Enemies...

There are very few video games that don't have enemies in some shape or form. If not some foot soldiers of opposing force, then the player struggles against the environment, or runs against an ever decreasing time limit. Firebat - Revolution has seven enemies at the time of writing of this article, but they aren't trying to get rid of the player's character - the brave little Firebat girl, who took up the mantle from Cayo Gaius. They cannot actually interact in a meaningful manner with the player, but they interact with the Sphera and the projectiles. These enemies have some common attributes that they share, like having a set hit point, getting damaged by the Sphera and projectiles and that most of them are spawned by an invisible spawner object. This object can be set per level, deciding what enemy should it spawn, how many can it hold, how many enemies should be on the screen, spawn time, direction and even if the spawned enemy is supposed to be active or not.

The most basic enemy is the Magma Worm and they live in, or near volcanoes. They only have 1 hit point, and worth a low amount of score. They just roll along the wall they are spawned next to, doing nothing, except redirecting the Sphera, when it hits the Magma Worm.

The Fire Skulls are spirits born of lava from the back of the Sentient Volcanos roaming the second island. They have more to do, with their 15 hit points, chase the closest Sphera and redirect it when touching, with no consequence to its own safety. This action can be bad for the player, if they bounce the Sphera out. But also good, if they bounce it between themselves and some bricks, fast breaking holes in a bigger formation.

The Arcade Flyers are half mechanical, half crystal based contraptions. They make their appearance on only one level: the Lost Arcade. They are moving opposite the player with a sinus movement and with 3 hit points they don't pose too much threat to the Sphera. They are one of the enemies that spawn some powerups.

The Witch Fruits are the most wicked enemies in the game, grown from Witch Trees. They have 25 hit points, so hard to get rid of. Though they cannot turn on their own, if they see the Sphera or any projectile in front of them, they make a powerful blow of pressurized air that redirects them. The players have to be on their toes if they are around. They also, mockingly laugh when they manage to ruin the player's plans.

The Small Snakes live in the Caustic Swamps and are basically the 5 hit points version of the Magma Worms, only they are moving within an invisible box on a level. They choose a direction, and move there for a short time, before deciding to change course. Their "AI" accounts for the set boundaries, so they never leave it, preferring a side step against a complete 180 degree turnaround.

The Small Spiders are special enemies. After spawning, they run across the screen, and if they touch a falling powerup, they immediately cocoon it. This Cocoon is also counted as a 1 hit point enemy, which after being destroyed gives back the powerup. The spiders have 5 hit points, so they aren't strong. After a while they start to descend on a thread of spider silk and they even meet their doom out of the level (no score!), or the player can collect them on the pad, making it possible to score up when the Sphera hits them.

Spikey is a mechanical contraption and was made from an alloy of the metal from Spheras and unpurified iron. Though it has 10 hit points, it also has a Dark Sphera floating around it, deflecting Spheras and projectiles alike. Spikey otherwise moves within the level's boundaries, but always on one axis at a time.

Bosses...

There are four bosses in the game right now ready to bring havoc, but I already know there will be one other boss (but sort of hard to meet), besides Morningstar himself, making it a total of 6 bosses. There are several minibosses in the game, hidden or in the way, but bosses always give an extra life after the first defeat, and minibosses don't.

The Great Dragon is one of the Lieutenants of Morningstar and the guardian of the Ancient Firebat Planes. He resides over the False Sky, one of the imitation celestial objects on the ceiling of the Underworld.

The Phoenix is the second Lieutenant of Morningstar. She has the power of resurrection, which makes her a dangerous adversary. Her egg is near the exit of the Sentient Volcanos island and there she lies resting, when not actually on guard duty.

The Evil Witch is an ancient overgrown Witch Fruit. She has all the characteristics of the "normal" ones: hangs from her hair, and has a powerful blow to redirect Spheras and projectiles alike. Also can shoot shrink-spheres from her eyes (well shrink for the pad, but if it hits a Phantom Bat, or a Wall of Books, they are destroyed). She also adorns herself with much younger Witch Fruits, and all this makes her very dangerous.

TIM-13-42 is NOT a Lieutenant. Though it blocks the way at the end of the Industrial Outskirts, it's out of order. The player has to restart TIM-13-42 with some new parts, to make it possible to enter the City of Illusions. Of course, being a machine still means that it has some kind of purpose...

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: REDACTED!

Morningstar. He is the main villain of the story, the subjugator of the Firebats and the final confrontation before the Firebats could exit to the Overworld. I do have ideas how this boss will work, but I haven't made it yet. :)

What is your favorite enemy of all time in a video game? :)

See You next time!

László (Coyote) Eszik