This is exactly the kind of game I'd spend dozens and dozens of hours playing in the mid 2000's. Pretty standard but effective gameplay loop with permanent progression. There were a bunch of upgrades on the game over screen, but I couldn't find a way to get them. I'm assuming they didn't get fully implemented before the deadline, yeah? There was a bit too much randomness for me for some things. Like at level 1, you're damage range is 1-10, which is already really swingy. You could hit an enemy every possible time it's on screen and still not kill it, taking damage. But when you level up to get 2-20, 3-30, or 4-40 damage it's completely overkill on the swinginess. I think something closer to a 5-10, 10-20, 15-30, 20-40 progression would be better. Might still be a little swingy, you'd have to do some testing. Also the randomness of the projectile path was a little much, I think. I think most players have an assumption that if they click in the same spot twice, the projectile should take a very similar path, but I found that clicking in the same spot twice would almost always send the two projectiles in wildly different places. The big golem looking dudes felt very bullet spongy to me. I never managed to kill a single one, even at level 4. The upgrades looked really fun. I want to get some of those summoning abilities. I really really like having a million little minions around automatically killing enemies. I want to play this if/when you update it. It's pretty cool.
Viewing post in March of the Slime King jam comments
I'm glad you liked it despite it's flaws as for everything else:
- Power ups are implemented but you only get one at a time every 10 levels(9 at the start since you're at level 1, indicated by the crowns and levels remaining stat things), summons are my personal favourites too!
- The issues with damage and accuracy were a side effect of putting too much focus on the power ups since summons made damage more consistent and the accuracy one made it at least more reliable to hit things, naturally, however point 1 certainly demonstrates why such a system didn't work.
- I was never really good at balancing enemies, this is pretty clear when Skuttlers are very easy to kill regardless of level but Lizardmen are always a chore, Spitters are pretty alright though at so there's that.
- I ended up forgetting to add sound effects and ran out of time by the time I did remember sadly.
Although I can't promise anything I'd very much love to return to this game and refine it, in it's own version naturally so it doesn't go deluding the duct tape and staples version!