It's time for the first big post release update!
I wasn't really happy with a lot of things in the previous version, so I have overhauled a lot of core gameplay systems, as well as done an overall polish pass on some of the rougher aspects of the game.
In no particular order:
Tutorial Story Presentation
I didn't like how the story elements would interrupt gameplay, and overall they were a bit too wordy. To fix this, the tutorial text now plays during the warp in sequence, and the total word count has been massively reduced / simplified. It is now more focused on stating the overall objective, as well as explaining high level gameplay systems in a clear / concise way.
I also updated the end sequence with new visuals and a proper credits sequence.
Menu Updates
I've updated the menu theming to focus a bit more on the black / orange color scheme, and a bit less on the orange / green, which didn't feel visually cohesive.
I also updated how navigation works for the ship selection which should hopefully feel a bit more intuitive
Navigation Aides
In the current version, there are radar dishes that point the way to the objective. These will now rotate into position when you find them, and have a new effect to indicate their direction that is much more striking than the old one.
Additionally, when you complete the objective, any old or new dishes you fly near will reorient to point at the warpgate, which is now the intended way of locating the exit.
Movement Updates
I overhauled how boosting works. It now functions a bit more like nitro, giving you a big boost in speed in the direction you are facing, while allowing you to slightly alter your trajectory during the boost. You also keep the momentum of the boost for a little longer, which feels much more natural.
Balance Updates
I reduced the fire rate and pack size of enemies early on, which should create a much smoother difficulty curve, and make the game feel a lot more fair.
Bugfixes for Days
I fixed a bunch of bugs! (although some of them were bugs from the new features I added). I also did some more optimization work, which should reduce the stutter when warping in to a level. There is always more work to be done here, so feel free to post in the community forum if you find anything that seems off.
Conclusion
Overall, I'm a lot happier with where the game is now, in terms of game feel and level progression. The game also feels a lot less punishing at the beginning, making it easier to get a solid run going.
As always, I would love to hear any feedback about the update, or about the game overall, so feel free to reach out to me on the community forums or on my Twitter
Good luck out there!