. This will take a little longer than our current update pace so we'll be aiming for the February 2025 Steam Next Fest, we'll see you then!