Howdy! Today I'm coming at you with an update that has shorter patch notes, but actually brings quite a bit to the table. With this update. the refactor of Shield Cat is complete! Now I can focus on all new content, so please keep an eye out for that.

Several things have been added or changed in this update, so please take a look at the notes:

===== NEW =====

• You can now hold the button to auto-use certain abilities instead of having to mash the button.
• You can now change what active abilities Lance is using! As more are implemented, you'll have a wider range to choose from...
• Several features have been added to the Debug Menu. Use Ctrl+Shift+F10 to enable debug features, and then you'll find the options on the pause menu.
• A font picker has been added so you can change the font used on the menus.
• You can finally read the signs! On-screen prompts will tell you what input to use.

===== IMPROVED =====

• The menu graphics have now been improved!! It's got the same aesthetics, but everything is nicer and higher quality.
• Menus will now remember what selection you had hovered when you return to them (reset when you close the menu.)
• The gamepad(s) not involved in input will no longer vibrate (for instance if you're primarily using the keyboard.)
• The mouse hover function no longer runs on mobile (game mistakingly takes the last place you tapped as a hover, causing weird menu issues.)

===== RESTORED FEATURES =====

• Lance can now get a game over. Now you have to actually play correctly.

===== CHANGED =====

• Changed the menu confirm sound after some feedback.
• Changed enemy spawn rates and position depending on difficulty mode to ease up difficulty spikes.
• Lance can now slightly adjust his angle when doing a backward skid.
• Evil Squirrels now have improved animations!
• Previously collected collectables will now reappear when re-entering a stage, and will grant Pretty Petals if you collect them again.
• Some screens/areas can be marked as "peaceful" and Lance will not be able to use abilities there (for towns and whatnot, but for now only works in Lance's house.)

===== BUG FIXES =====

• Fixed an issue where the game crashes if you throw Lance's shield by a door.
• Fixed an issue where the hovered selection in the menu wasn't updated properly when using the mouse/touch input.
• Fixed a bug where the prompt for deleting a saved game could sometimes not actually present an option to delete the saved game.
• Fixed an issue with the Steam version on Linux where the game wouldn't launch due to an incorrect configuration (this was fixed and pushed through prior to this update's release.)
• Fixed an issue where the game recalculating Lance's stats and/or healing him could limit his max speed unintentionally.
• Fixed a bug where the game could automatically load save files from newer versions of Shield Cat from the older version, causing data loss, when the debug option "Skip Intros" is enabled. Do not play the old version after updating to this one.

===== KNOWN BUGS =====

• Marcus gets stuck on walls and can't smoothly walk along them.
• When going to Marcus' Adventure and then to the Mode 7 Test Room, the floor is no longer drawn.
• Marcus' screen transition doesn't work in certain scenarios.
• When Lance is moving between screens, certain animations don't play correctly.
• The CRT Glow is broken in certain configurations.
• The exact scale you've collected can change between builds if the room was updated and more scales were added.
• Sometimes the grass randomization routine doesn't run.

Special Thanks

A special thanks to the following Patrons and everyone who supports me:
Accalia, Shadow8t4, BeepSterr, BenTheDragon, Bizarre Machinist , David Wolfpaw, Caliburn Absolute, Chris Badger, Clover Arizona, Spyduck, Cloud Hop, Fao, FaultBat, Flake, FoxyDude, Nutalie Frost, Gri, Goronhead, Holly Hoppet, Holly 'Frinkel' Lotor, JD Laclede , Jyrki, Kaylex Deer , Hulex Fox, Kirbizard, Kaypar, Trash, LF, Luna, Luna Moona the Little Kahuna , Durk Vash, Markus Joseph Kitsinger , Marlyn, Maxine Red, Mello the Ferret, Midori, Nenekiri Bookwyrm, Axel Husky , NovaSquirrel, Otarine, Ripp_, Rix, Cam D'Arcy, SUSHiCLAWS, Saxxon Fox, Scylla-Leeezard , Ansel Geisel, Susan Tolias, Tabby Cromarty, Vivee, meerm, megaRammy, raine

(Are you a patron but your name isn't on the list? Message me!)