Commented main game's functionality to better track what's happening.

player.gd

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ signal damage_taken
 @export var cooldown: float = 0.25
 @export var bullet_scene : PackedScene
 @export var max_shield: int = 10
-var shield: int = 0:
+var shield: int = 1:
     set = set_shield
 
 var can_shoot = false
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@ var clamp_shield = clamp(shield, 0, max_shield)
 func _ready():
     set_process(false)
     print(shield)
-    $Ship.hide()
     # start()
 
 func start():
     print(shield)
+    shader_active = false
     $Ship.frame = 1
     $Ship.show()
     position = Vector2(screensize.x / 2, screensize.y)
@@ -76,12 +76,14 @@ func set_shield(value: int):
     EventBus.shield_changed.emit(max_shield, old_value, shield)
     print("Shield set to:", shield)
     if shield <= 0:
+      print("Shader deactivated!")
       EventBus.player_died.emit()
       set_process(false)
       $Ship.hide()
       $Explosion.show()
       $Explosion/AnimationPlayer.play("explosion-one-shot")
       await $Explosion/AnimationPlayer.animation_finished
+      shader_active = false
 
 func _on_gun_cooldown_timeout() -> void:
             can_shoot = true
@@ -96,18 +98,20 @@ func _on_area_entered(area):
 
 
 func _on_damage_taken() -> void:
-  # emit_signal("shield_ui")
   shader_active = true
+  print("Shader active!")
   $Ship.material.set_shader_parameter("toggle", 1.0)
   await get_tree().create_timer(1).timeout
   $Ship.material.set_shader_parameter("toggle", 0.0)
   shader_active = false
+  print("Shader deactivated!")
 
-func _on_game_over() -> void:
-  print("Game over!")
-  # set_process(false)
-  monitoring = false
+func _on_player_victory() -> void:
+  print("Victory!")
+  set_process(false)
   $Ship.frame = 1
   await get_tree().create_timer(2).timeout
   var tween = create_tween()
   tween.tween_property(self, "position:y",  60 * -1, .25).set_ease(tween.EASE_IN)
+  await tween.finished
+  queue_free()