It's been a hot minute, but here comes a big one! Malebria Alpha v0.4.2 is live at long last! I am no longer in college, and I am working with someone to help with design and programming, both of which should make updates much more frequent. Generally speaking, this update adds the content which completes the Sullen Plains region along with a new system of merchants, which provide another avenue of per-run improvement and variety. There are also a number of major changes outside of that content, as the below patch notes will tell you:

• Made many content changes:
  • Added the Immolated Guardian.
  • Added the Magma Behemoth.
  • Added the Volitan’s Priests Pontifex.
  • Added healing rooms.
  • Added wizard enemy.
  • Added Ardere, the Indomitable, boss for the Sullen Plains.
  • Added a Merchant system.
  • Added the Soul Fragment Merchant.
  • Added the HP Merchant.
  • Added Lucia’s blessing upgrade exclusive to the HP Merchant.
  • Added Lucia’s Healing upgrade exclusive to the HP Merchant.
  • Added max HP merchant.
  • Added trade merchant.
  • Added densify weapon passive upgrade.
  • Added divine presence passive upgrade.
  • Added temporary barrier upgrade.

• Made UI/UX changes:
  • Added controller support.
  • Cursor sprite now changes when you click.
  • Added the option to disable the lights in the Sullen Plains (to improve performance in second region).

• Fixed many, many bugs, most of which are not mentioned here:
  • Fixed issue with special rooms recurring.
  • Fixed previously undiscovered bug with buttons activating without clicking on them first.
  • Fixed previously undiscovered bug with audio emitters, particularly torch audio emitters, sticking around between rooms. This bug was also likely contributing to memory leaks, making the game perform worse as the player went through more and more rooms. The game should now run better over long play periods.
  • Altered collision checking system; enemies can no longer exit rooms through the player’s entrances and exits.
  • Fixed issue where applying display settings before or after entering the Training Grounds Room would cause a black screen or destroy lights, respectively.
  • Reworked frame rate auto-adjustment system. Game should react much faster to changes in frame rate.
  • Fixed bug with player being able to back out of the entrances to rooms.

• Made some visual upgrades:
  • Made everything a bit shinier (universal bloom).
  • Damage numbers no longer visible while paused.
  • Added camera shake (configurable setting).
  • Added a box blur to the pause background shader.
  • Explosive effect visuals improved.

• Made several balance changes:
  • Reworked the player’s dash to be more consistent and responsive.
  • The small stun that happens as a result of hitting an enemy has been changed. It’s shorter, but it also prevents enemies from turning while they are stunned. Also, bosses and armored enemies can no longer be stunned by this effect.
  • Greatly reduced the amount of damage that enemies do in order to make the combat less frustrating.

Now, we know there are some bugs, UI issues, and balance issues that need to be addressed. We will be fixing a lot of the bugs and UI issues in the coming weeks with version v0.4.2a, and we will work on balance as we begin work on the third region: The Hakna Morem, which will be coming with v0.5.0. I'm excited for the future of this game, and I will probably have more to say before the end of this month.