Heli-Cats News

The Remote Play Together Fest is on for one week and Heli-Cats is part of it, meaning it is on sale.

However, I would like to use this opportunity to highlight this functionality of Steam that many don't know about. Remote Play Together is essentially game streaming / game sharing a local co-op game from another computer over the Internet.

The official Steam explanation can be found here https://store.steampowered.com/remoteplay?snr=1_remoteplaytogether_4__1601#together


After testing it, I was actually surprised by how playable it was, even for a fast paced genre such as the shoot'em up. Granted the physical distance between the players for my tests were within the same city with all players having good connections, but when it works, it was as good as playing local co-op. And only the host has to own the game. In the case of the demo, players can simply try this functionality out without even buying the full version!

Here are some things that might be helpful in setting up a session (which was quite confusing at first).

• Ideally, all players should have game controllers. Remote Play Together allows for only one keyboard, but the host can pass the keyboard to the guest via the Remote settings.
  
• If both players own the game, the host should be the one with the better computer to allow for the extra CPU load to output a good stream AND run the game. Heli-Cats is not an intensive game by any means, but streaming does take up a lot more resources.
  
• The guest, apparently, does not even need to have Steam or even a computer. Remote Play Together can work with a mobile phone or tablet using a Steam Link app. Although, I would not recommend playing this game with anything but a proper controller (or a physical keyboard at worst).
  
• It is possible to reduce the resolution of the stream down to 720p in the settings to improve the latency if the distance between host and guest is proving too far. Heli-Cats looks fine at the lower resolution and you definitely want a high 60fps.
  
• I highly recommend using some external communications method because fiddling within Steam is somewhat hit and miss and can possible end the connection.
  

Give it a try and let me and other players know if you find settings that help make the process easier to connect!

The Remote Play Together Fest is on for one week and Heli-Cats is part of it, meaning it is on sale.

However, I would like to use this opportunity to highlight this functionality of Steam that many don't know about. Remote Play Together is essentially game streaming / game sharing a local co-op game from another computer over the Internet.

The official Steam explanation can be found here https://store.steampowered.com/remoteplay?snr=1_remoteplaytogether_4__1601#together


After testing it, I was actually surprised by how playable it was, even for a fast paced genre such as the shoot'em up. Granted the physical distance between the players for my tests were within the same city with all players having good connections, but when it works, it was as good as playing local co-op. And only the host has to own the game. In the case of the demo, players can simply try this functionality out without even buying the full version!

Here are some things that might be helpful in setting up a session (which was quite confusing at first).

• Ideally, all players should have game controllers. Remote Play Together allows for only one keyboard, but the host can pass the keyboard to the guest via the Remote settings.
  
• If both players own the game, the host should be the one with the better computer to allow for the extra CPU load to output a good stream AND run the game. Heli-Cats is not an intensive game by any means, but streaming does take up a lot more resources.
  
• The guest, apparently, does not even need to have Steam or even a computer. Remote Play Together can work with a mobile phone or tablet using a Steam Link app. Although, I would not recommend playing this game with anything but a proper controller (or a physical keyboard at worst).
  
• It is possible to reduce the resolution of the stream down to 720p in the settings to improve the latency if the distance between host and guest is proving too far. Heli-Cats looks fine at the lower resolution and you definitely want a high 60fps.
  
• I highly recommend using some external communications method because fiddling within Steam is somewhat hit and miss and can possible end the connection.
  

Give it a try and let me and other players know if you find settings that help make the process easier to connect!

Hello, Heli-Cats players.

I have another game called Pryzm that is coming soon to Steam. It is a survival adventure mystery with turn-based combat and escape parameters that change with every new 1 to 2-hour run, and a visual novel that can be played like a speedrun.

If you've been interested in the genre but are hesitant about the often lengthy time commitment of such text heavy stories, this game might be for you. It is a visual novel for those who normally prefer arcade games.

Try out the demo at the Steam page below. Thank you for your interest!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2725520

Ver 1.0.2 Update Notes:

• Reduced the rank value increase of some enemies
  
• Fixed an exploit in Team play where a boss may temporarily not target either player
  
• Changed some animations and images
  

Heli-Cats has rank. For players new to shoot'em ups, rank is an internal mechanism that adjusts an arcade game's difficulty based on how a player is doing. It became a well-known concept with Battle Garegga back in 1996.

Unlike that game, Heli-Cats is nowhere as punishing or insane with its rank. There are only three things that affect rank here.

• Destroying an enemy - increases rank based on the enemy type
  
• Getting hit - reduces a lot of rank
  
• Using a bomb - reduces some rank
  

With these in mind, it is possible to control rank via several methods. For example:

• It may be a better strategy to avoid some enemies altogether, letting them go to slow down the increase. A good example is the weak drone, which comes in large batches.
  
• Since armor cannot go beyond 3 in arcade mode, it may be worth it to get hit at full armor before getting an extend every 400,000 score to reduce the rank instead of getting the 100,000 max armor extend bonus.
  
• Similarly, it may be worth using a bomb before picking up a bomb refill at full bombs, forgoing the 20,000 max bomb bonus. Bomb planning is a strategy that is easiest to learn.
  

Also, every mission in Arcade mode has an increasing rank cap that is higher than the one before it. This makes rank control more useful for later missions.

Most players who are still learning the game will not feel the rank at all if they are using continues to beat it. Skilled players going for 1CC, however, will definitely feel it from mission 4 onwards. Enemy bullet patterns are more intense and bullet speeds are faster. Enemy health remains unchanged.