Yes, I'm still alive; yes, I'm still interested in updating Dark Space! I've been hard at work on a massive update to complete the game and polish off the existing features (sadly, music is still absent from the game, but there are plans to get an original soundtrack, along with other content, into the game with a future update).

The biggest part of this update is the addition of a fourth and final stage. Unlike previous updates, where I first finished the stage on one difficulty before adding another version to be playable on the other difficulty, the stage is entirely complete and can be played on both the Easy and Hard difficulties. This stage is a little different from all the others; it is a boss rush-type stage with a few waves of enemies scattered in between the bigger fights. Achthynx and its greatest weapon await those who can make it all the way to the end in one piece... There is also one new bonus challenge pertaining to the final fight in this stage.

Other big additions include the two new cinematic sequences; an opening and ending have been added to the game for your viewing pleasure. Additionally, the end-of-stage screens have been updated with a unique illustration for each. Hopefully these make the game feel a little livelier.

I also tinkered with the balance of the orbital weapons; most of the changes have just been reductions in power of the stronger combinations to bring them more in line with the other weapons.

There have also been a number of other, minor changes; you can see all of the changes in the list of changes below.

Although the game is now done, I am still planning on future updates to add music, additional stages for players who have finished a run without using continues, and the "???" gameplay mode. However, I am currently leaning towards beginning a brand-new project (keep an eye out!) before I return to work on Dark Space again. Thank you for playing Dark Space and keeping up with its progress, and I hope you enjoy the completed game!

== VERSION 3.0 CHANGES ==

• The missing fourth stage, Achthynx's stage, is now complete and fully playable on either difficulty setting! Now you can freely challenge any of the available Dark Space Scourges.
• As usual, with a new level comes a new bonus challenge in the Extras menu!
• Dark Space now has an introductory cinematic! It will be the first thing you encounter after beginning a new game on Easy or Hard difficulty.
• Dark Space also has an ending cinematic as well! Will you be able to complete the four levels and witness it?
• The congratulatory screens that appear upon successful level completion have been updated! Each one now has some unique text and a special illustration.
• Your high scores for both Easy and Hard difficulties are now displayed on the main menu!
• The F5 key has had its functionality adjusted; it now maxes out the size of the game screen while maintaining the original aspect ratio as opposed to toggling the buggy full-screen feature.
• A small buff for the essence store... Jifrelles now has multiple expressions! Just don't try to purchase anything you can't afford, okay?
• The real Jifuzylles will now always fire before any illusions during every cycle.
• The projectiles launched by Hate Face and the enemies thrown by the mantis miniboss in Mhollohm's stage are now affected differently by Inomi weapons.
• (Easy difficulty) The wave projectiles launched by the fish-like enemies move more slowly.
• The bombs launched by the sea anemone-like enemies in Jifuzylles's stage were previously unable to be slowed down by Inomi weapons due to an oversight; this has been fixed.
• Projectile-based Ujafu weapons (aside from Exibe + Ujafu, due to its nature) will no longer despawn without an explosion when fired from positions sufficiently close to the right end of the screen.
• The Azero + Inomi orbital combination inflicts the fire status on enemies for half the time after they exit the weapon's range.
• The Azero + Exibe orbital combination inflicts the fire status on enemies for half the time.
• The Azero + Ujafu orbital combination has been adjusted; its firing rate has been halved, there is no longer a conical spread of projectiles, and enemies get less invulnerability time before they can be damaged again.
• The Inomi + Ujafu orbital combination deals slightly less damage per second.
• The flashing animation of the explosive bombs used by some enemies has been adjusted to have greater contrast between frames.
• The volume of sound effects has been reduced.
• The menu confirmation sound effect will no longer play when advancing past transition screens or leaving the essence store.
• Other very minor changes and improvements have been made... I couldn't be bothered to list them all!