UI and Player Upgrades

UI

The Last Guard features a intro screen that has the players high score displayed, this was added to allow for replayablility as the player can play against themselves trying to optimize their archer. Once the start button is pressed a eyrie noise plays to try and send a chill down the players spine to prepare them for the zombie hordes.

Once in game there are two different pause menus: The map and the upgrades menus, these menus are accessed by pressing M for the map and K for the upgrades. Upgrades menu was originally set to escape but after some player feedback they suggested a different key as it closes fullscreen. The buttons were added down the bottom to show the buttons as well from player feedback.

The upgrade menu allows the player to spend the gold they have accumulated on upgrades to increase their chances of survival and allow them to push further for a better high-score.

Player Upgrades

The player upgrades are a big part of The Last Guards gameplay adding elements of strategy to the game. There are 6 player upgrades: Split Shot, Ranged Attack Speed, Piercing Arrow, Movement Speed, Melee Attack Speed and Life.

Split Shot

Split shot adds an extra arrow each upgrade. The first two upgraded arrows are shot out at a 15 degree angle from the original arrow, then every two arrow upgrades that increase by 15 degrees creating a split arrow effect.

Ranged Attack Speed

Ranged Attack Speed increases the attack speed of the bow attacks, this is based off the current attack speed of the bow so it has diminishing returns.

Piercing Arrows

For every piercing arrow upgrade allows the arrows to pierce through an extra zombie this in combination with split shot can be incredibly powerful.

Movement Speed

Each point increases the movement speed of the player

Melee Attackspeed

Each point adds attack speed to the melee attack.

Heal Life

Each point added will heal the player by 2 life (1 Heart) this can exceed the starting health.

Each upgrade increases the cost of the next as seen in Figure 1.