Devlog #9 - March

Splashteam
Apr 18
2 min read

Progress marches on, unstoppable. Expand the shop, strengthen Alva, and unlock new corners of the Tree. This month, we’re talking improvements and upgrades!

Time hasn't been kind to Alva's shop. Renovations are in order!

These expansions will let you upgrade the shop, unlock fresh gameplay elements, and let's be honest, give the place some serious style.

The veranda is first on the renovation list. What better way to attract customers than a bright, airy space to enjoy ice cream on a summer day?

This extension increases the capacity of the main room, allowing more customers to be served on-site.

When she's not selling lemon tarts, Alva spends her time in battle. Luckily, a mysterious mentor helps her grow stronger.

We brainstormed all sorts of upgrades for Alva: stretchier cheeks to carry more items, stronger lungs for faster suction, even shock-absorbing fur...

We want to make her controls feel more satisfying with each improvement, creating that sweet sense of progression.

By charging a special gem, Alva gains the power to push back obstacles blocking her path. The Tree reveals itself gradually, with these barriers pacing your exploration.

The team poured effort into perfecting both the visual and sound design for this ability.

With its tangled branches and towering verticality, the Great Tree presents a unique mapping challenge.

After testing flattened layouts (too confusing) and simple zoom-outs (too cluttered), the solution became clear: let's try a streamlined 3D map, navigated with a cursor.

In this mode, certain visual details fade away to highlight points of interest and path layouts.

But we didn't stop there. Pin a quest, and a visual guide lights up your path. Just follow the trail to your objective.

Getting lost? Nearly impossible now. Not that anyone would complain, really. More wandering means more time to enjoy Alexis' gorgeous compositions... Like this winter evening theme.