Hello everyone!

This new update for Silent Paradise is a big one.

The first thing you may notice if you played the game before is that the controls to pass through one-way platforms have changed. It's a feedback I got from the jam. Previously, it was only bound to holding the down direction, which prevented you from crouching and sliding on those platforms. It wasn't too much of an issue in my previous games, but Silent Paradise has a lot of one-way platforms. So it now requires to hold both Down + Jump.

Second big change is the addition of dialogs. At some key points in the game, various characters will now talk about the current situation. It was a way to both introduce those key players before you actually meet them, build some tension and also reinforce the lore told through the codex entries.

I also tweaked quite a few "puzzles" through the game. The Grappling Hook now has a proper "tutorial room" that requires you use your newfound ability to leave. Some Energy Tanks have been split in four quarters that you need to collect before it grants you that extra health. This way I could reward exploration more, especially in the early game. New yellow doors will sometimes block your progression, which means you should be on the lookout for a switch to open them. I also fixed a couple of uninteresting sequence breaks, but don't worry, I've added new ones to compensate! ;)

I also added what I call "challenge rooms", rooms where you're locked-in with a bunch of enemies you need to defeat in order to progress. They're not exactly bosses, but they should spice up your exploration a bit!

And that's it for today!

Complete changelog:

• Changed the fall-through platforms to use both Down + Jump instead of just Down
• Added a subtle glow effect on some objects
• Added background music on the title screen
• Added sound effects feedback to the grappling hook
• Added a proper "tutorial room" for the grappling hook
• Added a hint for the jetpack and what to do with it
• Fleshed out a few more "puzzles" and added some breakable walls
• Added a few "challenge rooms" were you're locked with enemies
• Introduced quarter energy tanks to reward exploration
• Added a new drone that fires lasers downward
• Added a cooldown to the health-dropping props
• Added dialogs!
• Made it possible to use items while crouching
• Made sure shielded enemies are still hurt by explosions
• Made it so small props don't block projectiles
• Improved hit detection for the laser-based attacks (using a line instead of a simple box at the tip)
• Fixed Alien Rushers not being hit from a standing position when they look like they should
• Fixed the minimap exploration not being saved when dying
• Fixed a few sequence breaks that were too easy
• Fixed climbing animation playing even when stationary
• Fixed some player animations playing when the menu is up
• Fixed respawning at the wrong place when saving at the Control checkpoint and reloading

The post-jam postmortem should be just around the corner, so if game development is of interest to you, keep an eye out for it.

I hope you will enjoy this (big!) update. If you've played earlier versions (especially the very first jam version), I encourage you to create a new save and rediscover the submerged station of Paradise! ;)

See ya!