Overheat is a game mechanic that was first introduced in Revenge of the Yolk which prevents the player from constantly holding the fire button and/or repeatedly clicking the fire button.
The heat bar is located on the top left corner of the screen, next to the score. In Revenge of the Yolk, it consists of a single bar, while since Ultimate Omelette, it is split up into multiple bars, which all eventually fill up. As the bar gets filled up more and more, it becomes redder and redder. In Universe, the bar looks similar to the one in Revenge of the Yolk, which can be customized.
Description
On the top left of the screen near the score counter is the overheat bar. Each regular weapon generates a certain amount of heat. Heat is generated much faster if you use automated fire. A small beep will play which warns you that it is almost about to overheat. When the bar is filled, your weapon will overheat, preventing you from firing and leaving you vulnerable to enemy attacks until it cools down, which takes three seconds. Missiles, Special Weapons and Satellites do not depend on this mechanic, so they still can be fired while this is in effect. Collecting Powerups will instantly deplete the overheat bar and remove its effects.
In Universe, weapons overheat faster when you play on hot planets, while using overdrive firing with certain weapons that support it cause them to overheat much faster. Using Heat Sinks slow down the amount of heat generated from the weapons and allow the player to fire much longer. Certain weapons are also affected by the heat meter, such as the Vulcan Chaingun, which loses its accuracy, and the Boron Railgun, which delivers more damage. The Corn Shotgun, unlike other weapons, can continuously fire even if it has overheated with no penalty. Using Coolant Canisters will instantly deplete the overheat bar, allowing you to keep firing without waiting for your weapon to cool down.
Phoenix Chicken launch fireballs towards the ship which, if touched, cause instant overheat, no matter which weapon is in use. Same thing happens to Dyson Spheres suns and Dr. Beaker's orange potion fields.
Strategy
To avoid Overheating, don't use automatic fire, unless manual fire isn't really better. Once the bar is almost filled up, you should wait for a while until it goes down.
Ion Blaster Gift • Neutron Gun Gift • Laser Cannon Gift • Vulcan Chaingun Gift • Lightning Fryer Gift • Plasma Rifle Gift • Utensil Poker Gift • Boron Railgun Gift • Photon Swarm Gift • Positron Stream Gift • Hypergun Gift • Riddler Gift • Corn Shotgun Gift • Atomic Powerup
Ion Blaster Gift • Neutron Gun Gift • Laser Cannon Gift • Vulcan Chaingun Gift • Lightning Fryer Gift • Plasma Rifle Gift • Utensil Poker Gift • Boron Railgun Gift • Photon Swarm Gift • Positron Stream Gift • Atomic Powerup
Ion Blaster Gift • Neutron Gun Gift • Laser Cannon Gift • Vulcan Chaingun Gift • Lightning Fryer Gift • Plasma Rifle Gift • Utensil Poker Gift • Atomic Powerup