NEXT FEST DEMO PREVIEW: v0.40

This update is an early preview for our February 2025 Steam Next Fest Demo. We’ve added boss fights, progression, meta-upgrades, new movement options and much more!

In the next week or so we’ll be doing some additional polish, balancing and bug fixing for the full Steam Next Fest Demo.

Stay tuned!

Kill The Music Demo Change Log v0.40

Major Changes

• BOSS FIGHTS: Added Boss Fights to the end of every run (round count changes based on absurdity)
• MOVEMENT: Added Mechanic where the player can cancel their dodge animation/movement by re-inputting dodge input during the dodge.
• META-UPGRADES: Added meta-upgrades called “Inspiration” that boost starting stats
• META-UPGRADES: Added Fragments as a meta-upgrade currency, obtainable through round start bonus, upgrade choices or boss fights.
• ABSURDITY: Added Absurdity Levels that modify the game’s difficulty and length (new Absurdity Levels are unlocked with each completed run with a current maximum of Absurdity Level 3)
• QUICK RETRY: Added quick retry options in the game over screen that allows the player to keep one random upgrade from their last run
• SAVE SYSTEM: Added Save System (records inspiration unlocks, fragment count and max absurdity). Note: Save System currently does not save settings values, so they will be reset when build is closed/relaunched.
• RUN START: Added new “run start” animation that shows characters “possessing” Roxie (triggered after a character select)
• PAUSE UI: Added Song Name Labels and Help/Reminders in Pause Menu
• LAPTOP CONTROLS: For players who want to use Keyboard Controls only with no mouse input we’ve added alternative inputs for Beat Hit and Dodge

Minor Changes

• Improved Beat Sync for both default and double time mode.
• Solo Double Time Upgrade is set to be more common
• Shockwave Dodge and Heal Dodge Upgrade is set to consume 50% of current combo count instead of 100%.
• Buffed Shockwave Dodge Damage and Area of Effect
• Added ESC key as a universal back input for menus (along with CTRL)
• General Polish, buff and rework of the Combo Shield upgrade (now takes three hits to break)
• + Fire Rate Drum Upgrade is reworked to only apply when in a circle (similar to Kill Circle mechanic)
• Set “Dodge Attack” upgrade to allow player to dodge off-beat without affecting combo count
• Reworked round start regarding available rewards for each difficulty level (easy, medium and hard)
• Increased Invul window for dodge
• Change Tutorial Dodge Enemy to rotating laser enemy
• Changed Tutorial “Good” upgrade to Drum + Fire Rate

Fixes

• Fixed issue where quickly double clicking during the Result Screen animation will cause upgrade menu to “double up” on icons.
• Fixed issue where Rounds 1 to 3 help messages wouldn’t disappear after a set time has passed
• Fixed issue where quickly double clicking character select confirm input would result in a freeze
• Fixed issue where triggering solo not on beat would cause double time to be slightly off beat
• Fixed issue where enemies were spawning without the floor eye asset
• Fixed issue where “click to continue” did not function correctly at the end of tutorial
• Fixed issue where Solo prompt would not go away until solo animation was completely finished (now it disappears on input)
• Fixed issue where if mouse is not moved during Round Start (but is positioned on a 2nd or 3rd Round Start Option), on left-click the selection will default to the 1st Option.
• There were a number of issues related to “Full Solo Input Mode” so we’ve disabled this option for now. We’ll revisit it later on.
• Fixed issue where player could not dodge during solo when “Solo Auto Beat” upgrade is active.

Known Issues

• For longer Kill Quota or Timer rounds, the song will sometimes fail to loop.
• For longer Kill Quota or Timer rounds, beat sync will drift slightly.
• On enemy kill the FPS will sometimes drop briefly.
• Enemies can get knocked into the inaccessible areas.
• Some UI prompts are incorrectly offset.