[PC, FREE DEMO] Hyper-5 shmup is now released!

[jamespaterson]

DEEP SPACE SCOUT SHIP HYPER-5 RESPONDS TO AN UNKNOWN DISTRESS BEACON.
A TERRIFYING ENEMY AWAITS.

Announcement Trailer (YouTube)





Hi all! I am a solo, “spare time” indie developer from Oxford, UK and have been working on my first title “Hyper-5” for about 2.5 years. The game is a horizontally-scrolling shmup inspired by classics from the “golden era” of my childhood. As such Hyper-5 is a bucket-list project for me rather than a commercial enterprise.

I am roughly 75% through initial development and have reached the point of having a playable alpha of the first three levels. If anyone is interested in joining the Awesome Alpha Testing Squadron then please send me a DM.
I’ll post more news / screenshots etc here as the development continues. Thanks for your interest!

http://www.hyper-5.com
feedback AT hyper-5.com

[Arity]

Looks beautiful! Would be happy to try out the alpha and provide feedback at some point.

[jamespaterson]

Hi Arity! Thanks for the positive feedback. I like the escort concept in your Dark Star game BTW!
I will send you a PM re: the alpha build of Hyper-5. All the best!

[jamespaterson]

hi all!

Firstly sorry for the lack of updates, the time I have had available for this project has been put into development rather than outreach but I will try to do better on this in the future.
I am very pleased to announce the release of the first public demo of Hyper-5 on itch.io:

https://hyper-5.itch.io/hyper-5

Here is a new image from the game to whet the appetite

[jamespaterson]

Hi All!
Many thanks to everyone who downloaded the first demo of Hyper-5. I have had a lot of helpful feedback which is great.
The main new features for the V2 demo are:

Configurable “Play Styles”
Choose between the existing “Progression” mode, or “Precision” mode which is more tuned to fit feedback from shmup enthusiasts.



Arcade Mode
Play a streamlined run-through from the first level, starting with only default weapon power. See how far you can get with one “quarter”!



In-game Weapon Power Boosts for Precision play style and Arcade Mode



HP Tweaking
Overall adjustment of health and weapon damage, and damage bonuses for the “Incinerator” and “Needle” weapons on certain enemies.

I have also made some good progress on the final two levels of the game. Level 4 is a deep, dark underwater cave where light is scarce and Hyper-5 comes under attack from strange biological creatures. Here are a few screenshots showing the action:




Thanks and do please try out the V2 demo if you have time:

https://hyper-5.itch.io/hyper-5

[jamespaterson]

Hello all - I am getting some SQL errors posting an update here so this is just to test if I can post a simple message

[jamespaterson]

Hi All! Many thanks to everyone who downloaded the V2 demo of Hyper-5. It has been really interesting to compare the playing experience of shmup fans with less experienced players. I have a few new features for V3 demo to share:

1) Player tips: When you die and / or finish a level, the game now shows some contextual tips to assist playing.
2) Terrain visibility: I have added some details which should make it more obvious where the ground is. Don’t crash into it! ??
3) Armoury UI tweaks: Improvements to streamline and clarify the UI
4) Route holograms: Some of the levels feature branching paths, I have added in “route hologram markers” to assist visualisation.

I am probably a month or so away from being able to send off the last two levels to the Awesome Alpha Testing Squadron which is exciting! Level 5 is longer than the other levels and set on a strange, toxified island full of giant insects and ancient alien machinery:




Thanks and do please try out the V3 demo:
https://hyper-5.itch.io/hyper-5

[jamespaterson]

Hi all!
Just a quick note to say the steam page for Hyper-5 is now up and open for wishlisting please

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1662090

To celebrate I have also made a new announcement trailer which you can view here:

https://youtu.be/PmIBAia6yiw

Best,

jamie

[heli]

Add to PS4, waiting...

[jamespaterson]

Thanks - would love to do a console port if the opportunity presents itself
Will have to see how the PC version is received first. Fingers crossed!

[jamespaterson]

Hi All,
Just to round of this thread my game was released yesterday on itch.io and steam
Both platforms have a free demo to download of course. Thanks!

Here is a link to the release trailer (youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53mxZqSuLg

And links for the demo / full game:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1662090/Hyper5/
https://hyper-5.itch.io/hyper-5