shmup?

[Astrix]

Is this a shmup like shooter? Or something else.

[VinylFly]

For what it's worth, I feel like Black Sand Drift is more a shmup than anything else; maybe part endless-runner in someways. But hidden under the simple nature of the game play, I hope many find the puzzle-like nature of the 'capsule' system.

It's not necessary to master the capsules to appreciate the shooting and other mechanics, but if you practice collecting capsules in the game, it adds another layer to the basic shooting.

In the game, you can boost and speed-up by using the space-bar to activate the feature. Once boost is activated, capsules will fall from the top of the screen that will prolong your boost meter from running out.

By itself, the boost isn't a big deal, right? Well, there is another capsule generated by using the game's various special weapons, and just the same with the boost capsule, you can prolong use of these weapons by collecting other falling capsules.

But here is where I personally get the most enjoyment out of this game: chasing Pink capsules!

So while you're boosting and using special weapons together, you've essentially initiated the game's score-multiplier mode, because while you're chasing down capsules to continue using your weapons and boost, a special third capsule begins to spawn: the pink one!

Start getting those, and you will see defeated enemies trigger a multiplier sprite when they explode--basically just X(times)2, X3, X4, etc.--showing that you are getting double, triple, quadruple the points per kill.

I like to practice on level 1.I Make it a goal to focus on the capsules first, using the boost and weapons to merely clear a path to collect them; how long can you keep your special weapon and boost activated, while still picking up the score capsule AND avoiding and destroying enemies? That is just one way to approach the game.

So is it a shmup? I like to think so, but I am also quite biased.

Hope that helps in some way.

[Astrix]

Thanks for the info. The game looks unique enough and with your input it sounds like a definite buy. Any advice to begin with or it it pretty self explanatory?

[VinylFly]

I've been thinking about advice to give when jumping into this game, and I would say this: the second level of the game is especially tough, but I hope that wont discourage too many from pressing forward.

The other advice is that the game allows you to cheat. This was added because I didn't want one area or another to stop the player from moving forward (because there is a lot to see), but I didn't want something that would amount to skipping a level, so I settled on the cheat capsule. If you press the number 7 on your keyboard, a blue cheat capsule will spawn, and collecting one is essentially like defeating multiple enemies at once in terms of getting closer to the end of the level. If you play the game and spam the 7 key, you can collect a bunch of the capsules and end the level within a few moments. But you still have to survive to collect the capsules, so it's not a freebie by any means.

I'm currently working to provide more insight into the game by creating a special guide talking about the philosophy around the game and how to tackle the game play, among other bits of information. Not a manual, more like a special strategy guide of sorts.

That's in the works, but I'm not sure when it will be completed. I hope you can find some enjoyment out of the game in the meantime.

I'll be in touch.