itch.io

Now that's a comprehensive, thoughtful review if I've ever seen one. You really gotta love a work of art to detail it's strengths and shortcomings this well.

I love minimalist game design so much akfhbakfnhvkdj-

This is some absolutely brilliant work, just the right amount of player limitations to make for an interesting challenge. Never thought what's essentially a turn-based bullet hell could work, but you managed to do it through design by subtraction in a wonderful way. I'm in awe!

Also, is that in the description the entire source code for the game? Absolute insanity.

The movement is fine as is! The fact it's so limiting forces you to think various steps ahead so as to not fall into checkmate situations, and that's pretty cool.

Seconding this.

5 years late, but I highly recommend Shmup Junkie and The Electric Underground's shmup guide videos in case you haven't watched them already!! Mr Wendal has a short video essay that goes over some basic strategies too.

¿Any plans on online leaderboards? Probably the only thing I'd add to the game tbh.

Giving a second thought to this, online leaderboards might interfere with the game's "enlightenment" theme, given that it's so focused on individual rather than collective self-improvement. Then again, people WILL end up posting their scores online so I guess that's kinda inevitable? That'd still be different from the game itself essentially posting your scores for you though.

"I don't understand what the objective of the game is besides shooting enemies and avoiding being killed, and getting the highest score."

Maybe because the objective of the game is shooting enemies, avoiding being killed and getting the highest score? Lol