Terran & the Wrath of the Wildwoods
A 2D wave defense game in Godot, where movement, ability cooldowns, and upgrades shape how the player survives increasingly demanding encounters.
Survival through movement and timing
Terran combines waves of enemies with a growing set of combat choices. The player moves through each encounter, manages abilities while they recharge, and gains upgrades that change how the next wave can be approached.
I built the gameplay systems in Godot with GDScript, connecting character movement, modular abilities, enemy behavior, and persistent progression.
Abilities built as separate scenes
The character uses CharacterBody2D and move_and_slide() for movement with collision handling. Four abilities are organized as reusable Godot scenes, keeping their behavior separate from the character’s movement code.
Timer nodes govern cooldowns, while damage tuning controls how much an ability contributes to an encounter. The relationship matters: an ability’s usefulness depends on both what it does and how often the player can use it. Separate scenes make those values easier to adjust as the combat develops.
Pressure that changes between waves
Area detection signals trigger enemy behavior, randomized spawning varies the encounters, and boss waves increase the demand on the player’s movement and ability choices. Together, those systems create a rhythm of immediate pressure and preparation for what follows.
Progression with a visible effect
An experience bar and level-up animations make progression visible. Upgrade arrays adjust properties such as spell radius, ammunition, and cooldown duration, connecting each choice to a concrete change in combat. Progression data is saved in JSON for continuity between sessions.
A related design study explores a broader question about game worlds: how environmental systems can respond to player actions. Read Dynamic Environmental Systems in RPGs for that separate investigation.