Terible article title? Perhaps, but I put a happy face after it. Checkmate.

New levels

Instead of 2 levels, Down Ward now has 8 levels. (Not including the ending scene level.)

The Previously Omitted 3rd Level

I happen to be a fan of hard platform games, and I wanted to include levels that reflect that affinity, but I also didn’t want the difficulty spike between the 2nd and 3rd level to force me into the witness protection program.

The fabled original 3rd level, The Castle, that I initially omitted from the jam version is now playable. be warned, I omitted it because I was not sure if it was beatable. Probably a good call in retrospect. It was and is beatable, and I have completed it several times at this point, but it is also brutally hard when you first encounter it.

It also now comes after several other levels, and it will take some effort to reach it. So it is not actually the 3rd level any more.

Additionally, there is an even harder level after it. The Fortress level.
If anyone manages to beat either, feel free to message me through GameJolt or on Twitter @Fisholith . :)

Note: In the future, I plan to add an “easy” mode to the game that will include a checkpoint system. For now, be warned. Be warned! D:

GameBoy / Wide-Screen Key

You can now toggle GameBoy resolution and Wide-Screen resolution with the “Y” key.

Music Volume Key

You can now cycle through music volumes with the “M” key.

Rustling

There was initially a lack of rustling, but no more. Now there is a rustling system to ensure that rustling occurs where needed. By this I simply mean that tree leaves are a little rustley now.

Rain

There are two levels with a rain effect I’m trying out at the moment.

Graphics

There are some new types of trees.
Some new background elements have been added as well.

Audio

Sliding blocks now have a suitably weighty stopping sound.
There have been some tweaks to other bits of audio as well.

More Control Schemes

• Setups: | ZX-style | Loose | Tight | WASD

• ---

• Move: | Arrows | Arrows | Arrows | WASD

• Jump: | Z | Space | Space | K

• Attack: | X | G | V | J

• Zoom: | Shift | F | C | L

(I use “Loose”)

Secrets

I’ll explain more about this in a future update, but for now…

Secrets! D:

(Special note: The inspiration to incorporate some of the additional content through an in-game secret system originates from my hunting down the secrets in Virtually Competent’s Rough & Tumble. I love games that reward exploration, and secrets tend to be a fun way to do that.)