Ancient Guardian cover
Ancient Guardian screenshot
PC Steam
Genre: Adventure, Indie

Ancient Guardian

From sketches to realization
The second level, very soon.

(The screenshots below are not final, a lot can change.)










Ancient Guardian ACT II
Continuation of the story mode, gameplay gonna be shown on GamePlanet showcase!

0.4 in details


Improved player controller and updated animations

We reworked the player's script, made the controls more precise. Also, a large load was transferred to the animation, before the camera moved and shook through the code, now everything is controlled with the help of animations. By the way, the animations from the first person were completely redone, now they convey the dynamics of the character's movements. In addition, thanks to the new controller, we will be able to transfer new characters much faster!

Improved AI

A lot of work has been done with AI. We have completely updated and optimized the scripts of all AI characters, ranging from rats ending with the Minotaur. Also, now he is able to react to loud sounds and check their sources. A trap, which emits a loud sound, now will not immediately anger him.

Improved effects

We reworked most of the effects, made them faster, in terms of performance, and more beautiful.

Updated post-effects

Like effects, post-effects have undergone some changes. The effect of motion blur and glow became weaker to make the picture more clear.

Optimization

Much attention has been paid to the optimization in this update. We fixed most of the weaknesses in the code, so we managed to raise the FPS by 10-20 units!

Updated some graffiti

Some of the graffities were obsolete and did not match the game's lore, we reworked them. By the way, did you notice that the number of graffities and skeletons grows toward the end of the labyrinth?

Added a hidden achievement

Justice. We really liked the interaction with our players in finding solutions to achievements. As we promised - a new achievement. This time it is completely connected with the Minotaur, it requires compliance with 3 conditions. Good luck in getting it!

New leaderboard in story mode

We noticed a tendency in the passage of the story mode as quickly as possible, now all your passages will be recorded in a separate leaderboard! How did we not come up with this before?

And much more...
You can see the full list of changes in our previous announcement.

What's next? When is multiplayer?
Unfortunately, we will have to delay the multiplayer this time. At the moment it is ready for ~ 60%. In December, our project will be shown at the gameplanet exhibition, so we moved our focus to creating a second level of story mode. Because of this delay, and thanks to the updated player controller, we'll add new characters already in the first phase of the multiplayer!


Not a big teaser of the second level for those who have read to the end

0.4 Update!
More info will come later.

Patch note:

  • Improved player controller
  • Updated animations
  • Improved AI
  • Optimization
  • New leaderboard in story mode
  • Bug fixes
  • Updated post-effects
  • Improved effects
  • Updated some graffiti
  • Added a hidden achievement
  • Minor interface changes
  • Minor fixes

Coming soon

Progress of development. We need your opinion!
As you know, now we are working on multiplayer, but in addition, we are also working on improving AI and remaking of the player controller. Initially, when developing these elements, we made some mistakes that would prevent the transfer to multiplayer, but right now we are working on them, in particular, we have already reviewed the player's code and improve the animation. It was inevitable, but it was for the best.

Therefore, we would like to know your opinion on the following questions:

  • What do you dislike about the current controller?
  • What postprocessing effects do you consider superfluous?
  • Do you want to leave the effect of DoF(depth of field) or remove it??


Bonus, a small selection of internal screenshots of what we are currently working on:


Very early test of the new first person view


Working on third person view of the player


New flashlight textures

Thanks!

Work on the lobby is over!
Finally, we have finished work on the lobby!:minotaur:

Along with this news, we would like to tell you how the distribution of the Minotaur will work. Let's say at once, everything is random, neither the player, nor the server, in general, no one can choose whether the Minotaur will be controlled by a player or AI. Also, if the Minotaur is controlled by a player, then the choice of who will control it will be random. But there are some exceptions:

  • If there are two players, the Minotaur can be either an AI or an random player. (2 heroes + Minotaur-AI // 1 hero + Minotaur-player)
  • If there are three players, the Minotaur can also be an AI or an random player. (3 heroes + Minotaur-AI // 2 hero + Minotaur-player)
  • If there are four players, then the Minotaur will be an random player, AI is unavailable. (3 heroes + Minotaur-player)

Unfortunately, the work on the multiplayer is not progressing as fast as we would like, but the work does not stop. We also wanted to say that the first phase will be the longest and most complicated, since on it we create a foundation/base, on which in the future we will introduce new features and fix bugs.

Small tips for hidden achievements
As long as people keep asking us about these achievements, we can't just ignore them. It is not clear a instruction how to gain them, it is some small hints to put you on the right way.

As you may know there is 3 hidden achievements in the game:


  • High voltage


    This is not the most hardest one. In this you need to do something with Minotaur and secret room with Ariadne's thread.

  • Bring the AXE!


    Many people think that they need to somehow steal Minotaur's axe) No, it is not possible, but there is another axe. Some people already posted screenshots of it. But you dont just need to find it.

  • Doot


    And the hardest one. A lot of people searching for trumpet. No no, we can't just place it on the level, because its to easy and not lore-friendly. Instead of trumpet you need to find the skeleton that will not attack you and do something.


Thats all, in future updates we are gonna bring more hidden achievements and easter eggs, thanks!

P.S. Do you think I should post this article in the guides?

Progress of the implementation of multiplayer.
Today we would like to share with you the progress of creating a multiplayer.

First, they made a menu for multiplayer. Access to it goes through the main menu. Yes, we understand this confusion with 2 different menus, in the future, after the release of the first phase, we will necessarily unite them into one.

Secondly, the lobby is almost at the finish line, now realized the most difficult moments, namely: creating a lobby, connecting to the existing one, synchronizing the list of players, nicknames and Steam avatars, chat. Now we have to realize the distribution of the Minotaur and the transition to the game level, in fact, this lobby will be ready.



Unfortunately, the process does not move as fast as we would like, but we try to release the multiplayer as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention and expectation.

Information about the first phase of multiplayer!


Good day, friends! As we promised, we will share information about the first phase of the multiplayer.

The first phase will include:

  • A new menu for multiplayer, in which you can create a game, join an existing game or view information about a profile.
  • The first makings of the rank system, the levels and experience for passing the levels.
  • Spectator mode after death.
  • Lobby, character selection (there will be only one character at this stage), distribution of the Minotaur.
  • Chat.
  • Actually the multiplayer itself.


If all tests pass without problems, then there is a possibility that multiplayer will appear already this month, but we can not give 100% guarantees.

Thanks!
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