UPDATE 28 FEB 2020:
Progress! Fixed the "looping damage" issue in the code, so now I'm ready to move forward!
What are some things that you think would work well in a top-down shooter? Or what are some things that you've seen that don't work well?
Viewing post in SCRAPSHIP (Done!)
Closer to "bullet hell". That being said, I'm not a huge fan of the top-down shooters where there are so many projectiles on-screen that the player gets lost trying to figure out where they are and what's going on.
There are plans for levels with no combat, especially towards the beginning of the game.
Good questions and thanks for reading!