A bit of a smaller update today, but here’s some behind-the-scenes work on a new prototype enemy that fires spikes from the ground when the player gets close #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

There are still snow patches and some falling snow in this level, and I’m working out how to shape a few sections around them #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Found a few issues with the bounce pads that kept them from behaving as intended. They’re fixed now and feel much more reliable #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Been experimenting with new cliffs and rock shapes. Next step is optimizing them, probably by baking everything down to a cleaner low poly version #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I’ve been experimenting with background assets like rocks and cliffs to figure out how to make them more efficient. They still need some color tweaks, and they’re a bit too low poly for what I’m aiming for #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I started building out more water and river areas in the level, experimenting with compositions and looking for strong landmarks to anchor the space #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I’ve been revisiting older level sections and found some great places to add the new bounce pads. They’re already making the flow feel much smoother #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I’ve been playing around with the bounce pads and realized they can send the player downward as well, so I’m using that to shape a new wall sliding section #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Tried bounce pads with wall sliding today. They nudge the player down the wall in a controlled way #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I got regular bounce pads to launch the player diagonally now. Planning to use them for climbing and descending sections #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Spent some time adding more detail and flora to the downward wall-sliding path, with a few fireflies drifting around to bring it to life #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Been adding more to the wall sliding and platforming section, with a few hidden powerups tucked away for players to discover #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

One of the early builds had this cave section where you wall-jumped your way down. I’m rebuilding it now, trying to get that same sense of flow back #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Tested a new idea for cliffs that step down like a staircase. It’s not quite there yet, but I like where it’s heading #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Had to make a few material tweaks to get this special tree’s leaves glowing with emissive light #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Made some narrow spots for the player to slide through. It’s a lot of fun, though I should probably make it clearer that they’re meant for sliding #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I tried moving the camera to open up more of the level to the player. It’s a small change, but it makes the action easier to follow and gives a better sense of space #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I’ve been fine-tuning gravity and movement to make gameplay feel faster and tighter. Next up, I want to improve how the camera works to match the new pace #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I finally got the white flash effect working on enemies when they get hit by the player’s spears. It instantly makes combat feel more satisfying #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Added separate animations for ground and wall spear bounces, which opens up neat bounce combo routes like this #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I was adding in temporary sounds for throwing the spear but discovered this little bounce skip over the enemies #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I’ve been working on the wisp bursts that trigger when players step on them. They’re now placed in fun spots throughout the level #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Added reactive wisp particles that react to the player’s steps. Excited to try them out in larger level sections #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Building out a night level alive with luminescent plants. It’s early, but the style is starting to take shape #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Figured out specific bounce and jump animations today. Took cues from Sonic for her spear bounce. Next up, add a few more and polish the timing #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender #sonic

I’ve set up the top and bottom to animate independently, so the player can run, jump, fall, and throw spears at the same time. Next step is to work on the animations and improve #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Small update, added dust effects when running, jumping, and landing. Next up, I’ll be working on improving player movement #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I’m testing a first version of the new protagonist model! I made some quick animations for now, and I’ll keep refining them while also improving the lighting and shaders to make the player stand out more #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

The little enemy Wanderer now has footstep sounds, and you can hear its distant call echoing across the level #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

The improved spear makes mobility feel much smoother. You can launch yourself from the ground or bounce off walls. It’s so much fun! #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I’ve made several improvements to the spear’s vertical movement, now you can jump through it to bounce upward, and downward throws can save you from falling #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

The multiplier crystal feature makes gameplay more exciting, encouraging players to collect as many as possible before time runs out #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I’ve been working on a new crystal combo system. If you collect crystals in a row before the timer runs out, you build up a multiplier that doubles the value of each crystal as long as you keep the streak alive #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

So I made sure enemies now drop crystals when you defeat them, and I also added some new sound effects to the player that I’m testing out #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I’ve adjusted the spear launch ability by adding a cooldown so you can’t spam it anymore #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Made a smaller walking enemy that patrols back and forth as a simple challenge for the player. Still needs some bug fixes like sliding and code tweaks #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Here’s a little look at some atmospheric particles I added to the corrupted areas. Dark particles rise upwards from the corruption #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Just added code so the checkpoint now saves your next respawn when you break it! It also cleanses the earth around it. Threw in some shaders, particles, and effects too! #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

A little sneak preview of the checkpoints in the game I’ve been working on, break and cleanse them to save a new checkpoint #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Here are some tests I made with the crystal collect system. It helps guide the player in a direction and maybe even hint at secrets if you keep an eye out! #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Built a little combo system for collecting crystals in a row connected to sound. Keep the combo going before the timer runs out and you might get a treat! #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

The new life pickup now has all the code needed for the player to collect it! It refills a life and even plays sounds too #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Added a 3D model for the life pickup and tested a quick animation rig. Still figuring out the materials, but it's a good start #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Testing the AI for this charging enemy. It's kind of doing the job of two enemies right now, so I’m planning to split it into two simplified enemy types #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

Put together a quick version of the enemy with AI and animations. First time animating anything insect-like. Movement and animations still need work, but it’s a start #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Putting together a quick model with basic rigging, animations, VFX, particles, and materials to see how this enemy might feel in the game world #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I did a quick 3D model in Blender based on a concept for a new enemy and made a simple rig to try it out later in-game #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

Tried to get a Main Menu up and running, nothing fancy, just laying the groundwork. This one’s going to take a lot more work #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5

I've been experimenting with some tendril effects and might use them for enemies in the future #WishlistWednesday #videogames #indiedev #UnrealEngine5 #gamedev #gaming #blender

I'm off on Midsummer adventures, but here's a little update on a new environment I've been working on #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #UE5 #indiedev #gaming #unrealengine #blender #unrealengine5