So, I am making a 2D side scroller/auto-scroller, shooter game. Currently the player has a few actions, movement, attack, and small form.

Attacks can be charged to release a bigger shot, or just tap the attack button for a small shot.

Small form is meant to give you a smaller hit box, at the expense of not being able to attack in said form.

The issue is that it doesn’t feel good to play. Any ideas on how to make it more fun? I have been considering changing holding the attack key from charging a big attack to just rapid firing.

Hi TheJesterGuy,

Make the bigger attack more exciting

1. Make it look different (besides just bigger).
   1. Use different colors, add particles
   2. Make the weapon look different as it's charging.
      1. Make it glow red like it's getting hot.
      2. Add some smoke , sparks, electrical arcs
      3. Make the weapon shake the more it's charged. Make the player Feel the power of the charging
2. Make it sound different. Maybe use a charging sound that increases in pitch / volume.
3. Make it act different.
   1. Maybe the projectile of a charged shot leaves a glowing trail behind
   2. The bigger the shot, the more debris it creates when it hits something.
   3. Maybe the debris can damage the enemies
   4. Make the screen shake when the charged projectile hits something.
4. I like your idea of having an enemy not be able to attack after getting hit. Take it a step further - make the enemy look like they're hurt. Maybe they fall down (assuming they're not vehicles) and bleed?

Good luck!

How are your enemies? It's the interaction with them that makes gameplay feel good or not, so you'll need interesting attack waves, and ideally some that make use of your special abilities.

Are there there enemies or enemy waves that you can dispatch much better if you're able to time a charged shot properly?

Are there waves where you gain an advantage by switching to small form to go between enemies instead of around around them?