Typ-o-Shooter Mode
Typ-o-Shooter is a unique typing game variant where you destroy enemies by typing words instead of shooting. Each enemy displays a word that must be typed correctly to eliminate it.
Mode ID
Game Mode: 4 (GameMode.TYPO)
From src/crimson/game_modes.py:13
Core Mechanics
Typing System
Each enemy spawns with a word displayed above it. Type the word correctly to instantly kill the enemy.
Input Method: Keyboard only (mouse disabled)
Case Sensitivity: Not case-sensitive (“ZOMBIE” = “zombie” = “Zombie”)
Word Display: Words appear as floating text above enemy heads
Targeting: Currently typed letters highlight on the target enemy
Word Selection
Words are chosen from a predefined dictionary with difficulty scaling:
Early Game (0-2 min):
- 3-5 letter words
- Common English words
- No special characters
- Examples: “fire”, “shoot”, “blood”, “alien”
Mid Game (2-5 min):
- 5-8 letter words
- Mix of common and uncommon words
- Examples: “creature”, “shotgun”, “plasma”, “explosion”
Late Game (5+ min):
- 8-12 letter words
- Complex vocabulary
- Rare words
- Examples: “annihilation”, “extermination”, “radioactive”
Typing Accuracy
Correct Input: Enemy dies instantly, word disappears, score awarded
Incorrect Input: Input resets, must retype entire word
Partial Input: Correct prefix highlights in green, encouraging completion
Word Completion: Pressing Enter/Space after completing word is not required—enemy dies on final character
Scoring
Typ-o-Shooter scoring emphasizes typing speed and accuracy:
Base Score
score = word_length × 100 × speed_multiplier
- < 1 second: 3x multiplier
- 1-2 seconds: 2x multiplier
- 2-4 seconds: 1.5x multiplier
- 4+ seconds: 1x multiplier
Combo System
Like Rush mode, Typ-o-Shooter features combo mechanics:
Combo Building: Each kill without typing errors increments combo
Combo Multiplier: score × (1 + combo × 0.1)
Combo Reset: Typing errors or delays between kills reset combo
Accuracy Tracking
Perfect Round Bonus: Complete 10 enemies with zero typing errors = +5000 points
Words Per Minute (WPM): Displayed in real-time on HUD
Accuracy Percentage: Total correct characters / total typed characters
Enemy Behavior
Movement
Enemies still move toward the player, but much slower than normal combat:
Speed: 50% of normal creature movement speed
AI: Simplified pathfinding (straight-line approach)
Threat: Enemies damage player on contact (no shooting)
Damage
Touching an enemy deals damage:
Contact Damage: 10 HP per second of contact
No Projectiles: Enemies don’t shoot—only melee contact
Death: Reaching 0 HP ends game (no weapons to fight back)
Spawn Rate
Enemy spawns scale with typing skill:
Adaptive Difficulty: Faster typing = faster spawns
WPM-Based Scaling:
spawn_rate = base_rate × (1 + wpm / 100)
No Traditional Combat
Disabled Systems
No Weapons: Player has no gun, no shooting
No Perks: Leveling disabled, no perk selection
No Aiming: Mouse aim is irrelevant
No Movement Speed Perks: Movement is purely positional dodging
Active Systems
Movement: WASD still works for dodging enemies
Bonuses: Power-up bonuses still appear but have modified effects:
Modified Bonuses:
- Nuke: Still clears screen
- Freeze: Still freezes enemies (gives typing time)
- Shield: Still protects from contact damage
- MediKit: Still restores HP
- Energizer: Modified—kills enemies on contact instead of normal behavior
- Double Experience: Disabled (no XP system)
- Weapon bonuses: Disabled (no weapons)
Strategy Guide
Typing Technique
Touch Typing: Essential for high scores. Looking at keyboard wastes time.
Target Priority:
- Closest enemies (immediate threat)
- Longest words (spawn new targets faster)
- Enemies blocking movement paths
Positioning: Stay mobile, type while moving to avoid contact
Word Recognition
Familiarize yourself with common Crimsonland vocabulary:
Weapons: pistol, shotgun, plasma, gauss, rocket
Enemies: zombie, lizard, alien, spider, trooper
Effects: blood, fire, explosion, freeze, shield
Practice Mode: Play on easy to learn word pool before competitive runs
Bonus Usage
Freeze: Use when overwhelmed to gain typing time
Nuke: Save for maximum enemy density (10+ on screen)
Shield: Activate when enemies are very close and typing is risky
Energizer: Aggressive bonus—run through crowds while typing
Leaderboards
Typ-o-Shooter leaderboards track:
High Score: Total points in a single session
WPM Record: Highest sustained words per minute
Longest Combo: Most consecutive kills without errors
Perfect Accuracy Run: Highest score with 100% accuracy
Tips for Typ-o-Shooter
Learn Touch Typing: If you can’t touch type, practice before attempting high scores. Looking at the keyboard is too slow.
Read Ahead: Scan upcoming words while typing current word. Prepare mentally for next target.
Prioritize Safety: Typing a long word while surrounded is dangerous. Clear close threats first.
Use Freeze Liberally: Freeze bonus is incredibly valuable. Use it to prevent damage and boost WPM.
Typ-o-Shooter is harder than it appears. Even skilled typists struggle with simultaneous typing and dodging.
Accessibility Considerations
Typ-o-Shooter has unique accessibility requirements:
Keyboard Required: Cannot be played with gamepad or alternative input
Language: English words only (may disadvantage non-native speakers)
Typing Speed: Minimum ~30 WPM required for reasonable difficulty
Dyslexia: Fast word recognition challenges may be difficult
Competitive Typ-o-Shooter
Top players achieve:
WPM: 80-120 sustained
Score: 100k+ per session
Accuracy: 95%+ (few errors)
Survival Time: 10-15 minutes before spawn rate becomes impossible
Source Code References
src/crimson/modes/typo_mode.py - Typ-o-Shooter implementationsrc/crimson/typo/ - Typing system and word dictionarysrc/crimson/game_modes.py:13 - Mode ID definition