Thank you for participating in SlashZero's first playtest! Since the game is still in early development, you may encounter some instabilities during gameplay. This is why we made this guide—to help you troubleshoot various common technical issues, as well as to guide you on how you can contribute to making the game a better experience.
1. Troubleshooting Crashes and Performance Issues
Q1: What should I do if the game crashes directly on startup, shows a black screen, or frequently crashes during gameplay?
-Update Graphics Drivers: The UE5 engine has certain requirements for graphics driver versions. Please visit the official NVIDIA/AMD website to update your graphics drivers to the latest version.
-Verify Game Integrity: In your Steam library, right-click on "SlashZero Playtest" -> Properties -> Installed Files -> Click "Verify integrity of game files."
-Update OS: Ensure your Windows system is updated to the latest version for complete DirectX 12 support.
Q2: The game feels somewhat laggy or drops frames for a while whenever I start playing.
Rest assured, you will not be able to enter a run until shaders finish compiling. If you experience persistent severe frame drops in the same scene/map, try lowering the graphics quality options in "Settings—Graphics."
2. Bug Feedback Collection
Q3: I encountered a serious bug (such as freezing, crashing, or being unable to progress). How do I report it?
Please contact us through the following channels. We would greatly appreciate it if you could attach screenshots/recordings of the issue and your computer specifications if possible.
-Official Discord: [@SlashZero]
-Bug and Optimization Feedback Survey
3. Handling In-Game Anomalies
Q4: My character is stuck in map geometry (walls, underground) and can't get out. What should I do?
As a 3D side-scrolling action game, the current collision boundaries may not be perfect. If you unfortunately get stuck:
1. Press ESC to return to the main menu and reload your save.
2. Before returning to main menu, we recommend taking a screenshot (preferably showing the surrounding environment) and sending it to us, as this can help the development team precisely fix map vulnerabilities.
Q5: My controller is plugged in and connected, but the buttons aren't responding.
This playtest supports PS and Xbox controllers. If you encounter issues regarding unresponsive controls, please try adjusting Steam's controller settings:
1. In your Steam library, right-click on the game -> Properties -> Controller.
2. Try changing "Override for SlashZero" to either "Enable Steam Input" or "Disable Steam Input," then restart the game to see if it returns to normal.
Q6: I want to clear my progress and start fresh. How do I do this?
There are multiple save slots built into the playtest build. If you wish to reset your game progress, you do so by deleting existing saves in the save management menu, then select a different save slot or start playing with a new save.