Forgot to say: Cheers :-) TS is out now on Steam and Itch.io
Okay, finally got a chance to play through the new gauntlet mode - a blast! Here are my thoughts:
I love your aesthetic, and I feel like you added a lot to the enemies, bosses, and stage BGs.
The rechargable weapon mechanic is great - not sure if that was in when I first played. I also like that there is a focus/spread fire and autofire (this already existed fo sure, but want to praise it)!
Some good difficulty increases, some bosses are appropriately danmaku now :) Also new and interesting patterns (and enemy types, those ghosts that shoot triples are great!) in the levels!
Two things I'd like to see:
1. one more level of harder difficulty: I made it through gauntlet in one try - two bosses almost killed me, and I was definitely sweating some part, but I'd like that 'aspirational' difficulty level that makes me feel like I have to level up to make it through.
2. level/boss select - a common feature and great for practicing (especially if you put in another diff. level)
Great work! I would def recommend this, especially to new shmupper!
Big thanks for giving it another go and the awesome feedback :-)
I’m working on a harder “Nightmare” mode that randomly picks 10-20 sec waves from a pool that gets more difficult. It’s going to be 3 mins of hell for the ultimate challenge. My plan is to have it as a single stage but you choose the background and boss you’d like to face.
The gauntlet mode has long chunks picked at random from a pool so I can't really do a level select with it. However, I'll make a big note for the next game to have a level select from the start :-) I love that idea.
I also have some unused tracks I’d like to add with new backgrounds. 1.1 will be the vertical mode with horizontal following in 1.2.
Thanks again, you're a star!
ETZ