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

main.gd

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ func _ready():
 
 
 func spawn_enemies():
-
+    get_tree().call_group("enemies", "queue_free")
     for x in range(9):
       for y in range(3):
             var e = enemy.instantiate()
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func spawn_enemies():
             add_child(e)
             e.start(pos)
     enemy_count = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("enemies").size()
-    print(enemy_count)
+    print("Remaining enemies: ", enemy_count)
 
 
 func _on_enemy_died(value: int):
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func _on_player_died():
     # get_tree().call_group("enemies", "queue_free")
     EventBus.enemy_win.emit()
     # $Player.set_process(false)
+    # get_tree().call_group("enemies", "set_process", false)
     instance.queue_free()
     game_over.show()
     await get_tree().create_timer(2).timeout
@@ -49,23 +50,32 @@ func _on_player_died():
     playing = false
 
 func new_game():
+  # Ensure enemies are cleared.
+    enemy_count = 0
     get_tree().call_group("enemies", "queue_free")
     get_tree().call_group("enemy_bullets", "queue_free")
-    # get_node("player").start()
+    print("Number of enemies at new_game: ",enemy_count)
+
+  # Reset score.
     Global.score = 0
     $CanvasLayer/UI.update_score(Global.score)
-    EventBus.initialize_shieldbar.emit()
+
+  # instantiate the Player
     instance = player.instantiate()
     add_child(instance)
-    $Player.shader_active = false
     $Player.start()
-    $CanvasLayer/UI.update_score(Global.score)
+
+  # Tell the shield to recharge.
+    EventBus.initialize_shieldbar.emit()
+
+  # Tell the enemies to spawn!
     spawn_enemies()
+
+  # Tell the game we're playing.
     playing = true
     print("New game started!")
 
 
-
 func _input(EventInput):
     if EventInput.is_action_pressed("shoot") and playing == false:
         print("Input detected!")
@@ -79,7 +89,7 @@ func _on_start_pressed():
 func win_game():
     playing = false
     game_over.show()
-    $Player._on_game_over()
+    $Player._on_player_victory()
     await get_tree().create_timer(2).timeout
     game_over.hide()
     start_button.show()

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()