Hello Emberlings!
Ahead of Steam Next Fest, which begins on Monday 23rd February, we have a couple of exciting bits of news!
NEW TRAILER ALERT
As The Ember Guardian is getting closer to completion and the eventual release, we've made a brand new trailer showcasing some content exclusive to the full game that will be launching later this year. From powerful weapons and specialized structures, to menacing enemies on new maps, The Ember Guardian awaits your arrival to reignite the Primordial Flames.
The Ember Guardian Demo - Version 0.9.4
Alongside the preview of the full game, The Ember Guardian demo just received a brand new update here on Steam! This is a massive overhaul to what was there previously and aims to give players a taste of the full game experience as well as the brand new Horde Mode. Here's the full patch notes below:
Demo Rework
The demo is now the beginning of the full game instead of a separate experience. Featuring a new tutorial to guide newer players into action, the survivor will find themselves going through the first 3 levels with plenty more upgrades at their disposal.
More options are now unlockable from 3 of the NPCs (Gem Trader, Tamer and Trainer), including the Orb Alchemist that can sell you abilities in exchange for red orbs as well as many other new structures.
And of course, when the full game arrives, you will be able to import your progress without needing to start a new save. So feel free to keep playing to give yourself a strong start in the eventual 1.0!
Horde Mode
Completing the 3 levels isn't the end of the demo. In fact, it is the start of an endless journey. Challenge your skills in the brand new Horde Mode, where you will be thrown into a randomly generated map with one goal: survive. Improvise and adapt to the random conditions and survive wave after wave of enemy onslaught, and see how long you and your band of emberlings can hold against insurmountable odds.
Every run in both the main story and Horde Mode will earn you experience that unlocks a myriad of upgrades to strengthen your defences. Seek help from randomly spawned merchants and customisee your base layout, and shape your own playstyle with every decision. Of course, Horde Mode's progression can be transferred to the full game as well!
Original Soundtracks
The Ember Guardian now has its own original soundtracks! Immerse yourself in the wastelands of the post-apocalyptic world and explore every corner with perfect ambience.
QOL
Tweaked the last bullet of each magazine’s SFX for improved feedback
Reviewed gems in the upgrades menu for colorblind accessibility
Balancing
Balancing Playtest revealed most players quickly chose to stick to the initial Rifle, which is indeed a solid, versatile option. I’d like to make early weapons more attractive to incentivize more players to try them out early game.
Shotgun : Greatly increased its raw damage output, while trying to keep it balanced mainly by debuffing its cooldown and accuracy. It’s now much more effective at close-range, while feeling less effective at mid/long-range. A shot to the head at close range can now one-shot ghouls.
Buffed pellet damage 4 → 8
Buffed pellet amount 5 → 6
Debuffed accuracy : spread angle 10° → 20°
Increased recoil
Debuffed cooldown .8s → 1s
Adapted accuracy upgrades to reflect the new accuracy (-1°/-2°/-3°/-4° → -2°/-4°/-6°/-8°)
Pellets now follow a linear spread instead of random spread
Slightly buffed base accuracy 20° → 16°
SMG : Increased its sustained damage capacity.
Buffed mag capacity : 20 → 26
Sniper:
Shots per clip 5 → 6
Optimization
Optimized audio memory usage to reduce frame drops
Added Reflections / Obstructions & Simulations enabled/disabled setting