For this development update, I've focused heavily on a complete overhaul of the core game loop and user interface. The primary goal was to remove friction, give the player more control.

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:

• Player-Paced Level Progression Now, after a level is won and the score bonus animation plays, a "Next Level" button appears. This gives players a moment to breathe and decide when they are ready to continue.

• Streamlined Win & Loss Sequences I've completely rebuilt the logic for the "Game Over" and final "Path Complete" screens. Instead of loading entirely new scenes, these now function as dynamic pop-ups within the main gameplay scene. This makes transitions feel seamless and instantaneous. 

• Enhanced Player Agency & New Options The pause menu and end-of-game screens are now much more functional, offering players clear choices:
• Pause Menu: You can now find a "Restart" button, which resets the current level attempt. You can also return to the "Main Menu" directly from here.
• Game Over Screen: Players can now choose to "Try Again" on the level they failed or return to the main menu to "Choose Girl" (select a new path).
• Note on Resets  "Restart" (from pause) and "Try Again" (from game over) function differently.
• Restart is a "soft reset": it reverts your score and lives only to what they were at the start of that specific level, preserving your overall run.
• Try Again is a "hard reset": it starts a completely new run (score and lives reset to zero), but with the convenience of starting on the level you last failed on.
• Quality of Life Polish Finally, the initial "Click to Start" panel has been removed. It's been replaced by a minimalist, automatic loading screen that displays the level name and objectives for a few seconds before gameplay begins. 
• New Character (Jane): Added one new character (Jane) and five new levels.

Thanks for checking out the update! Let me know what you think — and happy gaming!