We’re excited to share a glimpse behind the scenes as we refine the vision for Wild Magic, currently in prototyping. This devlog dives into how we’re tackling the challenges of designing a game that’s both approachable and engaging while crafting a standout co-op shmup (shoot ‘em up) experience. Let’s get cooking!

Design Pillars: Making Shmups Approachable at a Glance 👀

When we began development, we knew shmups often struggle with the “screenshot test”—a single glance at the cluttered screen is enough to overwhelm new players. There is a lot of information overload–player health, scores, powerups, in addition to the numerous enemies and bullets flying across the screen!

Additionally, most shmups that come to mind are sci-fi themed, boasting of action-packed battles between spaceships. We wanted Wild Magic to offer something fresh, something new, for gamers who may be keen in the genre but not necessarily the theming of what’s out there.

To appeal to players who may be offput by how “unapproachable” shmups can seen, Wild Magic features a:

• Whimsical Art Style: Themed around food and vibrant characters, the visuals aim to welcome players who might otherwise find shmups intimidating
• Casual Appeal: By focusing on accessible gameplay and eye-catching art, we hoped to lower the barrier to entry

Example of a typical shmup (screenshot of Thunder Force IV)

Aside from the art style, the core experience this screenshot is communicating is the same as your typical shmup

However, despite the charm of Wild Magic’s worldbuilding and colorful characters, the core gameplay still mirrored traditional shmups. To truly stand out, we needed something more!

Experimenting with Progression Systems

One proposed solution was to introduce a progression system in the form of a player hub, allowing players to invest in upgrades using currency and resources accrued through engaging with the classic shmup gameplay loop. The goal of the progression system was to help players new to the genre, by ensuring they’re stronger after each play. Additionally, progression systems are seldom seen in the shmup genres, and could make Wild Magic a standout title!

The hub as it currently exists in Wild Magic.

Players can buy upgrades while in the hub.

However, we soon realized that while the progression system in the hub was functional, it wasn’t innovative enough to define Wild Magic and set it apart.

• Progression systems in and of itself are nothing new–buying upgrades, cooking up buffs, and farming for materials are often seen in more casual game genres–and better done/integrated, to boot!
• Focusing development on the hub made for two average features–the hub itself, and the core shmup gameplay. While trying to “find the fun” in the hub, we were taking precious time away from trying to “find the fun” in the rest of the game.

Instead of splitting our focus, we decided to return to the shmups mechanics and focus on how to truly innovate.

Reframing the Core Experience

The big question is thus: How do we innovate in the shmup genre?

We brainstormed various ways to make the Wild Magic player experience more unique by asking ourselves what we can provide that few other shmups do. Could we…

• Introduce fun mechanics that might put a spin on the game but not the genre–shields, parry, flashy skill animations?
• Lean heavier into a ramping power system, with random powerups, to make the gameplay more chaotic?

None of these ideas particularly stood out to us. However, while we were doing market research, we came to discover that not many shmups have co-op! And when they do, it’s not usually pushed as the unique selling point of the game.

Co-op in Wild Magic

Now that we were viewing Wild Magic as a multiplayer shmup experience, it opened the door for what we could try. Suddenly we could try introducing mechanics between players, instead of solely focusing on how other shmups have defined the genre.

We tried playing with player positionals, having them maneuver to each other offensively. As shmups greatly emphasize the importance of positioning and of knowing the field, introducing a mechanic that allows players to instantly swap positions or teleport around the playing field is a huge game changer.

We also tried adding player-to-player collision, to introduce another element of chaos and unpredictability.

We tried introducing various ways that the players can elevate each other–either by generating special charge when together, or by buffing one another through completing different actions.

We wanted to emphasize teamwork between players–this way, even if the players were unfamiliar with the shmup genre or were less technically skilled, they can still overcome obstacles and progress quite far into the game through the power of friendship!

And suddenly, the interactions between the players of Wild Magic was another tool at our disposal.

Player swapping positions

Buffing another player

Sharpening the Vision: Co-Op First

One major challenge we’ve faced is trying to cater to both single-player and multiplayer audiences. Designing levels for both playstyles either doubles the development scope or dilutes each individual experience. To address this, we’ve decided to focus entirely on co-op gameplay.

By committing to co-op, we can design levels, mechanics, and progression systems tailored to a single, well-defined audience–that being friends who enjoy gaming together! This focus allows us to make Wild Magic into an experience that feels cohesive and innovative, rather than one that’s spread thin!

We’re excited to bring you along as we refine the co-op chaos of Wild Magic! Want to experience the magic firsthand?

Please give the latest prototype a shot, and let us know what you think! Leave all feedback, comments, and compliments to the chef in the comments below (or on itch!!) Your feedback plays a huge role in shaping the game, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on the co-op mechanics, level design, and overall feel.

Jump in, team up with a friend, and help us create the ultimate co-op shmup experience. Try Wild Magic today on itch.io! 🎮✨

Wild Magic on itch.io

Wild Magic trailer on YouTube