Does anyone out there remember who I am? I'm the person behind Dark Space, the finest video game entertainment ever crafted by man, beast, or god. Alright, well, maybe the game isn't THAT good, but I can assure you that it just got a whole lot better with a massive update that just went live.

I've been toiling on the game ever since the last time I updated and wrote about it. This update finally adds in everything I ever wanted to include in the game (with the exception of a soundtrack, but we'll come back to this point); there are two brand-new stages, completely playable on both difficulty modes, a new type of orbital that can be unlocked by clearing out the first four stages in a single run, and some new cinematic sequences that you'll experience on your way to and through the new stages. I've spoiled the effects of the new Exibe + Yveci orbital combination in the above image and animation, but the other combinations are a mystery!

The download has also been updated to include a text document that serves to describe many aspects of Dark Space. It's rather lengthy and contains a bounty of information covering the controls, the orbital combinations, and the stage hazards, among other topics. However, I opted to exclude information about the brand-new stages and orbital coming with this update. You'll have to play the game for yourself if you want to unlock and discover them!

In addition to all of these major updates, many facets of existing gameplay elements have been refined. A few odd and rare glitches have been unearthed and properly dealt with, including a particularly nasty one with the damage numbers above enemies that was capable of crashing the game under the right circumstances. Other small modifications and additions have been written in the update log below for you to read about.

This game is finally completed, so there will no longer be any more gameplay updates, unless a horrible glitch of some sort that somehow eluded testing all this time surfaces and rears its ugly head. However, be on the lookout for a small update sometime in the future that will add an original soundtrack to Dark Space! I can't make any confirmations about when such an update will occur, but it will hopefully be sooner than later.

Anyway, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who kept up with the progress of this game throughout its development as well as anyone who is just seeing this game and is interested in trying it out. Thank you! I began this project back on September 10, 2016, and it grew and grew until I finally finished it today, on November 10, 2018. It's been a long and sometimes grueling two years and two months, but I'm really glad to finally have my dream project finished and shared with the whole Internet. It has been raining for the past few days and today has presented me with the first snowfall of the year in my area; rainy days have always been my lucky days, and I love cold weather. Well, I seem to be going off on a tangent, so I'll wrap it up here. Go download and play this game already!

== VERSION 4.0 CHANGES ==

• Dark Space now comes packaged with a text document that explains all sorts of things about the game! While it covers most of the game details, it excludes information about the new final stages (see the next item on this list) and new orbital (see the item after the next item on this list).
• Two hidden, extra-tough stages and an alternate ending have been added for skilled players who aren't troubled by the existing stages! As usual, these stages can be played on either difficulty setting, but you'll have to prove your worth first by clearing the other stages without using a continue!
• A sixth and final orbital type is now unlockable by completing the first four stages in a single playthrough on any difficulty setting, raising the total number of weapon combinations to 28! Will you be able to discover this mysterious orbital's powers?
• There's an all-new ending for those who can get through the new stages! What will happen to the Dark Space?
• Two additional unlockables related to the new stages have been added to the Extras menu.
• Three hidden medals that unlock under certain circumstances and display on the main menu have been added.
• A rare glitch allowing Schkitaska to catch and hold onto a small enemy or projectile while taking damage has been fixed.
• An exceedingly rare glitch that caused the game to potentially crash when damaging the same enemy three or more times at once and having the damage numbers option toggled on has been discovered and fixed.
• Several enemies that previously did not make sound effects when firing projectiles now do.
• All cinematic sequences, not just the introductory cinematic sequence, can now be skipped if you don't want to watch them through.
• The previous reduction to the Azero + Inomi orbital combination has been reverted. It inflicts the fire status on enemies for the original amount of time after they exit the weapon's range.
• A countless number of other minor alterations have been made to all sorts of things in order to improve the gameplay experience. This list would be unapologetically lengthy if I had bothered to list every single thing, so be glad I didn't!
• ...A secret little extra something somewhere in the main menu? Where??? I want it!!!