Combat Complex News

This update aims to address early player feedback, such as the exit door being closed with no clear explanation of what to do to open it, slow default movement speed, and low drop chance of health orbs. Here are the changes:

Improved the mission exit door UX:

• The closed door now shows a text prompt explaining what you need to do to open it.
  
• The final loot chest is now highlighted with a glowing floor decal.
  
• The Skill Station is now highlighted with a glowing floor decal.
  

Increased the starting player speed:

• Increased the base movement speed by 20%.
  

Reduced movement stat bonuses on gear:

• Reduced the maximum for Movement Speed mod on gear from 10% to 6%.
  
• Reduced the maximum for Movement Speed When Healthy mod on gear from 10% to 8%.
  
• Reduced the maximum for Movement Speed After Dash mod on gear from 30% to 12%.
  

Reduced movement bonuses on Skill Tree skills:

• Reduced the movement speed gain from the Swift Escape skill from 10% to 8%.
  

Increased orb drop rate:

• The base drop rate of orbs (of all types and sizes) increased by ~50%.
  

After years of work, Combat Complex, our sci-fi ARPG with WASD / twin-stick controls, random loot, and procedurally-generated levels, is finally out on Steam in Early Access.

Combat Complex is a fast-paced sci-fi ARPG with lasers, alien centipedes, WASD / twin-stick controls, random loot, and procedurally-generated levels. The key feature of our game is enemy self-damage. Enemies damage each other, so you can use their attacks against them – for example, you can lure, trick, or directly pull or push a group of enemies into a laser beam fired by another enemy, instantly killing the entire group.

Grab your copy at a 20% launch discount on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1899300/Combat_Complex/

This update inlcudes a preliminary version of the Skill Tree (with more skills planned for future updates), and fully-implemented Options for video, sound, controller, interface, and gameplay. This is the last update for Combat Complex before the Early Access release.

Combat Complex is a fast, frenetic sci-fi action RPG (ARPG) with fluid combat, WASD / twin-stick controls, random loot, and procedurally-generated levels. The game is set for Early Access release on October 4, 2024, with the full 1.0 release planned for the next year.

[h3]Additions[/h3]

• Implemented the Skill Tree (partially done, more skills will be added in future updates).
  
• MIssions now include Skill Stations that provide skill and respec points.
  
• Added Options for video, sound, interface, gameplay, and controller.
  
• Added visual improvements – Autoexposure, Film Grain, Chromatic Aberration.
  
• Added sound for abilities going off cooldown.
  
• Added notifications and red badges for Skills and Challenges.
  
• Added sound to mission completion and death screens.
  
• Added sound for environment lights turning on.
  
• Added sound for player receiving laser damage.
  
• Added sound for player visiting a secret area.
  
• Added sound to the Objective Terminal to make it easier to locate.
  
• Added sounds to map ability buttons in the Map screen.
  
• Game sounds are now muted / muffled when the Pause menu is shown.
  

[h3]Changes[/h3]

• Removed small breakable objects from missions to make player movement more streamlined.
  
• Increased the Meatshot challenge requirement from 5 to 10.
  
• Decreased the Mine Mogul challenge requirement from 20 to 10.
  
• Renamed the Combat Roll ability to Dash.
  
• Imrpoved inventory tooltips for Legendary items.
  
• Corrected multiple typos in the player stats area in Inventory.
  
• Increased mouse wheel scrolling speed in the player stats area and the Challenges screen.
  
• Rewrote the story into a less annoying email-like format (as opposed to chat-like format).
  

[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]

• Selecting missions in the Map screen is no longer laggy after longer play sessions.
  
• Chat channels in the Messages screen are now selectable on a controller.
  
• Loot containers (previously Gold, Silver etc.) now have correct descriptions in Map legend.
  
• Fixed bullets being occassionally stuck in narrow gaps in an infinite ricochet loop.
  
• Multiple minor bug fixes.
  

[h3]Known Problems[/h3]

• The game currently uses a temporary visual effect for Gravity Vortex due to a Unity bug.
  

[hr][/hr]
We're really satisfied with how the Skill Tree has turned out, even in its preliminary form. The full Movement-CQC hybrid build is TONS of fun, even OP at times. So grab the update, turn off that pesky screen shake, crank Film Grain and Chromatic Aberration up to eleven, get your new passives in the Skill Tree, and let us know what you think!

Here's our roadmap for Combat Complex, a fast, frenetic sci-fi action RPG (ARPG) with fluid combat, WASD / twin-stick controls, random loot, and procedurally-generated levels. The roadmap includes the features of the upcoming Early Access release on October 4, 2024, and our further plans for the game, up to the full 1.0 release next year.

A permanent version of this roadmap is maintained as a pinned post in our Steam Discussions here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1899300/discussions/0/4756452548787980214/



[h3]The last update before Early Access release (~September 25, 2024)[/h3]

Additions:

• Skill Tree (partially done, more skills will be added in future updates).
  
• New Primary Weapon – Minigun (damages red shields but hinders player movement).
  
• New Primary Weapon – SMG (higher damage and fire rate compared to Rifle but has a shorter range).
  
• Options – Video, Sound, Interface, Gameplay, Controller.
  
• Visual improvements – Autoexposure, Film Grain, Chromatic Aberration.
  
• There's now a sound for abilities going off cooldown.
  

Changes:

• Migration to Unity 6.
  
• Removed the "Made in Unity" splash screen.
  
• The story is now told via a less annoying email-like format (as opposed to the original chat-like one).
  
• Minor UI, sound, and QoL improvements.
  
• Multiple bug fixes.
  

Known Problems:

• The VFX for Gravity Vortex is broken due to a Unity 6 bug. A temporary VFX is currently used.
  
• Read story messages aren't properly grayed out in the Messages screen.
  

[h3]Early Access release – October 4, 2024[/h3]

• Early Access Release – October 4, 2024.
  
• Steam Deck certification.
  
• Bug fixes and improvements based on player feedback.
  

[h3]An update before the Steam Autumn sale (~November 20, 2024)[/h3]

Power-Ups:

• A major gameplay system: the familiar "3 buffs, pick one, maybe reroll".
  
• Power-Ups persist through missions but are lost on death.
  
• Power-Ups are infinitely stackable but temporary (they last for 3-6 missions, assuming no death).
  

Fix for the broken VFX for Gravity Vortex:

• It's broken now due to a bug in Unity 6. The game currently uses a temporary VFX.
  
• We've submitted the bug, and it has been confirmed by Unity.
  
• As soon as they fix it, we'll release an update with the fixed VFX.
  

[h3]An update before the Steam Winter sale (~December 19, 2024)[/h3]

Achievements:

• Achievements will be based on Challenges, and therefore will be retroactive.
  
• That is, if you completed a Challenge, you'll get its achievement as soon as we release achievements.
  

Improved Epic loot:

• Currently, our epic (purple) loot differs from rare (blue) only in the number of stat mods.
  
• We are planning to make epic loot more distinctive by adding a mod that will add an extra rank to a single Skill in the Skill Tree.
  
• The same mod will be added to legendary loot, but the number of bonus ranks will be higher than 1.
  

Performance Boost:

• Unity 6 GPU Resident Drawer.
  
• Unity 6 GPU GPU Occlusion Culling.
  

[h3]Updates before the full 1.0 release[/h3]

New Environmental Hazards:

• Deflector Walls (to break the pattern "Always shoot").
  
• Laser Walls (to break the pattern "Always dash").
  

Hazard Randomization:

• Things like Boom Barrels and Laser Walls will sometimes randomly appear in regular missions.
  
• (Currently they are reserved for mission affixes on higher-difficulty missions).
  

More Abilities:

• Grenades, Turrets, Stun Wave, Grappling Hook, etc.
  

More Enemies:

• New bug enemies.
  
• New bot enemies.
  

"Treasure Goblins":

• A cute little bot that drops rare loot and high-value orbs. Tough to kill, temporary (escapes after some time).
  
• High risk / reward ratio. A synergy / dilemma with the upcoming Ultimate Abilities (use it or save for danger?)
  

Ultimate Abilities:

• Very powerful, but usable only once per mission.
  
• Use them to escape difficult / unexpected situations, or to secure high-value targets (e.g. a Treasure Goblin).
  

Full Skill Tree:

• More skills in the main branches.
  
• Islands for fine-tuning the build (e.g. Frenzy, Abilities, Healing, etc.)
  

[h3]Full 1.0 release – Fall 2025[/h3]

• Full 1.0 release.
  

[h3]Longer-term plans / open problems[/h3]

• Finished story.
  
• Special / Legendary Elites (extremely dangerous but fragile).
  
• Crafting.
  
• Biomes (e.g. Mining, High-tech, Infested).
  
• Bosses (not just bullet sponges).
  
• Localization to other languages.
  
• Music (if we find good tracks to license).
  
• Additional enemy races / factions.
  
• Co-op / multiplayer.
  
• Endlessly repeatable / farmable missions.
  

Combat Complex, a fast-paced sci-fi ARPG with guns, lasers, alien centipedes, and legendary loot, is set for Early Access release on October 4, 2024.

Combat Complex is a fast, frenetic sci-fi action RPG (ARPG) with fluid combat, WASD / twin-stick controls, random loot, and procedurally-generated levels. Wield legendary weapons, unlock devastating skills, create overpowered builds – and turn your enemies' attacks against them!

Get ready to blast space bugs and dodge lasers on October 4, 2024!