Major Flymageddon Update!

This update was focused primarily around meta progression but there are a lot of other things that have been coming along as well. I wanted to add more replayability to Flymageddon, so I've added 3 major categories to the home menu: Achievements, Characters, and Mutations. I've also added a meta currency, Gold Scales, 4 new characters, 4 new mutations, 14 achievements, 1 new quest, updated the water art, and added saving on web browsers. 

In addition to all of these new features, I've started working with a composer for the music of Flymageddon, Steve Base! Steve has been working hard on new tracks, and we have implemented 2 demo tracks into the game already! You'll hear these tracks on the title screen and on the lake. This music pumps you up to fight endless waves of fish with a classic retro flare.

Achievements

To tie together all of the unlockable elements and progression, we have Achievements. Complete an Achievement to unlock the ability to spend Gold Scales on the reward. These rewards can be a new character, a new mutation, or in the future, potentially something else?

Gold Scales

Gold Scales have a random chance to be awarded when defeating any fish. But the real treasure comes from boss fish. Defeating any boss fish rewards a chest, which gives significantly more scales, and increases the harder the boss fish is.

Once acquired, Gold Scales are used to purchase new Characters and Mutations on the title screen. Select carefully though, each time you purchase a new Character or Mutation, the base cost goes up!

Water Update

I did some digging on how I could create a side scroller water effect and ended up with a Shader Graph solution that also simulates a bunch of springs at the surface of the water. I also added some layers of scrolling textures above the water to add perspective. I attribute most of the accomplishment to Sasquatch B Studios on YouTube for covering this topic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbGE... Incredible work!

Here's a gif of the water:

I also implemented the wiggly water surface for when anything enters or leaves the water.

New Mutations

I added a few new mutations to support the new characters, and update old ones that felt a bit weak. I've also started limiting the amount of mutations the player can acquire over a run to 6, TBD if that's too low but it's a starting point! Here's a list of all the new mutations:

Shot Speed

To replace the previous 'Bullet Time', Shot Speed increases the movement speed of the player for each shot landed on fish. Once a shot is landed, a timer starts which indicates how long the current boost will last, and resets every time another fish is hit with a bullet. Stacks increase the time of the boost.

The Shot Speed mutation only works with bullets, and does not work with gnats or other forms of damage.

Fish Jockey

Yee Haw, ever thought of riding a fish? Well now you can, when nearby a fish and your fish jockey is charged, you can lasso/saddle a fish and instantly begin riding it! It's a little unruly and will fight you somewhat, but once you get the hang of it you can ride these water puppies fast and far! You can even jockey larger fish like boss fish!

Once a fish is jockeyed, it becomes invincible, the player becomes invincible, and the fish now damages other fish in its way. Stacks increase the damage of the fish to other fish as well as the time spent riding fish.

I have definitely not ironed out all the bugs with this one, but I'm excited to get it out there, and will be fixing it up over time. Currently larger fish can drop below the map and cause the player to get stuck if Jockey ends before they return to the lake.

Beetle Shell

I have seen a lot of frustrated players die over and over again in Flymageddon, getting ravaged by the 1 hit death rule which I feel adds the stakes that a game like this needs to keep the player on their toes, and feeling that pressure. That being said! I have developed this new mutation and character precisely for this kind of player, the one that is looking for as much armor as possible!

The Beetle Shell takes a hit for you, and pops off, dropping into the water and floating to the surface. Pick it back up to regain your extra life!

Magnum

The Magnum is a powerful pistol that begins the game with 2 damage a shot, which fires at a slower fire rate than the Glock. That's not all though, each stack added to the Magnum increases damage by 2 instead of the usual 1. So this hand cannon is sure to make a splash, when you unlock it by defeating the first boss Carp!

I want to add more weapons, but right now I'm trying to balance out another damage type against them, the bug weapons. We have the Gnat right now but I want to expand that to 4 or 5 new mutations that can be synergized to create end game builds without the use of gun mutations.

Playable Characters

Characters in Flymageddon start with a set of mutations that can differ from the standard Fly character with their Glock mutation. Select a character on the title screen to start the game with them. Here's a list of all the new characters:

Uncle Gnat

Uncle Gnat starts with 3 Gnat mutations, allowing him to get an early edge on having the largest Gnat horde. It's an added benefit that you can acquire the Shotgun weapon mutation first so that it may aim directly at your closest target, utilizing the Shotgun to its best. Uncle Gnat is currently unlocked by reaching level 5.

Baby Beetle 

Baby Beetle begins with the classic Glock mutation but also the Beetle Shell. This creates a perfect starter kit for those struggling to stay alive among the waves. Baby Beetle is unlocked by completing their associated quest reuniting them with their family, and is very close to where the player spawns into the game at the start.

Roach

Roach begins with the Hercules Slash, a mutation that gives the player a quicktime event to slash escape from death. In addition to that he also starts with a Glock. Roach is a character in the east village hidden above the prophecy altar. He has lost his sword deep in the lake and returning it unlocks him as a playable character.

Rodeo Fly

The Rodeo Fly begins with both Magnum and Fish Jockey mutations, ensuring that this whacky character can live out their dreams of taming the biggest fish, Yee Haw! Rodeo Fly is unlocked by finding and defeating the Catfish boss, seated deep in the lake until disturbed.

That's all for now!

- Mr0w3m