Before we get into this latest update, we wanted to highlight that we are almost at 200 reviews! Your feedback is invaluable to improving the game; if you haven't already done so, please consider leaving us a review on Steam and help us get to 200.
The Experimental Branch has just been updated! In this optional but public steam version of the game, if you’re interested, you can try out experimental features and changes and let us know your thoughts.
Here are the key highlights from the January update:
Tactician difficulty: initial implementation with enemy/player stat modifications, future iterations to make changes to enemy skillsets and decision-making.
Attack of opportunity: implementation complete with additional UI/polish.
Ranged skill debuff mechanic: characters wielding melee weapons inflict the Threatened status on adjacent characters, causing their effectiveness with ranged projectile attacks to be reduced.
Game speed can now be modified in the settings, allowing for up to 1.5x regular speed.
Tactical reposition: every character now has 1AP inherent skill which lets them swap places with an adjacent ally once per turn.
Respec: Unapply all attribute points for any party member by visiting an NPC in Gladeheim, allowing players to easily modify their builds.
Various fixes of bugs present in the previous experimental branch update, including fixing various issues with skill levels and summons.
Skill and item rebalancing.
Experimental Branch Q&A Please be advised that the Experimental Branch will contain bugs, save incompatibilities, crashes, and other issues that may impact the player experience. It is strongly recommended to play normally on the default branch, and only venture into the Experimental Branch if you want to try out some of the new features that are coming, often in a crude/developing state, and offer your feedback--or to track development progress in between major Early Access updates.
How can I play on the Experimental Branch? Simply go to your Steam library, right click the game, and select "Properties". Now, navigate to "Betas" and select "Beta Participation - experimental". If you ever want to switch back, simply return to this menu and select Beta Participation - None".
When can I expect more to be added? We don't have a set schedule for Experimental Branch updates, but we anticipate new updates coming every 1 to 2 months during EA, with the potential for more frequent or less frequent updates month-to-month.
Where should I leave feedback on a feature from the Experimental Branch? Feel free to connect with us in the Steam forums or our Discord server to let us know your input on an experimental feature.
Exciting news—achievements are officially live in the Sektar: Echoes of Fear demo! Plus, we’ve patched up a few pesky bugs to make the experience even better. Here’s what’s new:
Achievements: You can now unlock achievements as you play. Test your nerves and aim for 100%!
Puzzle Fixes: Solving puzzles will now actually open the doors like they’re supposed to. The days of getting stuck at terminals are over!
Breathing Stations: Completing the breathing minigame now properly lowers your fear level. Stay calm and carry on.
We’ve worked hard to make these updates for you, so jump back into the demo, try out the new features, and let us know what you think. Your feedback means everything to us!
- Cream Machine can now be purchased with tickets - Failing the "Follow Orders" mission will send the zombies into a rage, increasing their movement speed - Cream Machine no longer will re-roll the same item twice in a row - Fixed a bug that made zombies appear to sprint when still at walking speed - Fixed collision issues and zombie pathing
This is the second update. It's got some cool stuff that you have been asking for. I am focusing on "the fun stuff" for now, but I will begin to address the more technical issues that some of you have mentioned soon too.
Updated Features
Torch Mechanics: Torches work differently now. Lighting a torch will show it with a "*" like equipped armor and weapons. This torch can no longer be sold or placed in a chest, but it can be discarded (when you are not interfacing with a chest or trader) and that will put the torch out and remove it from your inventory. This is to support the stealth in darkness feature that was added to the last build. This places a natural limit on how many times you can turn the torch on and off.
Allies - Healing: From the Allies panel, you can examine your allies, and heal them if they are wounded AND you have bandages available.
Allies - Inventory: You can now trade freely with allies *in your party* and thy basically serve as extra inventory room now.
Fixes
Sell Button: When trading with an NPC the "Sell" button should now appear without having to switch between inventory screens.
Fleeing in the Overworld: Previously the Flee command, when performed in the overworld, would have your character run to a place behind a big rock. This was set prior to the rock being there (I moved it) and it was intended that you would flee to the starting place in the stone circle of the Zoogs. After you set up a tent, your fleeing place will be the tent. It may still happen if you started your game prior to this update and have not yet found the tent. This is normal, the change will only effect new games.
Fleeing in Dungeons: A couple players reported fleeing in a dungeon (Ghoul's Crag I believe) led them to a dark place under the level, where they could not escape from. As much as this sounds like a neat feature, I did not intend this. I was unable to reproduce it though, so I am not quite sure what's happening.
Please let me know if anyone experiences this again.
Take away the time pressure and concentrate on your shots. In Sandbox mode, the timer is hidden and the only score that matters is the final stroke count. Use input shortcuts to:
Teleport to your ball once it comes to rest (Hold Sprint button)
Collect Shot-affecting powerups without having to run the course (Hold Num1/Dpad Right)
Add a Glider/Runaway Cart powerup at any time to cruise the course (Hold Num2/Dpad Left)
Instead of a timer, track your stroke count for the current hole. When playing with others, instead of time splits, you'll receive score-to-par updates from your playing partners. The ball "highlight camera" will activate every time the ball first bounces. No need to chase after the ball to see the action! The ball trail is also shorter- giving you more visibility. *Note: no leaderboards for this mode, but your best score will save locally.
In-Game Speedrun Timer and Categories
Is completing every course as fast as possible in your blood? Check out Speedy Golf on Speedrun.com! Turn on the Speedrun timer in the Settings Menu. Then tee off to set a time in one of the following categories:
All Courses - Complete all 10 courses in one session in Speedy Classic mode.
Leap Frog Courses - Complete all 10 courses in one co-op session in Leap Frog mode. Note: can be played co-op online!
Career Any% - Defeat all Rivals and Tournaments in Career mode, starting from a fresh save.
The timer tool measures both In-Game course Time (IGT) and Loads Removed Realtime (LRT). We talk strategy and post our runs to the Speedy Golf Discord. We also do occasional game nights for players of any skill.
Three New Fun/Casual Gamemodes
Battle Tourney - Race the entire course, but every powerup is random. Players further back get better powerups! A powerup only affects players nearby and ahead of the player who used it. Same as the "Tournaments" in Career mode.
Brick Bombers - Soar into the sky with your Glider and drop Brick Walls in front of other players' golf balls on the fairway.
Ace Shootout - Shots go longer and there are plenty of Lucky Bounces and Power Shots available. How many Hole in Ones can you get?
Other Patch Notes
Adjustments
Improved wind mph number readability
Smoothed small non-critical path terrain on two courses: Pine Bluffs, City Scape
Adjusted the "Cart Jump" on Meyer Cliffs Hole 5 to have more Rough- less likely to be slowed down by Desert
Adjusted online leap frog final time calculation to be more strict for players with bad connections
Added a couple new hints to the Title Screen
Improved instruction on how to hide the Objectives Panel in Career Mode
Added ability to reset Solo Career Data, separate from High Scores reset
4 hats were made (ever so) slightly more effective
Headphones gives Leap Frog teammates 115% jump height in addition to previous bonuses
Sun Hat got a bug fix - it now applies to the "Rock" lie (4% speed boost) and Sand/Deep Rough speed increased from 16%->18% boost
With the Helmet equipped, when exiting/crashing the Runaway Cart, the player instantly sprints
With the Hardhat equipped, the player sprints immediately after using a Power Shot
Bug Fixes
Fixed 100% achievement not unlocking if stat point total was incorrect
Stat Points in Career mode can no longer be collected twice
Fixed right shank shot causing the blue bar to snap to filled
On 4K 16:9 displays, ensure 2560 x 1440 screen resolution is an option.
Removed "splash" sound effect when starting Leap Frog online on Birdie Grove and Palm Cove, which caused errors if playing on high ping
The character's held golf club now has a shadow when running
In Leap Frog Online, shot-affecting powerups used by your teammate will now play their sound effect
In Career tournaments, attacking powerups will now apply correctly if opponents are on the same hole and ahead, but not within 100 yards
Fixed an issue where Match Play update messages between holes could stop appearing
If a player tries to change club beyond Driver or below Putter, the club change sound effect no longer plays
And to top it off, how about a lower price? Speedy Golf is now $7.99 USD. Pick up a copy or two and try the unique co-op Leap Frog mode - either local couch co-op or online!
