Changelog v24-12-14

Although it doesn't seem like it, this update contains a lot of work on the underlying structure of the game. I think it might be close to a complete foundation now (famous last words, I know).

A mid-stage save from previous versions is likely incompatible; if you have one, restart the stage from stage select instead of continuing it.

• Removed the Factory level; I want to make some changes
• Nightclub features more civilians
• Added alternative ending to Nightclub
• The final dialogue of the prologue doesn't get skipped anymore
• The prologue cutscene is substantially longer
• Sentinels have entirely new models; Omen's models have been updated too, though the changes are less drastic
• The Sentinels in the prologue no longer bark
• Slightly altered the Vindicator Laser Pistol model
• Enemies always turn to look at diversions (e.g. sounds) as long as they aren't in combat or holding position
• Tweaked the civilian decision-making to make them a bit more cowardly in the face of danger
• Civilians and hostiles have different barks
• Shotgun shells are visibly ejected
• Sprint no longer goes on cooldown as long as it's used when not Suppressed
• Omen can vault over low obstacles
• When using abilities that spin a target, the arrow at their feet turns with them
• [New Primary] Beholder Laser Rifle
  • Shoots a beam that penetrates Units and bounces off walls, dealing 5/3/2/1/1 DMG on each hit (each subsequent Unit hit takes less DMG)
  • 2-turn cooldown
  • Currently only available using the option to unlock all loadout items
• The Chain Hook is now only available using the option to unlock all loadout items; it'll make its return in a future stage
• Added tutorial hints that show up to explain non-obvious mechanics when you first encounter them
  • Currently just one for enemy movement reduction and one for stance locking
  • Hints can be disabled in the options menu; there's also a "disable all hints" button on each hint
• Projectile effects (coin, shotgun shells, Paladin ejection, etc) get their shaders built during the loading screen as intended
• Several dialogue changes
• Omen's portrait depicts her wearing her helmet during mid-mission dialogue
• Characters in story stages no longer uncannily breathe in perfect sync
• Duncan's van's engine makes sound
• Minor tweaks to a lot of animations
• The loadout menu features 3D vignettes in the background
• The back side of the arrow that indicates entity selection has been removed to make its forward direction more clear
• 3D markers (e.g. the exfiltration symbol) no longer attempt to avoid overlapping with the ability bar
• Markers more accurately pin themselves to their appropriate 3D locations
• Added option to show objective markers; either none, exfil (default), or all
• Added option to show only required conversation markers
• Added option to set the max number of simultaneous barks
• Made some optimizations about what gets loaded and when
• The current song plays from its beginning when increasing the music volume from zero
• World sounds fade in on load, rather than playing suddenly
• Fixed music cutting itself off too early under specific conditions
• Fixed transparent materials (such as glass) not becoming desaturated upon death (this seems like a simple change - but it was not!)
• Fixed a freeze that would occur when standing against a wall and aiming a bounce weapon towards it at a perfect 90-degree angle
• Fixed the mist pain flash sometimes persisting beyond the initial flash
• Fixed the mist death color persisting into other menus when exiting while dead
• Several fixes and improvements to the cutscene skipping logic
• Upgraded to Godot v4.3