The Ecliptic deck update brings fresh tension to Andrew Kennan’s Amiga strategy RPG, adding a new level and several gameplay improvements. In this latest devlog, players take their squad of robots onto deck five, where they face an opposing team tasked with recovering the derelict ship. The result is a scenario that sharpens the game’s tactical focus and heightens its atmosphere.
New Challenges on Deck Five
The new level introduces a rival faction, forcing players to adapt their tactics. Combat is no longer just against alien threats but against another organized crew with their own objectives. This shift adds a layer of unpredictability and makes each encounter more dynamic. Fans of classic inspirations like Space Crusade and UFO: Enemy Unknown will recognize the influence in how objectives and survival must be carefully balanced.
Gameplay Refinements
Several technical changes also shape this update. Explosions and heavy impacts now produce a screen-shaking effect, giving battles a more visceral feel. Lighting has been reworked so that any object—not just player units—can act as a light source, making shadows and visibility more strategic. Enemy behavior has been improved too; monsters can now seek cover, retreat intelligently, and even backtrack when needed. These adjustments deepen the tactical options available to players.
Performance and Polish
Behind the scenes, Kennan has tightened the codebase. Function inlining and optimization have trimmed more than 50KB from the executable, boosting performance on original Amiga hardware. Numerous bugs were addressed, though as the developer humorously notes, new ones may have slipped in. Such transparency underscores the project’s active development and community focus.
A Retro-Futuristic Vision
True to its aesthetic roots, Ecliptic continues to channel the look and feel of late-70s and 80s sci-fi cinema. Its Amiga presentation captures the claustrophobic dread of exploring a haunted vessel in deep space, echoing films like Aliens. With each update, the project grows closer to its goal of blending role-playing depth with tactical combat in a distinctly Amiga-styled package.
Fans of strategy, retro sci-fi, and Commodore Amiga development will want to see this update in action. The video showcases how these refinements come together, making Ecliptic an experience worth following closely.
