Shadow Drift

Shadow Drift is my first (solo-devleoped) game using pygame! It's a fast-paced arcade dodger: Avoid obstacles, collect coins and fruits, and survive as long as possible.  

Score increases with time, coin/fruit pickups, when shooting obstacles and when completing a phase. Hitting an obstacle costs health.  

The game ends when health reaches zero (it's endless).

After reaching enough points (500), you fight a Boss called "Shadow Guardian".

Then, there is a second Boss with the name "Rotten Shadow" who you can encounter by reaching an even higer score (1200).

Game States

- Start Screen – Press `ENTER` to begin or `ESC`.  

- Pause Menu – Press `ESC` (during play) to pause or resume.  

- Game Over – press `ENTER` to restart or `ESC` to quit.  

- Settings – Adjust audio and key bindings (for keyboard).

🕹️ Controls

| Action | Default Key | Description |

|--------|--------------|-------------|

| Move Up | `W` | Move upward |

| Move Down | `S` | Move downward |

| Move Left | `A` | Move left |

| Move Right | `D` | Move right |

| Shoot Up | `UP` | Shoot a fire ball upward (after collecting a chili) |

| Shoot Down | `DOWN` | Shoot a fire ball downward (after collecting a chili) |

| Shoot Left | `LEFT` | Shoot a fire ball left (after collecting a chili) |

| Shoot Right | `RIGHT` | Shoot a fire ball right (after collecting a chili) |

| Ability | `SPACE` | Activate ability (temporary invincibility) |

| Dash | `RETURN` | Quick burst in movement direction |

| Pause / Resume | `ESC` | Toggle pause menu |

| Fullscreen | `F11` | Toggle fullscreen mode |

- Controllers are supported! (However, keybinds cannot be changed as of now)

🍎 Items and Effects

| Apple | Grants 10 points |

| Blueberry | Restores health |

| Banana | Temporary speed boost |

| Chili | Grants temporary ability to shoot fireballs |

| Grapes | Grants extra life beyond base health |

| Pear | Kills all obstacles currently on screen, granting 1 point for each |

| Coin | Grants 2 points |

⚙️ System

- Resolution: 1280×720 (auto-scaled fullscreen)  

- Frame Rate: 60 FPS target  

- Save Data: stored in Documents/ShadowDrift/save.json   

- Settings: stored in Documents/ShadowDrift/settings.json

🧩 Credits

Created with Python 3.12 and Pygame.  

Developed by Raphael Glück