Thanks a lot for the detailed feedback, my friend. This was really helpful.
When I started developing the game, my main principle was to keep the controls simple and use only one main control system. That’s why I split the game into two phases.
I think you assumed that the ship could shoot during the driving phase, and maybe you didn’t reach the combat phase. During the driving phase, you only need to dodge meteors and collect useful pickups. After surviving for a while, the game automatically switches to the combat phase. In that phase, a reticle appears, and when you aim at enemies with it, the ship shoots automatically.
The controls and gameplay were intentionally planned to be simple because I wanted to test this kind of structure. That is also one of the main reasons why the game is vertical. If I had planned more complex controls, I would probably have designed it in landscape mode, especially because of the thumb-covering issue you mentioned.
So maybe you can try to survive a little longer in the driving phase next time. :D
Also, the white button in the middle makes your ship a “ghost ship” for a short time. You can use it during the driving phase, and it lets you pass through meteors. So you can press it when you feel like you are losing control or when you just want to stay safe for a moment.
A few other people also mentioned that I should add a tutorial. I was actually waiting for the last pieces of feedback before deciding, and I think I will definitely add one now. :)
The logo also broke on my own phone, even though it looked normal during testing, so I will fix that too.
I think you are right about the Play Again button as well. I am already redesigning the UI/HUD elements from scratch, and I will keep your suggestion in mind while reworking that screen.
Thanks again, seriously. You even noticed the small details, and this feedback was very useful for me. My current goal is to update the UI elements first, then add a tutorial and a leaderboard later.
Thanks again!