Undead West: Devlog #2 - “Whiskey Infusions”

Gunslingers!

Welcome to the second devlog for Undead West!

We just got back from showcasing the demo at SXSW in Sydney, and it was an amazing experience: we got to watch people give Undead West a whirl, chatted to them to glean feedback about how we can improve the gameplay experience, and even try out some other awesome indiedev’s games - and there were a lot of cool ones!

As to our devlog, today we would like to share with you some more info about one of the main features of Undead West - the whiskey infusions, what they are and how they work.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the topic!

💀 WHISKEY INFUSIONS

Now we’re going to get into one of the core mechanics of Undead West’s gameplay, and again this is about getting to the whiskey part.

When I started prototyping Undead West as a gunslinging wild west bullet hell, I wanted something else, something interesting that adds to the fast-paced flow of combat and can give the player an edge over the various enemies you’ll encounter. And what’s a better staple to a western than a bottle of whiskey?

At first the concept was that enemies had a chance to drop a bottle of whiskey when killed, and picking this item drop up would grant the player a temporary movement bonus as well as a small damage buff to guns.

Initially, I thought it might be a fun little idea to make the screen sway slightly when picking up whiskey, a tradeoff for the boost you’re getting - and something that I was bringing over from a previous game. But very quickly this concept turned into not just a single item drop, but a full array of whiskey bottles that you can unlock and equip, to use during a tough situation in a fight and then replenish at different points in a run.

💀 PICK YOUR POISON

There are planned to be 15 unlockable whiskey infusions in the game, each with a unique effect so when that cowboy takes a swig, you get a short kick of power.

The 6 whiskeys currently in the game are:

Grit & Powder

The good ole’ faithful, +20% movement speed & +10% reload speed.

Induced Vigor

Restore 2 Hearts - up to your current maximum number of hearts.

Boiling Brimstone: Create a rotating shield of fire that deals heavy damage to enemies on contact.

Speed Demon: Gain 25% movement speed - and run like the wind.

Bottomless Chamber No need to reload, just keep on firing till that whiskey boost runs out.

Heart of Iron: Full invulnerability, until the whiskey runs out.

Some of the more powerful whiskeys will cost more to unlock but give greater benefits. Worth saving up for, so get out there and get shooting.

💀 THE BARTENDER

When you need to add more kick to your arsenal, head over to the Bartender to purchase your whiskey. This large fellow runs the bar in the hub, and has a nice collection of concoctions for you to check out. (Just don’t ask how clean that rag he wipes down the glasses with is).

💀 UNTIL NEXT TIME!

There’s always some unique little thing you can do in a roguelite other than to shoot, and we’ve got whiskey. It’ll save your life in a pinch, or help you survive just that little bit longer to beat the boss and reach the