Major Update: New Play Modes, Controller Support & Continue Game
Hello everyone,
A new update is now available. This release focuses on giving players more ways to play, better input options, clearer scoring feedback, and a smoother experience across the UI.
Highlights
- Added three play modes: Learner, Normal, and Valhalla
- Added controller support
- Added configurable keyboard profiles
- Added Continue Game support
- Added end-of-level bonus scoring
- Improved leaderboard information
- Fixed a range of UI issues
New Play Modes
You can now choose from three play modes: Learner, Normal, and Valhalla. These are designed to let players choose a challenge level that better matches their current skill.
Controller and Keyboard Improvements
Controller support has been added, along with new keyboard profiles. Players can choose from two standard layouts or configure three custom layouts from the Options screen.
Player upgrades can now also be managed using only a keyboard or controller, removing the need to use a mouse during gameplay.
Continue Game Support
You can now exit to the menu or operating system and later continue from the start of your current level.
This is intentionally not a full save system. It is designed to make longer sessions easier to manage while preserving leaderboard integrity.
Scoring and Leaderboards
End-of-level bonuses have been added for fast completion time, spaceship hit percentage, and firing accuracy. The end-of-level screen now shows the bonus breakdown.
Leaderboards now show level information alongside each player's maximum score in-game. Due to Steam Community leaderboard display limitations, this information is shown in-game but not on the Steam website.
Full Patch Notes
Enhancements
- Added three play modes: Learner, Normal, and Valhalla, allowing players to choose a difficulty level that matches their current skill.
- Added controller support.
- Added keyboard profiles:
- Two standard profiles: Arrows + Space, and WASD + Space.
- Three custom profiles: Custom 1, Custom 2, and Custom 3.
Adjustments
- Changed gameplay so levels no longer end while a spaceship is active, even after all aliens have been eliminated.
- Reduced turret size by approximately 10%.
UI Fixes
- Corrected the high score header so it is properly centred.
- Addressed alignment issues on the Options screen where text alignment varied by language, causing poor visual presentation.
- Fixed poor text positioning for "Press Space" in the storyboard.
- Fixed a minor UI bug where player upgrade points displayed incorrectly after high-value bonus awards, such as spaceship hits, exceeded a full point.
- Fixed a minor bug where the main screen language selection did not refresh properly after an in-game options change.
- Fixed a UI issue where main screen videos reset when returning from another screen.
THANKS to Two Clicks, curator from Indie Gems, for contributing interesting ideas as part of his review - many have been incorporated. As developers we'll be continuing to progress our own ideas, but are always willing to listen to ideas from others - it can only make things better!
Thank you for playing, and please let us know what you think of the update.
Upcoming Roadmap
- 1.0.2: Linux & Steambox Versions
- 1.0.3:
- Player Upgrade Enhancements
- Language Expansion Release (Russian, Ukranian, Portugese, Polish, Turkish, Traditional Chinese)