Devlog #001 — PULSE//ZERO Vertical Slice
The first vertical slice of PULSE//ZERO is playable. Here is what the slice proves, what it deliberately leaves out, and where the Living Grid goes next.
Welcome to the first Northforge Interactive devlog. We will use this journal to work in the open: what we are building, why, and what we are learning as we go.
What the slice proves
The PULSE//ZERO vertical slice exists to answer one question: does the Living Grid carry the game? The answer, so far, is yes. With twin-stick combat layered over a reactive arena and a dynamic synth soundtrack, the slice already produces the emergent, replayable moments we are chasing — the runs where the grid, the music and your fire line up and the whole screen sings.
The core loop the slice set out to prove: twin-stick fire, a power-up, and a grid that answers back.
What is in the slice:
- Core twin-stick movement and firing
- A first pass at the reactive Living Grid
- An opening set of power-ups
- A dynamic synth track that responds to intensity
- Steam Deck-first input and readability
What we left out (on purpose)
A vertical slice is a knife, not a net. We deliberately scoped out meta-progression, the full enemy roster, and most of the audio mastering. The goal was to validate the core loop, not to ship content.
Where the grid goes next
Next milestone work focuses on deepening the Living Grid’s reactivity — more expressive surges, clearer telegraphing, and tighter coupling between the grid and the soundtrack. We will report back in Devlog #002.
The reactivity we’re pushing further — the floor folding and rippling under everything happening on it.
If you want to follow along, the best way right now is to check back here. More channels to come.
- pulse-zero
- milestone
- vertical-slice