Monthly Update #1 - November 2022

While GBJam 10 ended over a month ago as of the time of this post, I've been hard at work continuing to work on Reflection Reverie! Hopefully these monthly updates should continue until the entirety of Chapter 1 is completed. In the meantime, let's see what's been added, shall we?

Palette Options:

First of the new additions to the game is the palette options screen! You can switch between the greenscale palette seen in the GBJam 10 version of the game as well as the 12 preset color sets available when playing a Game Boy game on a Game Boy Color (seen under the Greenscale and Colorized options respectively). These changes to the palette will be seen in real time across all the game's graphics! More options will be available in the final game, but for now, feel free to enjoy the addition of color!

Intro Sequence:

The game's intro sequence is in the works, and the first part of it is currently available in the new build. While it is still subject to change, from the moment "New Game" is selected to the moment control over the game is acquired is likely finalized. Leaving the house area will take you straight into the Dream World sequence present in the original build. These changes have resulted in a proper cutscene system being added to the game, which should help future content feel far more lively.

There's plenty of more minor changes added as well, summarized below:

• Added sound effects to menus.
• Added volume controls for music and sound effects.
• Textboxes for dialog have been increased in height to show more text on screen at once.
• Fixed a bug where signs and chests could be interacted with without facing them.
• Minor tweaks to dialog during the dream sequence.
• An Options menu is now available from Main Menu.
• Game size option was moved into Graphics Options menu.

As for my upcoming plans for the December 2022 build, this is what I plan to work on during the next month:

• Finished story up until the start of the Garden Dream World.
• An improved and more flexible combat system.
• A save system compatible with future versions of the game.

However, for now I hope that this modest update improves your enjoyment of what is currently available, and builds confidence that this game might actually get that far. I plan to finish the first arc of the game's story and making plans from there based on its reception. Feedback is, of course, greatly appreciated, and I'm doing my best to make Reflection Reverie the best game it can be!