WRATH bi-weekly update - 1.4.2023

Hope you all had an outlandish New Year!

While we’ve been taking it slower for the Christmas holidays, we’ve still got a few new progress updates from the days we’ve gotten back into the swing of things. Today, we’ll share a fresh look at E3M5, recent progress on a prop for WRATH’s intro segment – as well as a WIP screenshot of loading screen art for the 1st boss map.

Without further ado, we hope you enjoy.

Blood and basalt adorn the Wretched Throne…
From E3M5, we’ve got a select few glimpses into our latest detailing. One being the outdoor area – featuring distinct basalt columns – another being a sample from the dim, bloody, and wonderfully atmospheric corners of the map. Take a look:







For WRATH’s intro map, we’re currently working on a major set piece – specifically a thematically appropriate vessel – a boat which will ferry the Outlander to the Isle of the Dead.

While this prop is a work-in-progress, here’s a look at its current state:





Among the final touches on the first boss map is the loading screen art – meant to communicate a key, and memorable, area of the map. While it still needs final processing, take a look at this work-in-progress loading screen art for the B1 map – both linear and shaded:







Since we’ve been on Christmas holidays, we won’t have as many additional updates this time around. But aside from progress on E3M5, props for the intro map, and the B1 loading screen art, here’s a few lines on what we’ve been working on since mid-December last year:

LEVELS

• E2M3 received a bit of TLC; specifically texture detailing, and work on a new secret area, which saw further detailing.
  
• E2M5 has seen progress; particularly on the final section on the level. Gameplay-wise, the map is now only waiting on the Keeper for implementation.
  The Boss 2 map is seeing work – all the while the Boss 2 mechanics, and concept, are being worked on.
  
• E3M1 saw further texturing, steadily progressing.
  A number of pipe textures – and matching parts – are being worked on for E3M3.
  
• Great progress was made on E3M4 – particularly on the “Gallery” section of the map. Additionally, a number of secrets have been added to the map, one of which will require players to discover an unorthodox means of access.
  
• Apart from the examples already shown for E3M5, the final climactic area of the map has also received detailing since our last update.

ENEMIES

• Most enemies are receiving work on ‘spirits’ – entities that you’ll be able to see as you tear through hordes of enemies with… certain equipment, let’s say.
  
• The Brute is seeing final tweaks on his projectile effects.
  
• The Keeper is receiving a gameplay pass – after which is animation.
  
• The 1st Boss – The Lady of Ascension – has received her final death sequence, to make sure your victory will be that more satisfying.
  
• The 2nd Boss – The Lord of Astral Planes – has had its concept, and mechanics, revisited.
  
• The 3rd and final Boss – The Dreadful One – has seen testing and internal discussion of its gameplay prototype.
  

PROPS & TEXTURES

• A number of textures for episode 3 have been made, per the request of our level designers, who are working in close collaboration with our texture artists.
  

That’s it for this update – the first of 2023! As we get back into gear after the holiday season, we hope to bring you more and more as we continue to dive head-first into the new year.

Stay tuned for more dev updates.