Ducktective Bill

Ducktective Bill is a boss-centric, timing-driven 2D sidescroller set in a witty, late-19th-century noir city. There’s no inventory and no stat grind—your progress comes from skill, not numbers. Read each enemy’s telegraphed attack and choose the right answer every time: block, parry, or dodge. Between encounters, solve small, diegetic puzzles that feel like real detective work and keep the pacing fresh. What you’ll do - Master fair, readable combat. Every attack broadcasts its intent: - Blockable (safe to guard), Parryable (counter out of block with tight timing), Dodge-only (unblockable / block-break), and Neutral (either response works). Multi-hit strings are block-only for clarity. - Fight memorable weirdos. From a trio of street pigeons teaching core mechanics to two pigeons in one trench coat who split mid-fight. - Solve quick, no-inventory puzzles. One-screen environmental reads (postboxes, market signs, chalk marks) that gate encounters naturally. - Hang out at the office hub. Your oddball team poses and comments as you pick cases and characters. Content included at launch - 1 Small Case — “Breadcrumb Case.” - 2 micro-areas & 2 puzzles: Postbox Clue (residential) → Old Market Alley (sign & symbol matching). - Encounters: Minion Trio tutorial fight → Miniboss: Pigeon Disguise (2 phases, split rule) → Case Boss. - Hub Office: Single room with cast poses and simple Case/Character select. - Progression: Cosmetic currency and an end-of-case rank screen (time, hits taken, parry rate). - Single-player experience focused on short, replayable runs (No-Hit/time challenges and alternate puzzle routes). Why it feels good - Pure skill, no power creep. Unlocks are skins, characters, story/areas—not bigger numbers. - Snappy, responsive moveset. Light 3-hit, heavy 2-hit, block→parry flow, and a short-i-frame dodge. No stamina bar; the risk comes from wind-ups, recovery, and enemy armor on key swings. - High readability. Color/pose telegraphs per attack type, distinct SFX, satisfying hitstop and micro-screen shake on impact. Who it’s for Players who love timing-based combat (reading patterns more than grinding stats), bite-sized sessions, and a dry sense of humor wrapped in pixel-art noir. Note: Future updates are planned to add more cases, bosses, and playable characters. The launch version already includes the full Breadcrumb Case described above.