Hi!
We’re continuing to make solid progress on the underground cave system, and it’s really starting to come together. It’s feeling much more robust now, with a lot more variety and atmosphere as you move through it.
I grabbed some footage of me running around down there so you can get a feel for how it’s shaping up in motion. Have a look and let me know what you think so far — feedback is always welcome.
There are a lot of stalagmites underground, so these larger static assets help break things up — adding visual variety and opening up clearer pathways through the caves. Many of these objects can’t be destroyed, which means monsters have to navigate around them instead of beelining straight toward you. Handy!
I’ve redesigned the bats from the older version of the game. They’re a bit plumper now, and a lot more expressive overall. The originals were some of the very first characters I ever drew and animated for the cave system, so revisiting them felt long overdue.
There’s now a growing set of maze-like tile maps in the cave system. Some of these areas are mainly decorative, designed to break up the space and change the feel of navigation, but they can still hide secrets — and occasionally something dangerous.
These strange canisters appear all throughout the cave system, showing up in unexpected places as you explore. They’re clearly manufactured and don’t belong to the natural environment — but what they were actually used for is still an open question. Some are grouped together, others stand alone, suggesting they were once part of a larger system that’s long since stopped functioning. For now, they’re just another quiet reminder that the caves were shaped by something with intent.
That’s all I’ve got to show for now. Thanks for checking out this update — and as always, let me know what you think in the comments. I genuinely enjoy reading your feedback and seeing what stands out to you.
More soon.
-James @iENDERi