28/07/2026 - Playing as a Boss!

Hello again! The slacking developer has finally gotten around to this month's post. I've been quite productive on the game lately, but I just haven't been in the mood to write...

The good news is that this is actually the first post in a long time in which I have something significant to share gameplay-wise!

Scarred By Heaven Progress

I recently finished making the main story content for Act 1, and so I've moved on to doing a bunch of the side content that I definitely want to be in the game when I release it. The first thing I decided to start with was the one I was most excited for–'Virtual Reality' combat! ...Which is a gameplay mode that lets you play as characters other than Saki!

For as long as I can remember, I've always really loved it when games let you play as an 'enemy' in some way, like Vergil in Devil May Cry, or even simpler things like the 'helpers' in old Kirby games. I don't really know why, but I always found it fascinating to encounter an opponent, and then later have the option to control them–even in cases when it's extremely clear that they weren't designed to be controlled (lol). 

To that end, having a side mode where you can play as the bosses has been a long-time 'dream' feature for me in SBH. Being able to flesh out unique playstyles for the major characters is incredibly fun for me, and doing it in a self-contained arcadey mode means I can keep the scope relatively small, and not have to worry too much about making them as complex or balanced as Saki. It's also really easy to do, asset and code wise, since I'm just recycling their pre-existing boss attacks, and retooling them to work as a playable character!

The framework of the mode is fully finished, but the only character right now is Livio. He's all about big whip sweeps and absurdly long juggles... compared to Saki, he's more like playing Sceaven Warriors or something. Friday is also planned to be playable on launch, though I think I want to take a break from the VR junk for a little before making her.

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Next, I want to work on a handful of small quality-of-life changes that have been nagging me, like customizable text speeds for dialogue, and a proper 'storage' option that lets you remove undesired items from your inventory without just selling them. 

I also want to add some dedicated 'bonding' sidestories for the major characters, in which you can hang out with them casually and learn more about them. They're planned to be something unlocked gradually alongside the main story, so you'll only be able to see a few parts of each in Act 1.

Honestly, I feel a little mixed about 'hiding' certain pieces of the characters away in side content, as I feel like character development in games is usually more satisfying when it's fully a part of the main story... But I do feel like for SBH's narrative, it makes sense for these things to be something you have to actively 'seek out' during downtime. I'm hoping I can strike a balance with both 'sides' of the story contributing to each character's growth.

...And besides, it's a video game, so I may as well take advantage of 'side content' being an option at all, right? ~~

...But that's about all for today. There's also a few other sidestories I've been working on, but I don't want to spoil them too much yet.

Personal Notes

Almost the eighth month of the year, already... How terrible.

I wanted to participate in Art Fight this year, and even created an account, but I ended up falling into pretty low mood, and it slipped my mind... I only remembered it late last night, like it was a child I left at soccer practice. 

I think this current rut is just the natural rising and falling of my mood that I've always lived with. It's frustrating to feel depressed for seemingly no reason, but I thankfully know myself well enough to know that all I have to do is wait for it to end on its own. Also thankfully, working on SBH is one of the few things I do remain passionate about when the melancholy grips, so my moodiness won't affect my productivity there. It's good to have a project to anchor yourself in emotionally trying times.

I don't have much else to report in my life, otherwise. Today's interesting game I can share is Urban Myth Dissolution Center, which I'm currently in the middle of playing. It's pretty slow-paced and a little rough, but enjoyably strange. I do love urban legends and ghost stories (evidently ↑), and it really appeals to that. There's some fun dynamics between the main characters, and it even has an in-game library you build up with anecdotes of all the myths you hear about...!

...But that's it for today. Thank you for reading!

- HSTopaz