Devlog #1: Building Starlight Survival - An Epic Battle in Space! 🚀🌌

Hello, space survivors! 🌠

I’m thrilled to share the first big devlog for Starlight Survival, a 2D survival arcade game that’s all about quick thinking, sharp reflexes, and strategic firepower. This project is shaping up to be a cosmic experience where every shot counts—literally. Let’s dive into what the game is all about and the development journey so far!

The Core Concept: Survival with a Twist

The idea behind Starlight Survival began with a question: What if every shot fired cost you a bit of your own life? This is the heart of the game and the foundation of its most intense moments. In Starlight Survival, you’re a stationary spaceship surrounded by waves of incoming asteroids, and every time you fire a projectile, you lose a bit of health. This mechanic adds a fresh layer of tension and strategy to each wave, forcing you to balance offense and defense.

Instead of simply blasting everything in sight, you need to think carefully. Is it worth taking a shot at that distant asteroid, or should you save your health for a closer, more dangerous target? This decision-making under pressure is what makes Starlight Survival so thrilling.

Gameplay Mechanics So Far

• Stationary Defense: You’re anchored in the center of the screen, fending off asteroids that are closing in from all directions. Movement isn’t an option, so positioning isn’t the key—precision and timing are.
• Health-Linked Shooting: Each projectile you fire costs health, which turns attacking into a high-stakes decision. Fire too much, and you risk not making it through the round; fire too little, and the asteroid swarm becomes overwhelming.
• Upgrade System: After each wave, you’re given a choice of three upgrades. These range from more powerful shots to defensive shields and health boosts. These upgrades stack and get more interesting the further you progress, allowing you to create a unique playstyle each run. Some upgrades might even bring new, unexpected powers to your ship, like temporary invincibility or rapid-fire bursts!
• Endurance Mode: In this mode, it’s all about lasting as long as possible. The game ramps up the difficulty gradually, with faster and tougher enemies coming your way. Survive to certain time milestones, and you’ll unlock rare rewards—perfect for giving you that extra boost to keep pushing forward.

Challenges and Progress

Working with Unity has been an exciting adventure full of ups and downs. Here are some key development moments so far:

• Health Bar Setup: We’ve set up a dynamic health bar that decreases as you shoot or take hits. This was tricky, as we wanted to ensure the bar visually communicated the urgency of each shot. After some trial and error, we have a functional health bar that keeps you aware of your remaining health and fuels the tension during gameplay.
• Asteroid Behavior and Collision: Designing the asteroid AI was a fun challenge. Each asteroid targets your ship, moving in from different angles, and they explode in a satisfying blast when hit by a projectile. The explosion effect really adds to the game’s satisfying feel—seeing them burst upon impact makes every hit rewarding.
• Player Upgrades: Crafting the upgrade system has been one of the most enjoyable parts of development. The goal is to offer meaningful choices each round, letting you tailor your ship to survive a little longer. I’m excited to continue expanding the upgrade options and even sneak in some rare, powerful perks for players who reach higher milestones.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, here are the next steps:

• Polish the Health Bar: A few small tweaks are needed to make sure the health bar reflects changes smoothly and visually fits the game’s overall look.
• Balancing Difficulty: Fine-tuning enemy speeds, spawn rates, and health costs will be key to keeping the game challenging but fair. I want players to feel that they’re constantly on the edge of survival but that success is achievable with the right strategy.
• Sound and Visual Effects: Adding some epic sound effects and visual polish is essential to bring the space atmosphere to life. From the laser blasts to the asteroid explosions, each sound will enhance the gameplay experience and keep players immersed in the cosmic battle.

Final Words: Join the Journey!

It’s been a thrilling experience to bring Starlight Survival to life, and there’s still plenty of work to do. Each step forward gets me more excited to share this game with everyone. If you love high-stakes survival games with a strategic twist, Starlight Survival is definitely one to keep on your radar. 🚀

Thank you for following along in this development journey! I’ll be sharing more updates soon, and I can’t wait to see who will claim the title of the ultimate star survivor. Stay tuned for more devlogs and sneak peeks, and may your aim be true and your health bar full!