KatFS Pre-Alpha: The Second Chapter
Hello everyone!
It's been nearly a month since the last KatFS update/devlog. However, work on the project has been ongoing still (with small tidbits frequently shared on my Twitter while the site still holds up). I figured it is time not only to showcase what's next for the project.
First, why hasn't there been an update for a while? I felt that version 0.1.4 was in a good and stable state, and it was time to work on something a little bigger for the next version. How big? Big enough to warrant a 0.2.0 version number! Let's go through some of what has already been added to the development build...
Spiders! These guys were already showcased in a previous devlog, and while they aren't present in any of the demo releases, they will debut in the upcoming version 0.2.0. Spiders behave very differently from any of the 0.1.* enemies, and should provide an unique (but still familiar) combat experience. However, it should be noted that spiders won't just be added to the existing demo level. Instead, they will appear in an entirely new level, being built from the ground up and representing another portion of Kalia's journey!
With a new chapter comes the need for a chapter selection menu, and why not a new main menu background to go with it? Previously, the menu would display over the level and immediately transition to gameplay when pressing start, but now that level selection will be a thing, I made a new background for the menu, as well as a nifty loading screen for when you actually load into the game. But what is the new level about?
Kalia finds herself forced to take a detour through a large mining complex. What would be merely a journey through dark caves becomes a series of intense encounters as she discovers that the mines are now home to swarms upon swarms of cave spiders. Kalia must master her fire abilities to light the path and keep these critters at bay. Do note that the screenshots above are still very work in progress, and missing a lot of the detail that is planned to make this area feel different from anything out of the first chapter.
Because this is an entirely new chapter, a longer cycle is expected until it is ready for release, but I'm looking to make it available with the upcoming version 0.2.0 before the turn of the year and the holiday period if possible (late November to early December). I will be sure to keep you updated on its development until then.
In the meantime, I would also like to open up a little more about some of the longer term plans for the KatFS and the challenges that will come with it. It is something I have been meaning to write about for a while now, but I'm afraid that this devlog has already gotten quite long, so I'll have to save it for the next one. See you all soon!
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