v0.9.0 (stable)
A crash bug was found in this release, which is fixed in v0.9.1 - I recommend downloading that one instead.
🍎 (Not updated yet) For Mac OS, consider using the 3rd party build from macsourceports.com. Unlike the build attached here, it's a universal build for both Intel and Apple Silicon (ARM64) Macs, and it's also signed and notarized.
ℹ️ Also see Steam Deck guide, Flatpak version, Raspberry Pi/Odroid Go guide
Overview
This release adds the gameplay demo and a few visual effects that were still missing in RigelEngine. Parity with the original is also improved in terms of gameplay, with various smaller inconsistencies now fixed and a newly added "Classic" mode which replicates every single quirk, glitch and bug found in the original (game-breaking bugs excluded).
In terms of bug fixes, several issues related to handling of file paths with Unicode characters on Windows have been addressed, alongside some other smaller problems.
Known issues
- There is a crash in level 1 of episode 2 (fixed in v0.9.1)
- On Windows, Unicode characters in mod directories are displayed as
?in the mod manager. This is only a visual issue, the mods in these directories can still be loaded. Workaround: Give ASCII-only names to mod directories. - In enhanced mode, the player position is slightly off after dismounting ladders while facing left. This doesn't cause any noticeable problems, it's just an inconsistency with the original. This does not occur in Classic mode.
Release notes
New features
- Added a "Classic" gameplay style/mode. It doesn't support widescreen mode or smooth motion, but is 100% accurate to the original. Quick-saving and high-resolution mods are still supported. See Classic Mode vs. Enhanced Mode for more details.
- Implemented the gameplay demo (plays during the attract mode loop at the beginning of the game or after waiting for 30 seconds in the main menu).
- Implemented the original game's cloak effect, replacing the previously used alpha transparency.
- Implemented the original game's slide-in animation when showing message boxes.
- Added an option to disable the radar overlay when using the "Remixed 1" HUD style.
- Added an option to disable aspect ratio correction when using pixel-perfect upscaling (aka integer scaling). This is to allow running RigelEngine on a 4:3 CRT at original (or close to) resolution.
- It's now possible to confirm quitting by pressing enter instead of
Y(but the latter also still works). - Pressing ESC while in-game now brings up the in-game menu (this was previously only accessible by using a gamepad). Pressing Q now does what ESC used to do, i.e. bringing up the "Quit" dialog without going through the menu.
Parity improvements
- Fixed (very) minor discrepancies in the color palette.
- Added missing horizontal parallax for vertically autoscrolling backdrops.
- Fixed oversight in player movement: In the original, Duke cannot move left/right when hanging from a pipe as long as the fire button is held down.
- It was possible for an enemy to get hit by multiple player shots per frame, but this isn't possible in the original. Now Rigel doesn't allow that anymore either.
- Hint machine messages cannot be interrupted by other messages in the original game, but this was possible in Rigel - now fixed.
- Handling of shootable walls now matches the original.
- The watchbot (jumpy robot with a big eye) was jumping too frequently, it now matches the original.
- Fixed discrepancies in behavior for the wall walker enemy.
- Fixed discrepancies in behavior for the green cat/dog creature.
- Fixed discrepancies in behavior for the spiked dragon/lizard creature.
- Fixed discrepancy in the cooldown period for manual scrolling after firing a shot.
- Fixed player starting location being off by one in levels where the player starts out facing left.
- Fixed incorrect animation speeds for Rigelatin space ship engine fire, shallow water, and rotating floor spikes.
- After being released from their box, certain items have a brief period during which they can't be picked up yet. This was missing in RigelEngine.
Bug fixes
- On Windows, RigelEngine couldn't store saved games, options, or the location of the game files if the Windows username contained Unicode characters. This is now fixed.
- Fixed loading mods from paths with Unicode characters on Windows.
- Fixed saving screenshots to paths with Unicode characters on Windows.
- Fixed graphical glitches (bright lines appearing next to certain sprites) that could occur on some systems when high-res graphic replacements were used.
- Fixed being able to walk through walls under specific circumstances.
- In widescreen mode, when using one of the remixed HUD options, the classic HUD will be shown as fallback in case the current screen resolution's aspect ratio is not wide enough for the selected HUD style. In that case, it was possible to walk behind the right side of the HUD (i.e., the gameplay area extended beyond the HUD). This is now fixed.
- Framerate drops could cause the game to advance a few frames into the future without respecting player input. This is now improved.