Cortex Override

In a world where sentient machines govern our digital existence, a virus-like AI called Barracuda has infected the grid, birthing grotesque cybernetic monstrosities. You are the last uncorrupted nano-drone, a digital spark in a sea of static.

Controls:

Arrow keys (⬆️⬇️⬅️➡️): Move and navigate menus
❎ (Z or C): Use selected ability / Select menu option
🅾️ (X or V): Previous menu
Hold 🅾️: Open ability menu
P or Enter: Pause menu

Main Objectives

Initiate all terminals to execute system purge
Reach the extraction point

Extra challenges:

Collect all data shards
Eliminate all enemy units

Features

Fast-paced, top-down combat
Multiple abilities: Rifle Burst, Machine Gun, Missile Hail, Plasma Cannon
Roguelike elements: Upgrade your abilities between missions
Four distinct missions with unique challenges
Dynamic enemy AI with different behaviors
Interactive environment: Exploding barrels, laser doors, terminals
Mini-game for hacking terminals
Pixel art graphics with dynamic lighting and shadow effects

Terminals and Laser Doors:

Terminals are scattered throughout the game, with many linked to color-coded laser doors. Unlock terminals via a hacking mini-game to deactivate linked doors and access new areas. Some terminals aren't connected to doors but are still vital for the system purge. Hacking all terminals is crucial to complete the main objective.

Data Shards:

Data shards are vital collectibles scattered throughout each level. Each shard restores 25 health points and awards 50 credits when collected. Gathering all data shards in a level is an optional objective.

Entities

In Cortex Override, you'll encounter various entities, each with their own abilities and characteristics. Eliminating all entities in a level is an optional objective.

Corrupted Bots

Dervish
- Ability: Machine Gun
- Health: 50
- Attack Range: 60
- Kill Value: 100 credits
Vanguard
- Ability: Rifle Burst
- Health: 70
- Attack Range: 50
- Kill Value: 120 credits
Warden
- Ability: Missile Hail
- Health: 100
- Attack Range: 70
- Kill Value: 200 credits

Cybernetic Monstrosities

Cyberseer
- Abilities: Rifle Burst, Missile Hail
- Health: 160
- Attack Range: 80
- Kill Value: 300 credits
Quantum Cleric
- Abilities: Machine Gun, Plasma Cannon
- Health: 170
- Attack Range: 70
- Kill Value: 320 credits

Development

This game is developed as a single cartridge game using PICO-8, a fantasy console for making, sharing, and playing tiny games and other computer programs.

Title font: https://www.dafont.com/vermin-vibes-1989.font?text=cortex+override

Minified with: https://thisismypassport.github.io/shrinko8/