June Update - Demo Patch 1

We've been hard at work covering every single piece of feedback from the demo and implementing into this patch.

This has a few sweeping changes such as the removal of ramps to create more chokepoints (Which seems right for a tower defence game)

We would love to hear your thoughts on what can be changed or improved even more.

Thank you!

UI Improvements

• Upgrade and Building Text

  • Increased size for easier readability

  • Tooltip text now scales dynamically

• Tooltips

  • Abilities now show their base cooldowns

• Scrap Button

  • Reduced in size to prevent missclicks

• Structure Alerts

  • New 2D visuals indicate when structures are destroyed, including off-screen alerts

• Endgame Screen

  • Now includes a screenshot of your final base layout

• Animations & Feedback

  • UI animations are smoother

  • New visual cues when actions can't be performed

• Damage Numbers

  • Improved appearance and proper resolution scaling

• Cursor

  • Now glows pink when the Ion Cannon is ready

• Boss Icon

  • Updated to match current visual style

• Menus & Settings

  • Main menu buttons enlarged

  • Added setting to simplify UI shaders

  • Added extra loading screen hints

Gameplay Changes

• Major Terrain Update

  • Ramps removed: Enemies only spawn on ground level

  • High ground is now a safe zone for building

  • Goal: Make chokepoint defense more viable

  • Feedback encouraged on this change

• Scouting Beacon

  • Removed from the build list

  • Now a free ability usable once per wave

• Map Interaction

  • Added clickable blue crystals for small Refined Metal + Research gain

  • Encourages exploration during build phase

• Map Generation

  • More alleyways and terrain variety added

  • Reduced large flat areas

• Tutorial Option

  • Checkbox added to New Game menu to replay tutorial

• Building Tweaks

  • Steel Walls: Health increased (100 → 110)

  • Refineries:

    • Base cap reduced (4 → 2)

    • Base yield increased (10 → 12)

  • Brood Worm spawner count reduced in early waves

Enemy Balance & Damage Scaling

• Early Game Adjustments

  • Swarmer Elites now spawn from Wave 4 (was Wave 1)

  • Swarmer base damage reduced by 10%

• Late Game Scaling

  • Enemy tier damage multiplier increased by 5%

Early waves should feel less punishing, while late waves remain a challenge.

Upgrades

• New Additions

  • New upgrades have been added to be discovered

  • New basic upgrade: +1 Refinery Capacity

• Balance Changes

  • Space Stilts: High ground bonus reduced (80% → 60%)

  • Discount Coupon: Cost penalty increased (10% → 12%)

  • Survival Nexus: Shop price penalty increased (75% → 80%)

  • Axomite Shard: Refinery yield bonus increased (20% → 30%)

Visual Enhancements

• Cliffs

  • Level 2 unbuildable cliffs now appear darker (especially in snowy biome)

• Path Preview

  • Enemy spawn paths now visible during build phase

• Grid Highlighting

  • High ground build tiles now glow light blue

• FX Options

  • New toggle: FXAA ↔ Temporal AA

• Start Effects

  • Overlay effects now fade in when starting a game

• Construction

  • Hazards now feature squash/stretch animations

• Flying Enemies

  • Now cast blob shadows for better visibility

Audio Updates

• Inferno Tower

  • Attack sound updated

• Flying Enemies

  • Now emit a buzzing noise

Camera

• Auto-pan to destroyed structures has been removed (Replaced with Structure Alerts)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed: Middle mouse panning issues near map edges

• Fixed: Camera panning issues while placing buildings

• Fixed: Certain sounds ignoring volume settings

• Fixed: Construction sound now modulates correctly

• Fixed: Brood Worms spawning on boss eggs

• Fixed: Reduced-cost buildings now sell for less as expected

• Fixed: Music no longer resets after muting

• Fixed: Flying bosses no longer produce footstep sounds

• Fixed: Delay in tower reacquisition after enemy kill