I’m going to add more weapons and wielded items (like shield or grappling hook) before redesigning the upgrades system, so they’ll be all unlocked for now.

• Added selectable wielded items.
• Added plasma gun (powerful, but overheats quickly).
• Higher enemy health in later levels.
• New explosions and smoke.
• Screen shake (slider in options).
• New HUD.
• Miscellaneous technical updates.

Change log:

• Added building editor (enable developer tools too see it in the main menu).
• Made building models and textures independent and mod-able (this breaks old saved games).
• Your castle can be upgraded now, changing mana capacity, number of gatherers, etc.

• Complete overhaul of the level generation.
• Changed voxel scale to make the view wider.
• Made it easier to make jumps from tight places, when hitting the head on the ceiling.

• Replaced UI system with a new one from Arcane Worlds.
• Added options and configurable controls.
• Added pause menu.
• New crosshair.

I’ll be posting behind-the-scenes and work-in-progress stuff there for patrons only, right now there’s a post about new shadows in Arcane Worlds.

It’s been a long time since last LEVEL UP! update. I’ve switched it to 2D to make it easier to make new stuff for it, especially bosses. I’m going to update it more regularly now.

In other news, it’s coming to Steam Early Access soon!

The launcher is gone for good, and settings are now in a text file instead of Windows registry. You’ll need to change them again if you’re updating since they’ll be reset to the defaults, but it’s only once for this update.

Change log:

• Game settings are now saved in the Windows app data folder instead of the registry.
• Removed the launcher.
• Added dark worlds.
• Worlds with undiscovered treasures are now highlighted on the universe map.
• Available resources are now displayed on the universe map.
• Added a hint on how to scroll and zoom the universe map.
• Added descriptions for special worlds, visible on the universe map after visiting the world.
• Activated triggers are now changed on the world map. No more looking for the missed one!
• Changed magic vortex effect a bit to make it different for portals, spells and resources.
• Improved tutorial to tell which buttons to use and point to objects on the map.
• Player now respawns in the castle with zero mana and half health after death.
• Available resources are now displayed when at the crafting altar.
• Monster loot is now configurable from script (note for modders).
• Optimized some parts of the world generation.
• Added some decorative filler elements like forests and lakes.
• Improved artistic post-effect and sky shaders quality a bit.
• For debugging purposes, log files are saved in the Windows app data folder now.
• Screenshots are now saved in the Windows app data folder.
• The new game now starts in the first world directly, without the universe map.
• Fixed saved game bug which likely only affected the tutorial world.
• Fixed rare universe generator bug that prevented the access to the crafting world.
• Some other minor improvements.

So, here’s the serious change to the global gameplay. You won’t find spells in the worlds now, instead you can collect resources to craft them. I might add spells you can find later, but they’ll be very rare, and most likely hidden in some secret places and locked with puzzles.

There’s also a tutorial now. I’ll expand it as I add new mechanics in the next updates.

Let me know what you think of the new gameplay.

Change log:

• Added resources which can be collected from the worlds and crafted into spells.
• Added tutorial world.
• Birds will now flock more and attack together when provoked.
• Fixed bug that sometimes caused generated worlds to be empty.
• Fixed bugs that produced wrong distances to portal and castle. Mana recharging and Use Portal spell will work better now.
• Starting a new game in the used slot will now properly erase all old files.

I left the gameplay about the same for now, but I’ll change that with the next updates, especially the ways you get new spells.

The old saved games won’t work with this update, and the next ones will likely break them again.

Some minor changes: you can see “special” objects on the map now, and the starting mana is enough to cast the castle right away.

The game is otherwise about the same, but feels a bit different anyway since you now keep your castles in every world etc. However, persistent worlds allow for long-term gameplay, so I’m going to build on that in the next updates.

Change log:

• Worlds with all monsters, objects etc. are now saved in the saved game.
• Added button to open saved games folder.
• Added “black dot” crosshair option.
• Combat music now starts immediately when a caterpillar attacks the player.

Some people asked about some kind of roadmap, so here’s a rough estimate of the development progress so far:

Engine tech: 64%
World mechanics: 39%
Global gameplay mechanics: 10%
Spells: 41%
Content: 7%