diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/bin/main.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/bin/main.dart
index c502eb9..d5f9a90 100644
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/bin/main.dart
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/bin/main.dart
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ void main() async {
 
   final engine = WolfEngine(
     data: availableGames.values.first,
-    difficulty: Difficulty.medium,
     startingEpisode: 0,
     frameBuffer: FrameBuffer(
       stdout.terminalColumns,
diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
index fd74720..09d46a8 100644
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ class CliGameLoop {
   }
 
   void _handleInput(List<int> bytes) {
-    if (bytes.contains(113) || bytes.contains(27)) {
+    // Keep q and Ctrl+C as hard exits; ESC is now menu-back input.
+    if (bytes.contains(113) || bytes.contains(3)) {
       stop();
       onExit(0);
       return;
diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/difficulty_screen.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/difficulty_screen.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index c9dfe89..0000000
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/difficulty_screen.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
-/// Difficulty picker shown after the player chooses an episode.
-library;
-
-import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_flutter/wolf_3d_flutter.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_gui/screens/game_screen.dart';
-
-/// Starts a new game session using the active game and episode from [Wolf3d].
-class DifficultyScreen extends StatefulWidget {
-  /// Shared application facade carrying the active game, input, and audio.
-  final Wolf3d wolf3d;
-
-  /// Creates the difficulty-selection screen for [wolf3d].
-  const DifficultyScreen({
-    super.key,
-    required this.wolf3d,
-  });
-
-  @override
-  State<DifficultyScreen> createState() => _DifficultyScreenState();
-}
-
-class _DifficultyScreenState extends State<DifficultyScreen> {
-  bool get isShareware =>
-      widget.wolf3d.activeGame.version == GameVersion.shareware;
-
-  @override
-  void dispose() {
-    widget.wolf3d.audio.stopMusic();
-    super.dispose();
-  }
-
-  /// Replaces the menu flow with an active [GameScreen] using [difficulty].
-  void _startGame(Difficulty difficulty, {bool showGallery = false}) {
-    widget.wolf3d.audio.stopMusic();
-
-    Navigator.of(context).pushReplacement(
-      MaterialPageRoute(
-        builder: (context) => GameScreen(
-          data: widget.wolf3d.activeGame,
-          difficulty: difficulty,
-          startingEpisode: widget.wolf3d.activeEpisode,
-          audio: widget.wolf3d.audio,
-          input: widget.wolf3d.input,
-        ),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  @override
-  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
-    return Scaffold(
-      backgroundColor: Colors.black,
-      floatingActionButton: FloatingActionButton(
-        backgroundColor: Colors.red[900],
-        onPressed: () => _startGame(Difficulty.medium, showGallery: true),
-        child: const Icon(Icons.bug_report, color: Colors.white),
-      ),
-      body: Center(
-        child: Column(
-          mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
-          children: [
-            const Text(
-              'HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?',
-              style: TextStyle(
-                color: Colors.red,
-                fontSize: 32,
-                fontWeight: FontWeight.bold,
-                fontFamily: 'Courier',
-              ),
-            ),
-            const SizedBox(height: 40),
-            ListView.builder(
-              shrinkWrap: true,
-              itemCount: Difficulty.values.length,
-              itemBuilder: (context, index) {
-                final Difficulty difficulty = Difficulty.values[index];
-                return Padding(
-                  padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 8.0),
-                  child: ElevatedButton(
-                    style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(
-                      backgroundColor: Colors.blueGrey[900],
-                      foregroundColor: Colors.white,
-                      minimumSize: const Size(300, 50),
-                      shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
-                        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(4),
-                      ),
-                    ),
-                    onPressed: () => _startGame(difficulty),
-                    child: Text(
-                      difficulty.title,
-                      style: const TextStyle(fontSize: 18),
-                    ),
-                  ),
-                );
-              },
-            ),
-          ],
-        ),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-}
diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/episode_screen.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/episode_screen.dart
index 1361652..2309315 100644
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/episode_screen.dart
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/episode_screen.dart
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ library;
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_flutter/wolf_3d_flutter.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_gui/screens/difficulty_screen.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_gui/screens/game_screen.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_gui/screens/sprite_gallery.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_gui/screens/vga_gallery.dart';
 
@@ -27,12 +27,13 @@ class _EpisodeScreenState extends State<EpisodeScreen> {
     widget.wolf3d.audio.playMenuMusic();
   }
 
-  /// Persists the chosen episode in [Wolf3d] and advances to difficulty select.
+  /// Persists the chosen episode and lets the engine present difficulty select.
   void _selectEpisode(int index) {
     widget.wolf3d.setActiveEpisode(index);
+    widget.wolf3d.clearActiveDifficulty();
     Navigator.of(context).push(
       MaterialPageRoute(
-        builder: (context) => DifficultyScreen(wolf3d: widget.wolf3d),
+        builder: (context) => GameScreen(wolf3d: widget.wolf3d),
       ),
     );
   }
diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/game_screen.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/game_screen.dart
index bd39271..2b6358a 100644
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/game_screen.dart
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/game_screen.dart
@@ -3,36 +3,19 @@ library;
 
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_flutter/wolf_3d_input_flutter.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_flutter/wolf_3d_flutter.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_renderer/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_renderer/wolf_3d_flutter_renderer.dart';
 
-/// Owns a [WolfEngine] instance and exposes renderer/input integrations to Flutter.
+/// Launches a [WolfEngine] via [Wolf3d] and exposes renderer/input integrations.
 class GameScreen extends StatefulWidget {
-  /// Fully parsed game data for the selected version.
-  final WolfensteinData data;
+  /// Shared application facade owning the engine, audio, and input.
+  final Wolf3d wolf3d;
 
-  /// Difficulty applied when creating the engine session.
-  final Difficulty difficulty;
-
-  /// Episode index used as the starting world.
-  final int startingEpisode;
-
-  /// Shared audio backend reused across menu and gameplay screens.
-  final EngineAudio audio;
-
-  /// Flutter input adapter that translates widget events into engine input.
-  final Wolf3dFlutterInput input;
-
-  /// Creates a gameplay screen with the supplied game session configuration.
+  /// Creates a gameplay screen driven by [wolf3d].
   const GameScreen({
-    required this.data,
-    required this.difficulty,
-    required this.startingEpisode,
-    required this.audio,
-    required this.input,
+    required this.wolf3d,
     super.key,
   });
 
@@ -47,90 +30,147 @@ class _GameScreenState extends State<GameScreen> {
   @override
   void initState() {
     super.initState();
-    _engine = WolfEngine(
-      data: widget.data,
-      difficulty: widget.difficulty,
-      startingEpisode: widget.startingEpisode,
-      frameBuffer: FrameBuffer(320, 200),
-      audio: widget.audio,
-      input: widget.input,
+    _engine = widget.wolf3d.launchEngine(
       onGameWon: () => Navigator.of(context).pop(),
     );
-    _engine.init();
   }
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
-    return Scaffold(
-      body: Listener(
-        onPointerDown: widget.input.onPointerDown,
-        onPointerUp: widget.input.onPointerUp,
-        onPointerMove: widget.input.onPointerMove,
-        onPointerHover: widget.input.onPointerMove,
-        child: Stack(
-          children: [
-            // Keep both renderers behind the same engine so mode switching does
-            // not reset level state or audio playback.
-            _useAsciiMode
-                ? WolfAsciiRenderer(engine: _engine)
-                : WolfFlutterRenderer(engine: _engine),
+    return WillPopScope(
+      onWillPop: () async {
+        if (_engine.isDifficultySelectionPending) {
+          widget.wolf3d.input.queueBackAction();
+          return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+      },
+      child: Scaffold(
+        body: LayoutBuilder(
+          builder: (context, constraints) {
+            final viewportRect = _menuViewportRect(
+              Size(constraints.maxWidth, constraints.maxHeight),
+            );
 
-            if (!_engine.isInitialized)
-              Container(
-                color: Colors.black,
-                child: const Center(
-                  child: Column(
-                    mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
-                    children: [
-                      CircularProgressIndicator(color: Colors.teal),
-                      SizedBox(height: 20),
-                      Text(
-                        "GET PSYCHED!",
-                        style: TextStyle(
-                          color: Colors.teal,
-                          fontFamily: 'monospace',
+            return Listener(
+              onPointerDown: (event) {
+                widget.wolf3d.input.onPointerDown(event);
+                if (_engine.isDifficultySelectionPending &&
+                    viewportRect.width > 0 &&
+                    viewportRect.height > 0 &&
+                    viewportRect.contains(event.localPosition)) {
+                  final normalizedX =
+                      (event.localPosition.dx - viewportRect.left) /
+                      viewportRect.width;
+                  final normalizedY =
+                      (event.localPosition.dy - viewportRect.top) /
+                      viewportRect.height;
+                  widget.wolf3d.input.queueMenuTap(
+                    x: normalizedX,
+                    y: normalizedY,
+                  );
+                }
+              },
+              onPointerUp: widget.wolf3d.input.onPointerUp,
+              onPointerMove: widget.wolf3d.input.onPointerMove,
+              onPointerHover: widget.wolf3d.input.onPointerMove,
+              child: Stack(
+                children: [
+                  // Keep both renderers behind the same engine so mode switching does
+                  // not reset level state or audio playback.
+                  _useAsciiMode
+                      ? WolfAsciiRenderer(engine: _engine)
+                      : WolfFlutterRenderer(engine: _engine),
+
+                  if (!_engine.isInitialized)
+                    Container(
+                      color: Colors.black,
+                      child: const Center(
+                        child: Column(
+                          mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+                          children: [
+                            CircularProgressIndicator(color: Colors.teal),
+                            SizedBox(height: 20),
+                            Text(
+                              "GET PSYCHED!",
+                              style: TextStyle(
+                                color: Colors.teal,
+                                fontFamily: 'monospace',
+                              ),
+                            ),
+                          ],
                         ),
                       ),
-                    ],
+                    ),
+
+                  // Tab toggles the renderer implementation for quick visual debugging.
+                  Focus(
+                    autofocus: true,
+                    onKeyEvent: (node, event) {
+                      if (event is KeyDownEvent &&
+                          event.logicalKey == LogicalKeyboardKey.tab) {
+                        setState(() => _useAsciiMode = !_useAsciiMode);
+                        return KeyEventResult.handled;
+                      }
+                      return KeyEventResult.ignored;
+                    },
+                    child: const SizedBox.shrink(),
                   ),
-                ),
-              ),
 
-            // Tab toggles the renderer implementation for quick visual debugging.
-            Focus(
-              autofocus: true,
-              onKeyEvent: (node, event) {
-                if (event is KeyDownEvent &&
-                    event.logicalKey == LogicalKeyboardKey.tab) {
-                  setState(() => _useAsciiMode = !_useAsciiMode);
-                  return KeyEventResult.handled;
-                }
-                return KeyEventResult.ignored;
-              },
-              child: const SizedBox.shrink(),
-            ),
+                  // A second full-screen overlay keeps the presentation simple while
+                  // the engine is still warming up or decoding the first frame.
+                  if (!_engine.isInitialized)
+                    Container(
+                      color: Colors.black,
+                      child: const Center(
+                        child: CircularProgressIndicator(color: Colors.teal),
+                      ),
+                    ),
 
-            // A second full-screen overlay keeps the presentation simple while
-            // the engine is still warming up or decoding the first frame.
-            if (!_engine.isInitialized)
-              Container(
-                color: Colors.black,
-                child: const Center(
-                  child: CircularProgressIndicator(color: Colors.teal),
-                ),
+                  Positioned(
+                    top: 16,
+                    right: 16,
+                    child: Text(
+                      'TAB: Swap Renderer',
+                      style: TextStyle(
+                        color: Colors.white.withValues(alpha: 0.5),
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ],
               ),
-
-            Positioned(
-              top: 16,
-              right: 16,
-              child: Text(
-                'TAB: Swap Renderer',
-                style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white.withValues(alpha: 0.5)),
-              ),
-            ),
-          ],
+            );
+          },
         ),
       ),
     );
   }
+
+  Rect _menuViewportRect(Size availableSize) {
+    if (availableSize.width <= 0 || availableSize.height <= 0) {
+      return Rect.zero;
+    }
+
+    const double aspect = 4 / 3;
+    final double outerPadding = _useAsciiMode ? 0.0 : 16.0;
+    final double maxWidth = (availableSize.width - (outerPadding * 2)).clamp(
+      1.0,
+      double.infinity,
+    );
+    final double maxHeight = (availableSize.height - (outerPadding * 2)).clamp(
+      1.0,
+      double.infinity,
+    );
+
+    double viewportWidth = maxWidth;
+    double viewportHeight = viewportWidth / aspect;
+    if (viewportHeight > maxHeight) {
+      viewportHeight = maxHeight;
+      viewportWidth = viewportHeight * aspect;
+    }
+
+    final double left = (availableSize.width - viewportWidth) / 2;
+    final double top = (availableSize.height - viewportHeight) / 2;
+    return Rect.fromLTWH(left, top, viewportWidth, viewportHeight);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/wolf_menu_shell.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/wolf_menu_shell.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90af24f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_gui/lib/screens/wolf_menu_shell.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+/// Shared shell for Wolf3D-style menu screens.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_renderer/wolf_3d_asset_painter.dart';
+
+/// Provides a common menu layout with panel framing and optional bottom art.
+class WolfMenuShell extends StatelessWidget {
+  /// Full-screen background color behind the panel.
+  final Color backgroundColor;
+
+  /// Solid panel fill used for the menu content area.
+  final Color panelColor;
+
+  /// Optional heading shown above the panel (text or image).
+  final Widget? header;
+
+  /// Primary menu content rendered inside the panel.
+  final Widget panelChild;
+
+  /// Optional centered VGA image anchored near the bottom of the screen.
+  final VgaImage? bottomSprite;
+
+  /// Width of the menu panel.
+  final double panelWidth;
+
+  /// Padding applied around [panelChild] inside the panel.
+  final EdgeInsets panelPadding;
+
+  /// Scale factor for [bottomSprite].
+  final double bottomSpriteScale;
+
+  /// Distance from the bottom edge for [bottomSprite].
+  final double bottomOffset;
+
+  /// Vertical spacing between [header] and the panel.
+  final double headerSpacing;
+
+  const WolfMenuShell({
+    super.key,
+    required this.backgroundColor,
+    required this.panelColor,
+    required this.panelChild,
+    this.header,
+    this.bottomSprite,
+    this.panelWidth = 520,
+    this.panelPadding = const EdgeInsets.symmetric(
+      horizontal: 20,
+      vertical: 16,
+    ),
+    this.bottomSpriteScale = 3,
+    this.bottomOffset = 20,
+    this.headerSpacing = 14,
+  });
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return Stack(
+      children: [
+        Positioned.fill(
+          child: ColoredBox(color: backgroundColor),
+        ),
+        Center(
+          child: Column(
+            mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+            children: [
+              ?header,
+              if (header != null) SizedBox(height: headerSpacing),
+              Container(
+                width: panelWidth,
+                padding: panelPadding,
+                color: panelColor,
+                child: panelChild,
+              ),
+            ],
+          ),
+        ),
+        if (bottomSprite != null)
+          Positioned(
+            left: 0,
+            right: 0,
+            bottom: bottomOffset,
+            child: Center(
+              child: SizedBox(
+                width: bottomSprite!.width * bottomSpriteScale,
+                height: bottomSprite!.height * bottomSpriteScale,
+                child: WolfAssetPainter.vga(bottomSprite),
+              ),
+            ),
+          ),
+      ],
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/input/engine_input.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/input/engine_input.dart
index 64bbe85..e960474 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/input/engine_input.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/input/engine_input.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ class EngineInput {
   final bool isTurningRight;
   final bool isFiring;
   final bool isInteracting;
+  final bool isBack;
+  final double? menuTapX;
+  final double? menuTapY;
   final WeaponType? requestedWeapon;
 
   const EngineInput({
@@ -17,6 +20,9 @@ class EngineInput {
     this.isTurningRight = false,
     this.isFiring = false,
     this.isInteracting = false,
+    this.isBack = false,
+    this.menuTapX,
+    this.menuTapY,
     this.requestedWeapon,
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b80c4c..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,837 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-
-import 'package:arcane_helper_utils/arcane_helper_utils.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/cli_rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class AsciiTheme {
-  final String name;
-
-  /// The character ramp, ordered from most dense (index 0) to least dense (last index).
-  final String ramp;
-
-  const AsciiTheme(this.name, this.ramp);
-
-  /// Always returns the densest character (e.g., for walls, UI, floors)
-  String get solid => ramp[0];
-
-  /// Always returns the completely empty character (e.g., for pitch black darkness)
-  String get empty => ramp[ramp.length - 1];
-
-  /// Returns a character based on a 0.0 to 1.0 brightness scale.
-  /// 1.0 returns the [solid] character, 0.0 returns the [empty] character.
-  String getByBrightness(double brightness) {
-    double b = brightness.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
-    int index = ((1.0 - b) * (ramp.length - 1)).round();
-    return ramp[index];
-  }
-}
-
-/// A collection of pre-defined character sets
-abstract class AsciiThemes {
-  static const AsciiTheme blocks = AsciiTheme('Blocks', "█▓▒░ ");
-  static const AsciiTheme classic = AsciiTheme('Classic', "@%#*+=-:. ");
-
-  static const List<AsciiTheme> values = [blocks, classic];
-
-  static AsciiTheme nextOf(AsciiTheme current) {
-    final int currentIndex = values.indexOf(current);
-    final int nextIndex = currentIndex == -1
-        ? 0
-        : (currentIndex + 1) % values.length;
-    return values[nextIndex];
-  }
-}
-
-class ColoredChar {
-  final String char;
-  final int rawColor; // Stores the AABBGGRR integer from the palette
-  final int? rawBackgroundColor;
-
-  ColoredChar(this.char, this.rawColor, [this.rawBackgroundColor]);
-
-  // Safely extract the exact RGB channels regardless of framework
-  int get r => rawColor & 0xFF;
-  int get g => (rawColor >> 8) & 0xFF;
-  int get b => (rawColor >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-  // Outputs standard AARRGGBB for Flutter's Color(int) constructor
-  int get argb => (0xFF000000) | (r << 16) | (g << 8) | b;
-}
-
-class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
-  static const double _targetAspectRatio = 4 / 3;
-  static const int _terminalBackdropArgb = 0xFF009688;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalColumns = 80;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalRows = 24;
-  static const int _simpleHudMinWidth = 84;
-  static const int _simpleHudMinRows = 7;
-
-  AsciiRasterizer({
-    this.activeTheme = AsciiThemes.blocks,
-    this.isTerminal = false,
-    this.aspectMultiplier = 1.0,
-    this.verticalStretch = 1.0,
-  });
-
-  AsciiTheme activeTheme = AsciiThemes.blocks;
-  final bool isTerminal;
-
-  late List<List<ColoredChar>> _screen;
-  late List<List<int>> _scenePixels;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-
-  @override
-  final double aspectMultiplier;
-  @override
-  final double verticalStretch;
-
-  @override
-  int get projectionWidth => isTerminal
-      ? math.max(
-          1,
-          math.min(width, (_terminalPixelHeight * _targetAspectRatio).floor()),
-        )
-      : width;
-
-  @override
-  int get projectionOffsetX => isTerminal ? (width - projectionWidth) ~/ 2 : 0;
-
-  @override
-  int get projectionViewHeight => isTerminal ? viewHeight * 2 : viewHeight;
-
-  @override
-  bool isTerminalSizeSupported(int columns, int rows) {
-    if (!isTerminal) {
-      return true;
-    }
-    return columns >= _minimumTerminalColumns && rows >= _minimumTerminalRows;
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String get terminalSizeRequirement =>
-      'ASCII renderer requires a minimum resolution of '
-      '${_minimumTerminalColumns}x$_minimumTerminalRows.';
-
-  int get _terminalPixelHeight => isTerminal ? height * 2 : height;
-
-  int get _viewportRightX => projectionOffsetX + projectionWidth;
-
-  int get _terminalBackdropColor => _argbToRawColor(_terminalBackdropArgb);
-
-  // Intercept the base render call to initialize our text grid
-  @override
-  dynamic render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    _screen = List.generate(
-      engine.frameBuffer.height,
-      (_) => List.filled(
-        engine.frameBuffer.width,
-        ColoredChar(' ', ColorPalette.vga32Bit[0]),
-      ),
-    );
-    return super.render(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Just grab the raw ints!
-    final int ceilingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[25];
-    final int floorColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[29];
-    final int backdropColor = isTerminal
-        ? _terminalBackdropColor
-        : ColorPalette.vga32Bit[0];
-
-    _scenePixels = List.generate(
-      _terminalPixelHeight,
-      (_) => List.filled(width, backdropColor),
-    );
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < projectionViewHeight; y++) {
-      final int color = y < projectionViewHeight / 2
-          ? ceilingColor
-          : floorColor;
-      for (int x = projectionOffsetX; x < _viewportRightX; x++) {
-        _scenePixels[y][x] = color;
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (!isTerminal) {
-      for (int y = 0; y < height; y++) {
-        for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-          if (y < viewHeight / 2) {
-            _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(activeTheme.solid, ceilingColor);
-          } else if (y < viewHeight) {
-            _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(activeTheme.solid, floorColor);
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    double brightness = calculateDepthBrightness(perpWallDist);
-
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + projectionViewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-      int pixelColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte]; // Raw int
-
-      // Faux directional lighting using your new base class method
-      if (side == 1) {
-        pixelColor = shadeColor(pixelColor);
-      }
-
-      if (isTerminal) {
-        _scenePixels[y][x] = _scaleColor(pixelColor, brightness);
-      } else {
-        String wallChar = activeTheme.getByBrightness(brightness);
-        _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(wallChar, pixelColor);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    double brightness = calculateDepthBrightness(transformY);
-
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(projectionViewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        int rawColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-
-        // Shade the sprite's actual RGB color based on distance
-        int r = (rawColor & 0xFF);
-        int g = ((rawColor >> 8) & 0xFF);
-        int b = ((rawColor >> 16) & 0xFF);
-
-        r = (r * brightness).toInt();
-        g = (g * brightness).toInt();
-        b = (b * brightness).toInt();
-
-        int shadedColor = (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-
-        if (isTerminal) {
-          _scenePixels[y][stripeX] = shadedColor;
-        } else {
-          // Force sprites to be SOLID so they don't vanish into the terminal background
-          _screen[y][stripeX] = ColoredChar(activeTheme.solid, shadedColor);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (projectionWidth * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = ((projectionViewHeight * 0.8)).toInt();
-
-    int startX =
-        projectionOffsetX + (projectionWidth ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        projectionViewHeight -
-        weaponHeight +
-        (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset * (isTerminal ? 2 : 1) ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int sceneX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (sceneX >= projectionOffsetX &&
-              sceneX < _viewportRightX &&
-              drawY >= 0) {
-            if (isTerminal && drawY < projectionViewHeight) {
-              _scenePixels[drawY][sceneX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-            } else if (!isTerminal && drawY < viewHeight) {
-              _screen[drawY][sceneX] = ColoredChar(
-                activeTheme.solid,
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte],
-              );
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  // --- PRIVATE HUD DRAWING HELPER ---
-
-  /// Injects a pure text string directly into the rasterizer grid
-  void _writeString(
-    int startX,
-    int y,
-    String text,
-    int color, [
-    int? backgroundColor,
-  ]) {
-    for (int i = 0; i < text.length; i++) {
-      int x = startX + i;
-      if (x >= 0 && x < width && y >= 0 && y < height) {
-        _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(text[i], color, backgroundColor);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // If the terminal is at least 160 columns wide and 50 rows tall,
-    // there are enough "pixels" to downscale the VGA image clearly.
-    int hudWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
-    if (hudWidth >= 160 && height >= 50) {
-      _drawFullVgaHud(engine);
-    } else {
-      _drawSimpleHud(engine);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawSimpleHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    final int hudWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
-    final int hudRows = height - viewHeight;
-    if (hudWidth < _simpleHudMinWidth || hudRows < _simpleHudMinRows) {
-      _drawMinimalHud(engine);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // 1. Pull Retro Colors
-    final int vgaStatusBarBlue = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[153];
-    final int vgaPanelDark = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[0];
-    final int white = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[15];
-    final int yellow = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[11];
-    final int red = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[4];
-
-    // Compact full simple HUD layout.
-    const int floorW = 10;
-    const int scoreW = 14;
-    const int livesW = 9;
-    const int faceW = 10;
-    const int healthW = 12;
-    const int ammoW = 10;
-    const int weaponW = 13;
-    const int gap = 1;
-    const int hudContentWidth =
-        floorW +
-        scoreW +
-        livesW +
-        faceW +
-        healthW +
-        ammoW +
-        weaponW +
-        (gap * 6);
-
-    final int offsetX =
-        projectionOffsetX +
-        ((projectionWidth - hudContentWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, projectionWidth);
-    final int baseY = viewHeight + 1;
-
-    // 3. Clear HUD Base
-    if (isTerminal) {
-      _fillTerminalRect(
-        projectionOffsetX,
-        viewHeight * 2,
-        projectionWidth,
-        hudRows * 2,
-        vgaStatusBarBlue,
-      );
-      _fillTerminalRect(
-        projectionOffsetX,
-        viewHeight * 2,
-        projectionWidth,
-        1,
-        white,
-      );
-    } else {
-      _fillRect(
-        0,
-        viewHeight,
-        width,
-        height - viewHeight,
-        ' ',
-        vgaStatusBarBlue,
-      );
-      _writeString(0, viewHeight, "═" * width, white);
-    }
-
-    // 4. Panel Drawing Helper
-    void drawBorderedPanel(int startX, int startY, int w, int h) {
-      if (isTerminal) {
-        _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY * 2, w, h * 2, vgaPanelDark);
-        _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY * 2, w, 1, white);
-        _fillTerminalRect(startX, (startY + h) * 2 - 1, w, 1, white);
-        _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY * 2, 1, h * 2, white);
-        _fillTerminalRect(startX + w - 1, startY * 2, 1, h * 2, white);
-      } else {
-        _fillRect(startX, startY, w, h, ' ', vgaPanelDark);
-        // Horizontal lines
-        _writeString(startX, startY, "┌${"─" * (w - 2)}┐", white);
-        _writeString(startX, startY + h - 1, "└${"─" * (w - 2)}┘", white);
-        // Vertical sides
-        for (int i = 1; i < h - 1; i++) {
-          _writeString(startX, startY + i, "│", white);
-          _writeString(startX + w - 1, startY + i, "│", white);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    // 5. Draw compact panels.
-    int cursorX = offsetX;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, floorW, 4);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 2, baseY + 2, "FLR", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    String floorLabel = engine.activeLevel.name.split(' ').last;
-    if (floorLabel.length > 4) {
-      floorLabel = floorLabel.substring(floorLabel.length - 4);
-    }
-    _writeString(cursorX + 2, baseY + 3, floorLabel, white, vgaPanelDark);
-    cursorX += floorW + gap;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, scoreW, 4);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 4, baseY + 2, "SCORE", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    _writeString(
-      cursorX + 4,
-      baseY + 3,
-      engine.player.score.toString().padLeft(6, '0'),
-      white,
-      vgaPanelDark,
-    );
-    cursorX += scoreW + gap;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, livesW, 4);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 2, baseY + 2, "LIV", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 3, baseY + 3, "3", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    cursorX += livesW + gap;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY, faceW, 5);
-    String face = "ಠ⌣ಠ";
-    if (engine.player.health <= 0) {
-      face = "x⸑x";
-    } else if (engine.player.damageFlash > 0.1) {
-      face = "ಠoಠ";
-    } else if (engine.player.health <= 25) {
-      face = "ಥ_ಥ";
-    } else if (engine.player.health <= 60) {
-      face = "ಠ~ಠ";
-    }
-    _writeString(cursorX + 3, baseY + 2, face, yellow, vgaPanelDark);
-    cursorX += faceW + gap;
-
-    int healthColor = engine.player.health > 25 ? white : red;
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, healthW, 4);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 2, baseY + 2, "HEALTH", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    _writeString(
-      cursorX + 3,
-      baseY + 3,
-      "${engine.player.health}%",
-      healthColor,
-      vgaPanelDark,
-    );
-    cursorX += healthW + gap;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, ammoW, 4);
-    _writeString(cursorX + 2, baseY + 2, "AMMO", white, vgaPanelDark);
-    _writeString(
-      cursorX + 2,
-      baseY + 3,
-      "${engine.player.ammo}",
-      white,
-      vgaPanelDark,
-    );
-    cursorX += ammoW + gap;
-
-    drawBorderedPanel(cursorX, baseY + 1, weaponW, 4);
-    String weapon = engine.player.currentWeapon.type.name.spacePascalCase!
-        .toUpperCase();
-    if (weapon.length > weaponW - 2) {
-      weapon = weapon.substring(0, weaponW - 2);
-    }
-    _writeString(cursorX + 1, baseY + 3, weapon, white, vgaPanelDark);
-  }
-
-  void _drawMinimalHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    final int vgaStatusBarBlue = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[153];
-    final int white = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[15];
-    final int red = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[4];
-
-    final int hudRows = height - viewHeight;
-    if (isTerminal) {
-      _fillTerminalRect(
-        projectionOffsetX,
-        viewHeight * 2,
-        projectionWidth,
-        hudRows * 2,
-        vgaStatusBarBlue,
-      );
-      _fillTerminalRect(
-        projectionOffsetX,
-        viewHeight * 2,
-        projectionWidth,
-        1,
-        white,
-      );
-    } else {
-      _fillRect(0, viewHeight, width, hudRows, ' ', vgaStatusBarBlue);
-      _writeString(0, viewHeight, "═" * width, white);
-    }
-
-    final int healthColor = engine.player.health > 25 ? white : red;
-    String weapon = engine.player.currentWeapon.type.name.spacePascalCase!
-        .toUpperCase();
-    if (weapon.length > 8) {
-      weapon = weapon.substring(0, 8);
-    }
-    final String hudText =
-        'H:${engine.player.health}% A:${engine.player.ammo} S:${engine.player.score} W:$weapon';
-
-    final int lineY = viewHeight + 1;
-    if (lineY >= height) return;
-
-    final int drawStartX = isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
-    final int drawWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
-    final int maxTextLen = math.max(0, drawWidth - 2);
-    String clipped = hudText;
-    if (clipped.length > maxTextLen) {
-      clipped = clipped.substring(0, maxTextLen);
-    }
-
-    final int startX = drawStartX + ((drawWidth - clipped.length) ~/ 2);
-    _writeString(startX, lineY, clipped, healthColor, vgaStatusBarBlue);
-  }
-
-  void _drawFullVgaHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    // 1. Draw Background
-    _blitVgaImageAscii(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    // 2. Draw Stats
-    _drawNumberAscii(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Floor
-    _drawNumberAscii(
-      engine.player.score,
-      96,
-      176,
-      engine.data.vgaImages,
-    ); // Score
-    _drawNumberAscii(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Lives
-    _drawNumberAscii(
-      engine.player.health,
-      192,
-      176,
-      engine.data.vgaImages,
-    ); // Health
-    _drawNumberAscii(
-      engine.player.ammo,
-      232,
-      176,
-      engine.data.vgaImages,
-    ); // Ammo
-
-    // 3. Draw BJ's Face & Current Weapon
-    _drawFaceAscii(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIconAscii(engine);
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumberAscii(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImageAscii(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFaceAscii(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex;
-
-    if (health <= 0) {
-      faceIndex = 127;
-    } else {
-      int healthTier = ((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6);
-      faceIndex = 106 + (healthTier * 3);
-    }
-
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImageAscii(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIconAscii(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89;
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImageAscii(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Helper to fill a rectangular area with a specific char and background color
-  void _fillRect(int startX, int startY, int w, int h, String char, int color) {
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < h; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < w; dx++) {
-        int x = startX + dx;
-        int y = startY + dy;
-        if (x >= 0 && x < width && y >= 0 && y < height) {
-          _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(char, color);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  dynamic finalizeFrame() {
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0.0) {
-      if (isTerminal) {
-        _applyDamageFlashToScene();
-      } else {
-        _applyDamageFlash();
-      }
-    }
-    if (isTerminal) {
-      _composeTerminalScene();
-      return toAnsiString();
-    }
-    return _screen;
-  }
-
-  // --- PRIVATE HUD DRAWING HELPERS ---
-
-  void _blitVgaImageAscii(VgaImage image, int startX_320, int startY_200) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-    int maxDrawHeight = isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height;
-    int maxDrawWidth = isTerminal ? _viewportRightX : width;
-
-    double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
-    double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
-
-    int destStartX =
-        (isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0) + (startX_320 * scaleX).toInt();
-    int destStartY = (startY_200 * scaleY).toInt();
-    int destWidth = (image.width * scaleX).toInt();
-    int destHeight = (image.height * scaleY).toInt();
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < destHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < destWidth; dx++) {
-        int drawX = destStartX + dx;
-        int drawY = destStartY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 &&
-            drawX < maxDrawWidth &&
-            drawY >= 0 &&
-            drawY < maxDrawHeight) {
-          int srcX = (dx / scaleX).toInt().clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = (dy / scaleY).toInt().clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            if (isTerminal) {
-              _scenePixels[drawY][drawX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-            } else {
-              _screen[drawY][drawX] = ColoredChar(
-                activeTheme.solid,
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte],
-              );
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _fillTerminalRect(int startX, int startY, int w, int h, int color) {
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < h; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < w; dx++) {
-        int x = startX + dx;
-        int y = startY + dy;
-        if (x >= 0 && x < width && y >= 0 && y < _terminalPixelHeight) {
-          _scenePixels[y][x] = color;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  // --- DAMAGE FLASH ---
-  void _applyDamageFlash() {
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        ColoredChar cell = _screen[y][x];
-        _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(
-          cell.char,
-          _applyDamageFlashToColor(cell.rawColor),
-          cell.rawBackgroundColor == null
-              ? null
-              : _applyDamageFlashToColor(cell.rawBackgroundColor!),
-        );
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _applyDamageFlashToScene() {
-    for (int y = 0; y < _terminalPixelHeight; y++) {
-      for (int x = projectionOffsetX; x < _viewportRightX; x++) {
-        _scenePixels[y][x] = _applyDamageFlashToColor(_scenePixels[y][x]);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  int _argbToRawColor(int argb) {
-    int r = (argb >> 16) & 0xFF;
-    int g = (argb >> 8) & 0xFF;
-    int b = argb & 0xFF;
-    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-  }
-
-  int _applyDamageFlashToColor(int color) {
-    double intensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-    int redBoost = (150 * intensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * intensity);
-
-    int r = color & 0xFF;
-    int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-    int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-    r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-    g = (g * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-    b = (b * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-
-    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-  }
-
-  int _scaleColor(int color, double brightness) {
-    int r = ((color & 0xFF) * brightness).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-    int g = (((color >> 8) & 0xFF) * brightness).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-    int b = (((color >> 16) & 0xFF) * brightness).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-  }
-
-  void _composeTerminalScene() {
-    for (int y = 0; y < height; y++) {
-      int topY = y * 2;
-      int bottomY = math.min(topY + 1, _terminalPixelHeight - 1);
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        int topColor = _scenePixels[topY][x];
-        int bottomColor = _scenePixels[bottomY][x];
-
-        ColoredChar overlay = _screen[y][x];
-        if (overlay.char != ' ') {
-          if (overlay.rawBackgroundColor == null) {
-            _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(
-              overlay.char,
-              overlay.rawColor,
-              bottomColor,
-            );
-          }
-          continue;
-        }
-
-        _screen[y][x] = topColor == bottomColor
-            ? ColoredChar('█', topColor)
-            : ColoredChar('▀', topColor, bottomColor);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Converts the current frame to a single printable ANSI string
-  StringBuffer toAnsiString() {
-    StringBuffer buffer = StringBuffer();
-
-    int? lastForeground;
-    int? lastBackground;
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < _screen.length; y++) {
-      List<ColoredChar> row = _screen[y];
-      for (ColoredChar cell in row) {
-        if (cell.rawColor != lastForeground) {
-          buffer.write('\x1b[38;2;${cell.r};${cell.g};${cell.b}m');
-          lastForeground = cell.rawColor;
-        }
-        if (cell.rawBackgroundColor != lastBackground) {
-          if (cell.rawBackgroundColor == null) {
-            buffer.write('\x1b[49m');
-          } else {
-            int background = cell.rawBackgroundColor!;
-            int bgR = background & 0xFF;
-            int bgG = (background >> 8) & 0xFF;
-            int bgB = (background >> 16) & 0xFF;
-            buffer.write(
-              '\x1b[48;2;$bgR;$bgG;$bgB'
-              'm',
-            );
-          }
-          lastBackground = cell.rawBackgroundColor;
-        }
-        buffer.write(cell.char);
-      }
-
-      // Only print a newline if we are NOT on the very last row.
-      // This stops the terminal from scrolling down!
-      if (y < _screen.length - 1) {
-        buffer.write('\n');
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Reset the terminal color at the very end
-    buffer.write('\x1b[0m');
-
-    return buffer;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 9633081..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,423 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-import 'dart:typed_data';
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/cli_rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
-  static const double _targetAspectRatio = 4 / 3;
-  static const int _defaultLineHeightPx = 18;
-  static const double _defaultCellWidthToHeight = 0.55;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalColumns = 117;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalRows = 34;
-  static const int _maxRenderWidth = 320;
-  static const int _maxRenderHeight = 240;
-  static const String _terminalTealBackground = '\x1b[48;2;0;150;136m';
-
-  late Uint8List _screen;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-  int _offsetColumns = 0;
-  int _offsetRows = 0;
-  int _outputWidth = 1;
-  int _outputHeight = 1;
-  bool _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-
-  FrameBuffer _createScaledBuffer(FrameBuffer terminalBuffer) {
-    final int previousOffsetColumns = _offsetColumns;
-    final int previousOffsetRows = _offsetRows;
-    final int previousOutputWidth = _outputWidth;
-    final int previousOutputHeight = _outputHeight;
-
-    final double fitScale = math.min(
-      terminalBuffer.width / _minimumTerminalColumns,
-      terminalBuffer.height / _minimumTerminalRows,
-    );
-
-    final int targetColumns = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalColumns * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-    final int targetRows = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalRows * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-
-    _offsetColumns = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.width - targetColumns) ~/ 2);
-    _offsetRows = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.height - targetRows) ~/ 2);
-
-    final int boundsPixelWidth = math.max(
-      1,
-      (targetColumns * _defaultLineHeightPx * _defaultCellWidthToHeight)
-          .floor(),
-    );
-    final int boundsPixelHeight = math.max(
-      1,
-      targetRows * _defaultLineHeightPx,
-    );
-
-    final double boundsAspect = boundsPixelWidth / boundsPixelHeight;
-    if (boundsAspect > _targetAspectRatio) {
-      _outputHeight = boundsPixelHeight;
-      _outputWidth = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    } else {
-      _outputWidth = boundsPixelWidth;
-      _outputHeight = math.max(1, (_outputWidth / _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    }
-
-    if (_offsetColumns != previousOffsetColumns ||
-        _offsetRows != previousOffsetRows ||
-        _outputWidth != previousOutputWidth ||
-        _outputHeight != previousOutputHeight) {
-      _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-    }
-
-    final double renderScale = math.min(
-      1.0,
-      math.min(
-        _maxRenderWidth / _outputWidth,
-        _maxRenderHeight / _outputHeight,
-      ),
-    );
-    final int renderWidth = math.max(1, (_outputWidth * renderScale).floor());
-    final int renderHeight = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * renderScale).floor());
-
-    return FrameBuffer(renderWidth, renderHeight);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    final FrameBuffer originalBuffer = engine.frameBuffer;
-    final FrameBuffer scaledBuffer = _createScaledBuffer(originalBuffer);
-    // We only need 8-bit indices for the 256 VGA colors
-    _screen = Uint8List(scaledBuffer.width * scaledBuffer.height);
-    engine.frameBuffer = scaledBuffer;
-    try {
-      return super.render(engine);
-    } finally {
-      engine.frameBuffer = originalBuffer;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Top half is ceiling color index (25), bottom half is floor color index (29)
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      int colorIndex = (y < viewHeight / 2) ? 25 : 29;
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        _screen[y * width + x] = colorIndex;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + viewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // Note: Directional shading is omitted here to preserve strict VGA palette indices.
-      // Sixel uses a fixed 256-color palette, so real-time shading requires a lookup table.
-      _screen[y * width + x] = colorByte;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(viewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // 255 is the "transparent" color index
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        _screen[y * width + stripeX] = colorByte;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (width * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = (viewHeight * 0.8).toInt();
-
-    int startX = (width ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        viewHeight - weaponHeight + (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int drawX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < viewHeight) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    _drawNumber(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.score, 96, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.health, 192, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.ammo, 232, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-
-    _drawFace(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String finalizeFrame() {
-    final String clearPrefix = _needsBackgroundClear
-        ? '$_terminalTealBackground\x1b[2J\x1b[0m'
-        : '';
-    _needsBackgroundClear = false;
-    return '$clearPrefix\x1b[${_offsetRows + 1};${_offsetColumns + 1}H${toSixelString()}';
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // SIXEL ENCODER
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Converts the 8-bit index buffer into a standard Sixel sequence
-  String toSixelString() {
-    StringBuffer sb = StringBuffer();
-
-    // Start Sixel sequence (q = Sixel format)
-    sb.write('\x1bPq');
-
-    // 1. Define the Palette (and apply damage flash directly to the palette!)
-    double damageIntensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-    int redBoost = (150 * damageIntensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * damageIntensity);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
-      int color = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[i];
-      int r = color & 0xFF;
-      int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-      int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-      if (damageIntensity > 0) {
-        r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-        g = (g * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-        b = (b * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-      }
-
-      // Sixel RGB ranges from 0 to 100
-      int sixelR = (r * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelG = (g * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelB = (b * 100) ~/ 255;
-
-      sb.write('#$i;2;$sixelR;$sixelG;$sixelB');
-    }
-
-    // 2. Encode scaled image in 6-pixel vertical bands.
-    for (int band = 0; band < _outputHeight; band += 6) {
-      Map<int, Uint8List> colorMap = {};
-
-      // Map out which pixels use which color in this 6px high band
-      for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-        for (int yOffset = 0; yOffset < 6; yOffset++) {
-          int y = band + yOffset;
-          if (y >= _outputHeight) break;
-
-          int colorIdx = _sampleScaledPixel(x, y);
-          if (!colorMap.containsKey(colorIdx)) {
-            colorMap[colorIdx] = Uint8List(_outputWidth);
-          }
-          // Set the bit corresponding to the vertical position (0-5)
-          colorMap[colorIdx]![x] |= (1 << yOffset);
-        }
-      }
-
-      // Write the encoded Sixel characters for each color present in the band
-      bool firstColor = true;
-      for (var entry in colorMap.entries) {
-        if (!firstColor) {
-          // Carriage return to overlay colors on the same band
-          sb.write('\$');
-        }
-        firstColor = false;
-
-        // Select color index
-        sb.write('#${entry.key}');
-
-        Uint8List cols = entry.value;
-        int currentVal = -1;
-        int runLength = 0;
-
-        // Run-Length Encoding (RLE) loop
-        for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-          int val = cols[x];
-          if (val == currentVal) {
-            runLength++;
-          } else {
-            if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-            currentVal = val;
-            runLength = 1;
-          }
-        }
-        if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-      }
-
-      if (band + 6 < _outputHeight) {
-        sb.write('-');
-      }
-    }
-
-    // End Sixel sequence
-    sb.write('\x1b\\');
-    return sb.toString();
-  }
-
-  int _sampleScaledPixel(int outX, int outY) {
-    final int srcX = ((((outX + 0.5) * width) / _outputWidth) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          width - 1,
-        );
-    final int srcY = ((((outY + 0.5) * height) / _outputHeight) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          height - 1,
-        );
-    return _screen[srcY * width + srcX];
-  }
-
-  void _writeSixelRle(StringBuffer sb, int value, int runLength) {
-    String char = String.fromCharCode(value + 63);
-    // Sixel RLE format: !<count><char> (only worth it if count > 3)
-    if (runLength > 3) {
-      sb.write('!$runLength$char');
-    } else {
-      sb.write(char * runLength);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // PRIVATE HUD HELPERS (Adapted for 8-bit index buffer)
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  void _blitVgaImage(VgaImage image, int startX, int startY) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-    final double scaleX = width / 320.0;
-    final double scaleY = height / 200.0;
-
-    final int destStartX = (startX * scaleX).toInt();
-    final int destStartY = (startY * scaleY).toInt();
-    final int destWidth = math.max(1, (image.width * scaleX).toInt());
-    final int destHeight = math.max(1, (image.height * scaleY).toInt());
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < destHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < destWidth; dx++) {
-        int drawX = destStartX + dx;
-        int drawY = destStartY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
-          int srcX = (dx / scaleX).toInt().clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = (dy / scaleY).toInt().clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumber(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImage(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFace(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex = (health <= 0)
-        ? 127
-        : 106 + (((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6) * 3);
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIcon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89;
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
index 847b7f6..5442f6b 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
@@ -3,8 +3,39 @@ import 'dart:math' as math;
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_menu.dart';
 
 class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
+  static const Map<String, List<String>> _menuFont = {
+    'A': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'B': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'C': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10001', '01110'],
+    'D': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'E': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'F': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'G': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10111', '10001', '10001', '01111'],
+    'H': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'I': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '11111'],
+    'K': ['10001', '10010', '10100', '11000', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'L': ['10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'M': ['10001', '11011', '10101', '10101', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'N': ['10001', '10001', '11001', '10101', '10011', '10001', '10001'],
+    'O': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'P': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'R': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'S': ['01111', '10000', '10000', '01110', '00001', '00001', '11110'],
+    'T': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    'U': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'W': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10101', '10101', '11011', '10001'],
+    'Y': ['10001', '10001', '01010', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    '?': ['01110', '10001', '00001', '00010', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    '!': ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    ',': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00100', '01000'],
+    '.': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00110'],
+    "'": ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+    ' ': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+  };
+
   late FrameBuffer _buffer;
   late WolfEngine _engine;
 
@@ -145,10 +176,126 @@ class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
     _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
   }
 
+  @override
+  void drawMenu(WolfEngine engine) {
+    final int bgColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[153];
+    final int panelColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[157];
+    final int headingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[119];
+    final int selectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[19];
+    final int unselectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[23];
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < _buffer.pixels.length; i++) {
+      _buffer.pixels[i] = bgColor;
+    }
+
+    const panelX = 28;
+    const panelY = 70;
+    const panelW = 264;
+    const panelH = 82;
+
+    for (int y = panelY; y < panelY + panelH; y++) {
+      if (y < 0 || y >= height) continue;
+      final rowStart = y * width;
+      for (int x = panelX; x < panelX + panelW; x++) {
+        if (x >= 0 && x < width) {
+          _buffer.pixels[rowStart + x] = panelColor;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    final art = WolfClassicMenuArt(engine.data);
+    _drawMenuTextCentered('HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?', 48, headingColor, scale: 2);
+
+    final bottom = art.pic(15);
+    if (bottom != null) {
+      final x = (width - bottom.width) ~/ 2;
+      final y = height - bottom.height - 8;
+      _blitVgaImage(bottom, x, y);
+    }
+
+    final face = art.difficultyOption(
+      Difficulty.values[engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex],
+    );
+    if (face != null) {
+      _blitVgaImage(face, panelX + panelW - face.width - 10, panelY + 22);
+    }
+
+    final cursor = art.pic(engine.isMenuCursorAltFrame ? 9 : 8);
+    const rowYStart = panelY + 16;
+    const rowStep = 15;
+    const textX = panelX + 42;
+    const labels = [
+      'CAN I PLAY, DADDY?',
+      "DON'T HURT ME.",
+      "BRING 'EM ON!",
+      'I AM DEATH INCARNATE!',
+    ];
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < Difficulty.values.length; i++) {
+      final y = rowYStart + (i * rowStep);
+      final isSelected = i == engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+      if (isSelected && cursor != null) {
+        _blitVgaImage(cursor, panelX + 10, y - 2);
+      }
+
+      _drawMenuText(
+        labels[i],
+        textX,
+        y,
+        isSelected ? selectedTextColor : unselectedTextColor,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuText(
+    String text,
+    int startX,
+    int startY,
+    int color, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    int x = startX;
+    for (final rune in text.runes) {
+      final char = String.fromCharCode(rune).toUpperCase();
+      final pattern = _menuFont[char] ?? _menuFont[' ']!;
+
+      for (int row = 0; row < pattern.length; row++) {
+        final bits = pattern[row];
+        for (int col = 0; col < bits.length; col++) {
+          if (bits[col] != '1') continue;
+          for (int sy = 0; sy < scale; sy++) {
+            for (int sx = 0; sx < scale; sx++) {
+              final drawX = x + (col * scale) + sx;
+              final drawY = startY + (row * scale) + sy;
+              if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
+                _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] = color;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      x += (6 * scale);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuTextCentered(
+    String text,
+    int y,
+    int color, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    final textWidth = text.length * 6 * scale;
+    final x = ((width - textWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, width - 1);
+    _drawMenuText(text, x, y, color, scale: scale);
+  }
+
   @override
   FrameBuffer finalizeFrame() {
     // If the player took damage, overlay a red tint across the 3D view
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
+    if (!_engine.isDifficultySelectionPending &&
+        _engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
       _applyDamageFlash();
     }
     return _buffer; // Return the fully painted pixel array
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/wolf_3d_engine_base.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/wolf_3d_engine_base.dart
index 55f0b5e..fa652b5 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/wolf_3d_engine_base.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/engine/wolf_3d_engine_base.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:math' as math;
 
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/menu/menu_manager.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_entities.dart';
@@ -13,11 +14,13 @@ import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_input.dart';
 class WolfEngine {
   WolfEngine({
     required this.data,
-    required this.difficulty,
     required this.startingEpisode,
     required this.onGameWon,
     required this.input,
     required this.frameBuffer,
+    this.difficulty,
+    this.menuBackgroundRgb = 0x890000,
+    this.menuPanelRgb = 0x590002,
     EngineAudio? audio,
   }) : audio = audio ?? CliSilentAudio(),
        doorManager = DoorManager(
@@ -33,8 +36,26 @@ class WolfEngine {
   /// The static game data (textures, sounds, maps) parsed from original files.
   final WolfensteinData data;
 
+  /// Desired menu background color in 24-bit RGB.
+  final int menuBackgroundRgb;
+
+  /// Desired menu panel color in 24-bit RGB.
+  final int menuPanelRgb;
+
   /// The active difficulty level, affecting enemy spawning and behavior.
-  final Difficulty difficulty;
+  Difficulty? difficulty;
+
+  /// Whether the engine is waiting on player difficulty selection.
+  bool get isDifficultySelectionPending => difficulty == null;
+
+  /// Menu state owner for difficulty-selection navigation and edge detection.
+  final MenuManager menuManager = MenuManager();
+
+  /// Cursor index used by renderer-side difficulty menus.
+  int get menuSelectedDifficultyIndex => menuManager.selectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+  /// Cursor blink phase used by renderer-side difficulty menus.
+  bool get isMenuCursorAltFrame => menuManager.isCursorAltFrame(_timeAliveMs);
 
   /// The episode index where the game session begins.
   final int startingEpisode;
@@ -62,7 +83,11 @@ class WolfEngine {
   // --- World State ---
 
   /// The player's current position, stats, and inventory.
-  late Player player;
+  ///
+  /// This starts with a safe placeholder so menu-mode rendering/input can
+  /// access player fields (for example damage flash state) before a map is
+  /// loaded. `_loadLevel()` replaces it with the true map spawn.
+  Player player = Player(x: 1.5, y: 1.5, angle: 0.0);
 
   /// The mutable 64x64 grid representing the current world.
   /// This grid is modified in real-time by doors and pushwalls.
@@ -91,7 +116,13 @@ class WolfEngine {
     audio.activeGame = data;
     _currentEpisodeIndex = startingEpisode;
     _currentLevelIndex = 0;
-    _loadLevel();
+
+    menuManager.beginDifficultySelection(initialDifficulty: difficulty);
+
+    if (!isDifficultySelectionPending) {
+      _loadLevel();
+    }
+
     isInitialized = true;
   }
 
@@ -119,6 +150,12 @@ class WolfEngine {
     // 1. Process User Input
     input.update();
     final currentInput = input.currentInput;
+
+    if (isDifficultySelectionPending) {
+      _tickDifficultyMenu(currentInput);
+      return;
+    }
+
     final inputResult = _processInputs(delta, currentInput);
 
     // 2. Update Environment
@@ -150,6 +187,19 @@ class WolfEngine {
     );
   }
 
+  void _tickDifficultyMenu(EngineInput input) {
+    final menuResult = menuManager.updateDifficultySelection(input);
+    if (menuResult.goBack) {
+      onGameWon();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (menuResult.selected != null) {
+      difficulty = menuResult.selected;
+      _loadLevel();
+    }
+  }
+
   /// Wipes the current world state and builds a new floor from map data.
   void _loadLevel() {
     entities.clear();
@@ -182,7 +232,7 @@ class WolfEngine {
             objId,
             x + 0.5,
             y + 0.5,
-            difficulty,
+            difficulty!,
             data.sprites.length,
             isSharewareMode: data.version == GameVersion.shareware,
           );
@@ -401,7 +451,7 @@ class WolfEngine {
             MapObject.ammoClip,
             entity.x,
             entity.y,
-            difficulty,
+            difficulty!,
             data.sprites.length,
           );
           if (droppedAmmo != null) itemsToAdd.add(droppedAmmo);
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/cli_input.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/cli_input.dart
index cfefebe..32b0869 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/cli_input.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/cli_input.dart
@@ -14,10 +14,32 @@ class CliInput extends Wolf3dInput {
   bool _pRight = false;
   bool _pFire = false;
   bool _pInteract = false;
+  bool _pBack = false;
   WeaponType? _pWeapon;
 
   /// Queues a raw terminal key sequence for the next engine frame.
   void handleKey(List<int> bytes) {
+    // Escape sequences for arrow keys (CSI A/B/C/D) in raw terminal mode.
+    if (bytes.length >= 3 && bytes[0] == 27 && bytes[1] == 91) {
+      if (bytes[2] == 65) _pForward = true; // Up
+      if (bytes[2] == 66) _pBackward = true; // Down
+      if (bytes[2] == 67) _pRight = true; // Right
+      if (bytes[2] == 68) _pLeft = true; // Left
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Bare Escape key is a menu back action.
+    if (bytes.length == 1 && bytes[0] == 27) {
+      _pBack = true;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Enter maps to menu select/confirm.
+    if (bytes.length == 1 && (bytes[0] == 13 || bytes[0] == 10)) {
+      _pInteract = true;
+      return;
+    }
+
     String char = String.fromCharCodes(bytes).toLowerCase();
 
     if (char == 'w') _pForward = true;
@@ -45,10 +67,12 @@ class CliInput extends Wolf3dInput {
     isTurningRight = _pRight;
     isFiring = _pFire;
     isInteracting = _pInteract;
+    isBack = _pBack;
     requestedWeapon = _pWeapon;
 
     // Reset the pending buffer so each keypress behaves like a frame impulse.
     _pForward = _pBackward = _pLeft = _pRight = _pFire = _pInteract = false;
+    _pBack = false;
     _pWeapon = null;
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/wolf_3d_input.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/wolf_3d_input.dart
index 9dcc90e..79ea9e2 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/wolf_3d_input.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/input/wolf_3d_input.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ abstract class Wolf3dInput {
   bool isTurningLeft = false;
   bool isTurningRight = false;
   bool isInteracting = false;
+  bool isBack = false;
+  double? menuTapX;
+  double? menuTapY;
   bool isFiring = false;
   WeaponType? requestedWeapon;
 
@@ -22,6 +25,9 @@ abstract class Wolf3dInput {
     isTurningRight: isTurningRight,
     isFiring: isFiring,
     isInteracting: isInteracting,
+    isBack: isBack,
+    menuTapX: menuTapX,
+    menuTapY: menuTapY,
     requestedWeapon: requestedWeapon,
   );
 }
@@ -33,6 +39,7 @@ enum WolfInputAction {
   turnRight,
   fire,
   interact,
+  back,
   weapon1,
   weapon2,
   weapon3,
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/menu/menu_manager.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/menu/menu_manager.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..602f04b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/menu/menu_manager.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
+
+/// Handles menu-only input state such as selection movement and edge triggers.
+class MenuManager {
+  int _selectedDifficultyIndex = 0;
+
+  bool _prevUp = false;
+  bool _prevDown = false;
+  bool _prevConfirm = false;
+  bool _prevBack = false;
+
+  /// Current selected difficulty row index.
+  int get selectedDifficultyIndex => _selectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+  /// Resets menu navigation state for a new difficulty selection flow.
+  void beginDifficultySelection({Difficulty? initialDifficulty}) {
+    _selectedDifficultyIndex = initialDifficulty == null
+        ? 0
+        : Difficulty.values
+              .indexOf(initialDifficulty)
+              .clamp(
+                0,
+                Difficulty.values.length - 1,
+              );
+
+    _prevUp = false;
+    _prevDown = false;
+    _prevConfirm = false;
+    _prevBack = false;
+  }
+
+  /// Returns a menu action snapshot for this frame.
+  ({Difficulty? selected, bool goBack}) updateDifficultySelection(
+    EngineInput input,
+  ) {
+    final upNow = input.isMovingForward;
+    final downNow = input.isMovingBackward;
+    final confirmNow = input.isInteracting || input.isFiring;
+    final backNow = input.isBack;
+
+    if (upNow && !_prevUp) {
+      _selectedDifficultyIndex =
+          (_selectedDifficultyIndex - 1 + Difficulty.values.length) %
+          Difficulty.values.length;
+    }
+
+    if (downNow && !_prevDown) {
+      _selectedDifficultyIndex =
+          (_selectedDifficultyIndex + 1) % Difficulty.values.length;
+    }
+
+    // Pointer/touch selection for hosts that provide menu tap coordinates.
+    if (input.menuTapX != null && input.menuTapY != null) {
+      final x320 = (input.menuTapX!.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 320).toDouble();
+      final y200 = (input.menuTapY!.clamp(0.0, 1.0) * 200).toDouble();
+
+      const panelX = 28.0;
+      const panelY = 70.0;
+      const panelW = 264.0;
+      const panelH = 82.0;
+      const rowYStart = 86.0;
+      const rowStep = 15.0;
+
+      if (x320 >= panelX &&
+          x320 <= panelX + panelW &&
+          y200 >= panelY &&
+          y200 <= panelY + panelH) {
+        final index = ((y200 - rowYStart + (rowStep / 2)) / rowStep).floor();
+        if (index >= 0 && index < Difficulty.values.length) {
+          _selectedDifficultyIndex = index;
+          return (selected: Difficulty.values[index], goBack: false);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    Difficulty? selected;
+    if (confirmNow && !_prevConfirm) {
+      selected = Difficulty.values[_selectedDifficultyIndex];
+    }
+
+    final bool goBack = backNow && !_prevBack;
+
+    _prevUp = upNow;
+    _prevDown = downNow;
+    _prevConfirm = confirmNow;
+    _prevBack = backNow;
+
+    return (selected: selected, goBack: goBack);
+  }
+
+  /// Whether to show the alternate cursor frame at [elapsedMs].
+  bool isCursorAltFrame(int elapsedMs) => ((elapsedMs ~/ 220) % 2) == 1;
+}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
index b14cd71..748978b 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import 'dart:math' as math;
 import 'package:arcane_helper_utils/arcane_helper_utils.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_menu.dart';
 
 import 'cli_rasterizer.dart';
 
@@ -324,6 +325,123 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     }
   }
 
+  @override
+  void drawMenu(WolfEngine engine) {
+    final int bgColor = _rgbToRawColor(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
+    final int panelColor = _rgbToRawColor(engine.menuPanelRgb);
+    final int headingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[119];
+    final int selectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[19];
+    final int unselectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[23];
+
+    if (isTerminal) {
+      _fillTerminalRect(0, 0, width, _terminalPixelHeight, bgColor);
+    } else {
+      _fillRect(0, 0, width, height, activeTheme.solid, bgColor);
+    }
+
+    _fillRect320(28, 70, 264, 82, panelColor);
+
+    const heading = 'HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?';
+    final headingY = ((48 / 200) * height).toInt().clamp(0, height - 1);
+    final headingX = ((width - heading.length) ~/ 2).clamp(0, width - 1);
+    _writeString(headingX, headingY, heading, headingColor, bgColor);
+
+    final art = WolfClassicMenuArt(engine.data);
+
+    final face = art.difficultyOption(
+      Difficulty.values[engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex],
+    );
+    if (face != null) {
+      _blitVgaImageAscii(face, 28 + 264 - face.width - 10, 92);
+    }
+
+    final cursor = art.pic(engine.isMenuCursorAltFrame ? 9 : 8);
+    const rowYStart = 86;
+    const rowStep = 15;
+    const labels = [
+      'CAN I PLAY, DADDY?',
+      "DON'T HURT ME.",
+      "BRING 'EM ON!",
+      'I AM DEATH INCARNATE!',
+    ];
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < Difficulty.values.length; i++) {
+      final y = rowYStart + (i * rowStep);
+      final isSelected = i == engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+      if (isSelected && cursor != null) {
+        _blitVgaImageAscii(cursor, 38, y - 2);
+      }
+
+      final textY = ((y / 200) * height).toInt().clamp(0, height - 1);
+      final textX = ((70 / 320) * width).toInt().clamp(0, width - 1);
+      _writeString(
+        textX,
+        textY,
+        labels[i],
+        isSelected ? selectedTextColor : unselectedTextColor,
+        panelColor,
+      );
+    }
+
+    final int hintKeyColor = _rgbToRawColor(0xFF5555);
+    final int hintLabelColor = _rgbToRawColor(0x900303);
+    final int hintBackground = _rgbToRawColor(0x000000);
+
+    _fillRect320(0, 176, 320, 24, hintBackground);
+
+    final hintY = ((186 / 200) * height).toInt().clamp(0, height - 1);
+    int hintX = ((24 / 320) * width).toInt().clamp(0, width - 1);
+
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      '^/v',
+      hintKeyColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+    hintX += 4;
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      ' MOVE  ',
+      hintLabelColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+    hintX += 7;
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      'RET',
+      hintKeyColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+    hintX += 4;
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      ' SELECT  ',
+      hintLabelColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+    hintX += 9;
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      'ESC',
+      hintKeyColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+    hintX += 4;
+    _writeString(
+      hintX,
+      hintY,
+      ' BACK',
+      hintLabelColor,
+      hintBackground,
+    );
+  }
+
   void _drawSimpleHud(WolfEngine engine) {
     final int hudWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
     final int hudRows = height - viewHeight;
@@ -635,7 +753,8 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
   @override
   dynamic finalizeFrame() {
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0.0) {
+    if (!_engine.isDifficultySelectionPending &&
+        _engine.player.damageFlash > 0.0) {
       if (isTerminal) {
         _applyDamageFlashToScene();
       } else {
@@ -710,6 +829,29 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     }
   }
 
+  void _fillRect320(
+    int startX320,
+    int startY200,
+    int w320,
+    int h200,
+    int color,
+  ) {
+    final double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
+    final double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+
+    final int startX =
+        (isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0) + (startX320 * scaleX).toInt();
+    final int startY = (startY200 * scaleY).toInt();
+    final int w = math.max(1, (w320 * scaleX).toInt());
+    final int h = math.max(1, (h200 * scaleY).toInt());
+
+    if (isTerminal) {
+      _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY, w, h, color);
+    } else {
+      _fillRect(startX, startY, w, h, activeTheme.solid, color);
+    }
+  }
+
   // --- DAMAGE FLASH ---
   void _applyDamageFlash() {
     for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
@@ -835,4 +977,12 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
     return buffer;
   }
+
+  int _rgbToRawColor(int rgb) {
+    final int r = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
+    final int g = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    final int b = rgb & 0xFF;
+    // ColoredChar values use the same raw pixel packing as the framebuffer.
+    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart
index b72093e..6f166d1 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ abstract class Rasterizer<T> {
     // 1. Setup the frame (clear screen, draw floor/ceiling)
     prepareFrame(engine);
 
+    if (engine.isDifficultySelectionPending) {
+      drawMenu(engine);
+      return finalizeFrame();
+    }
+
     // 2. Do the heavy math for Raycasting Walls
     _castWalls(engine);
 
@@ -103,6 +108,11 @@ abstract class Rasterizer<T> {
   /// Return the finished frame (e.g., the FrameBuffer itself, or an ASCII list).
   T finalizeFrame();
 
+  /// Draws a non-world menu frame when the engine is awaiting configuration.
+  ///
+  /// Default implementation is a no-op for renderers that don't support menus.
+  void drawMenu(WolfEngine engine) {}
+
   // ===========================================================================
   // SHARED LIGHTING MATH
   // ===========================================================================
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/cli_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/cli_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 564e2f1..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/cli_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-/// Shared terminal orchestration for CLI rasterizers.
-abstract class CliRasterizer<T> extends Rasterizer<T> {
-  /// Resolves the framebuffer dimensions required by this renderer.
-  ///
-  /// The default uses the full terminal size.
-  ({int width, int height}) terminalFrameBufferSize(int columns, int rows) {
-    return (width: columns, height: rows);
-  }
-
-  /// Applies terminal-size policy and updates the engine framebuffer.
-  ///
-  /// Returns `false` when the terminal is too small for this renderer.
-  bool prepareTerminalFrame(
-    WolfEngine engine, {
-    required int columns,
-    required int rows,
-  }) {
-    if (!isTerminalSizeSupported(columns, rows)) {
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    final size = terminalFrameBufferSize(columns, rows);
-    engine.setFrameBuffer(size.width, size.height);
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  /// Builds the standard terminal size warning shown by the CLI host.
-  String buildTerminalSizeWarning({required int columns, required int rows}) {
-    return '\x1b[31m[ ERROR ] TERMINAL TOO SMALL\x1b[0m\n\n'
-        '$terminalSizeRequirement\n'
-        'Current size: \x1b[33m${columns}x$rows\x1b[0m\n\n'
-        'Please resize your window to resume the game...';
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/sixel_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/sixel_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 9633081..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/sixel_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,423 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-import 'dart:typed_data';
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/cli_rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
-  static const double _targetAspectRatio = 4 / 3;
-  static const int _defaultLineHeightPx = 18;
-  static const double _defaultCellWidthToHeight = 0.55;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalColumns = 117;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalRows = 34;
-  static const int _maxRenderWidth = 320;
-  static const int _maxRenderHeight = 240;
-  static const String _terminalTealBackground = '\x1b[48;2;0;150;136m';
-
-  late Uint8List _screen;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-  int _offsetColumns = 0;
-  int _offsetRows = 0;
-  int _outputWidth = 1;
-  int _outputHeight = 1;
-  bool _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-
-  FrameBuffer _createScaledBuffer(FrameBuffer terminalBuffer) {
-    final int previousOffsetColumns = _offsetColumns;
-    final int previousOffsetRows = _offsetRows;
-    final int previousOutputWidth = _outputWidth;
-    final int previousOutputHeight = _outputHeight;
-
-    final double fitScale = math.min(
-      terminalBuffer.width / _minimumTerminalColumns,
-      terminalBuffer.height / _minimumTerminalRows,
-    );
-
-    final int targetColumns = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalColumns * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-    final int targetRows = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalRows * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-
-    _offsetColumns = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.width - targetColumns) ~/ 2);
-    _offsetRows = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.height - targetRows) ~/ 2);
-
-    final int boundsPixelWidth = math.max(
-      1,
-      (targetColumns * _defaultLineHeightPx * _defaultCellWidthToHeight)
-          .floor(),
-    );
-    final int boundsPixelHeight = math.max(
-      1,
-      targetRows * _defaultLineHeightPx,
-    );
-
-    final double boundsAspect = boundsPixelWidth / boundsPixelHeight;
-    if (boundsAspect > _targetAspectRatio) {
-      _outputHeight = boundsPixelHeight;
-      _outputWidth = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    } else {
-      _outputWidth = boundsPixelWidth;
-      _outputHeight = math.max(1, (_outputWidth / _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    }
-
-    if (_offsetColumns != previousOffsetColumns ||
-        _offsetRows != previousOffsetRows ||
-        _outputWidth != previousOutputWidth ||
-        _outputHeight != previousOutputHeight) {
-      _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-    }
-
-    final double renderScale = math.min(
-      1.0,
-      math.min(
-        _maxRenderWidth / _outputWidth,
-        _maxRenderHeight / _outputHeight,
-      ),
-    );
-    final int renderWidth = math.max(1, (_outputWidth * renderScale).floor());
-    final int renderHeight = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * renderScale).floor());
-
-    return FrameBuffer(renderWidth, renderHeight);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    final FrameBuffer originalBuffer = engine.frameBuffer;
-    final FrameBuffer scaledBuffer = _createScaledBuffer(originalBuffer);
-    // We only need 8-bit indices for the 256 VGA colors
-    _screen = Uint8List(scaledBuffer.width * scaledBuffer.height);
-    engine.frameBuffer = scaledBuffer;
-    try {
-      return super.render(engine);
-    } finally {
-      engine.frameBuffer = originalBuffer;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Top half is ceiling color index (25), bottom half is floor color index (29)
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      int colorIndex = (y < viewHeight / 2) ? 25 : 29;
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        _screen[y * width + x] = colorIndex;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + viewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // Note: Directional shading is omitted here to preserve strict VGA palette indices.
-      // Sixel uses a fixed 256-color palette, so real-time shading requires a lookup table.
-      _screen[y * width + x] = colorByte;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(viewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // 255 is the "transparent" color index
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        _screen[y * width + stripeX] = colorByte;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (width * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = (viewHeight * 0.8).toInt();
-
-    int startX = (width ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        viewHeight - weaponHeight + (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int drawX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < viewHeight) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    _drawNumber(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.score, 96, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.health, 192, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.ammo, 232, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-
-    _drawFace(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String finalizeFrame() {
-    final String clearPrefix = _needsBackgroundClear
-        ? '$_terminalTealBackground\x1b[2J\x1b[0m'
-        : '';
-    _needsBackgroundClear = false;
-    return '$clearPrefix\x1b[${_offsetRows + 1};${_offsetColumns + 1}H${toSixelString()}';
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // SIXEL ENCODER
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Converts the 8-bit index buffer into a standard Sixel sequence
-  String toSixelString() {
-    StringBuffer sb = StringBuffer();
-
-    // Start Sixel sequence (q = Sixel format)
-    sb.write('\x1bPq');
-
-    // 1. Define the Palette (and apply damage flash directly to the palette!)
-    double damageIntensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-    int redBoost = (150 * damageIntensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * damageIntensity);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
-      int color = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[i];
-      int r = color & 0xFF;
-      int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-      int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-      if (damageIntensity > 0) {
-        r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-        g = (g * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-        b = (b * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-      }
-
-      // Sixel RGB ranges from 0 to 100
-      int sixelR = (r * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelG = (g * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelB = (b * 100) ~/ 255;
-
-      sb.write('#$i;2;$sixelR;$sixelG;$sixelB');
-    }
-
-    // 2. Encode scaled image in 6-pixel vertical bands.
-    for (int band = 0; band < _outputHeight; band += 6) {
-      Map<int, Uint8List> colorMap = {};
-
-      // Map out which pixels use which color in this 6px high band
-      for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-        for (int yOffset = 0; yOffset < 6; yOffset++) {
-          int y = band + yOffset;
-          if (y >= _outputHeight) break;
-
-          int colorIdx = _sampleScaledPixel(x, y);
-          if (!colorMap.containsKey(colorIdx)) {
-            colorMap[colorIdx] = Uint8List(_outputWidth);
-          }
-          // Set the bit corresponding to the vertical position (0-5)
-          colorMap[colorIdx]![x] |= (1 << yOffset);
-        }
-      }
-
-      // Write the encoded Sixel characters for each color present in the band
-      bool firstColor = true;
-      for (var entry in colorMap.entries) {
-        if (!firstColor) {
-          // Carriage return to overlay colors on the same band
-          sb.write('\$');
-        }
-        firstColor = false;
-
-        // Select color index
-        sb.write('#${entry.key}');
-
-        Uint8List cols = entry.value;
-        int currentVal = -1;
-        int runLength = 0;
-
-        // Run-Length Encoding (RLE) loop
-        for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-          int val = cols[x];
-          if (val == currentVal) {
-            runLength++;
-          } else {
-            if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-            currentVal = val;
-            runLength = 1;
-          }
-        }
-        if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-      }
-
-      if (band + 6 < _outputHeight) {
-        sb.write('-');
-      }
-    }
-
-    // End Sixel sequence
-    sb.write('\x1b\\');
-    return sb.toString();
-  }
-
-  int _sampleScaledPixel(int outX, int outY) {
-    final int srcX = ((((outX + 0.5) * width) / _outputWidth) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          width - 1,
-        );
-    final int srcY = ((((outY + 0.5) * height) / _outputHeight) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          height - 1,
-        );
-    return _screen[srcY * width + srcX];
-  }
-
-  void _writeSixelRle(StringBuffer sb, int value, int runLength) {
-    String char = String.fromCharCode(value + 63);
-    // Sixel RLE format: !<count><char> (only worth it if count > 3)
-    if (runLength > 3) {
-      sb.write('!$runLength$char');
-    } else {
-      sb.write(char * runLength);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // PRIVATE HUD HELPERS (Adapted for 8-bit index buffer)
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  void _blitVgaImage(VgaImage image, int startX, int startY) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-    final double scaleX = width / 320.0;
-    final double scaleY = height / 200.0;
-
-    final int destStartX = (startX * scaleX).toInt();
-    final int destStartY = (startY * scaleY).toInt();
-    final int destWidth = math.max(1, (image.width * scaleX).toInt());
-    final int destHeight = math.max(1, (image.height * scaleY).toInt());
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < destHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < destWidth; dx++) {
-        int drawX = destStartX + dx;
-        int drawY = destStartY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
-          int srcX = (dx / scaleX).toInt().clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = (dy / scaleY).toInt().clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumber(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImage(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFace(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex = (health <= 0)
-        ? 127
-        : 106 + (((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6) * 3);
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIcon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89;
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/software_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/software_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 847b7f6..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/rasterizers/software_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,265 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
-  late FrameBuffer _buffer;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-
-  // Intercept the base render call to store our references
-  @override
-  FrameBuffer render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    _buffer = engine.frameBuffer;
-    return super.render(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Top half is ceiling color (25), bottom half is floor color (29)
-    int ceilingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[25];
-    int floorColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[29];
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      int color = (y < viewHeight / 2) ? ceilingColor : floorColor;
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        _buffer.pixels[y * width + x] = color;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      // Calculate which Y pixel of the texture to sample
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + viewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-      int pixelColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-
-      // Darken Y-side walls for faux directional lighting
-      if (side == 1) {
-        pixelColor = shadeColor(pixelColor);
-      }
-
-      _buffer.pixels[y * width + x] = pixelColor;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(viewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // 255 is the "transparent" color index in VGA Wolfenstein
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        _buffer.pixels[y * width + stripeX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (width * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = (viewHeight * 0.8).toInt();
-
-    int startX = (width ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        viewHeight - weaponHeight + (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int drawX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < viewHeight) {
-            _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] =
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    // 1. Draw Background
-    _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    // 2. Draw Stats (100% mathematically accurate right-aligned coordinates)
-    _drawNumber(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Floor
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.score, 96, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Score
-    _drawNumber(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Lives
-    _drawNumber(
-      engine.player.health,
-      192,
-      176,
-      engine.data.vgaImages,
-    ); // Health
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.ammo, 232, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Ammo
-
-    // 3. Draw BJ's Face & Current Weapon
-    _drawFace(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  FrameBuffer finalizeFrame() {
-    // If the player took damage, overlay a red tint across the 3D view
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
-      _applyDamageFlash();
-    }
-    return _buffer; // Return the fully painted pixel array
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // PRIVATE HELPER METHODS
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Maps the planar VGA image data directly to 32-bit pixels.
-  /// (Assuming a 1:1 scale, which is standard for the 320x200 software renderer).
-  void _blitVgaImage(VgaImage image, int startX, int startY) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < image.height; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < image.width; dx++) {
-        int drawX = startX + dx;
-        int drawY = startY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
-          int srcX = dx.clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = dy.clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] =
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumber(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImage(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFace(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex;
-
-    if (health <= 0) {
-      faceIndex = 127; // Dead face
-    } else {
-      int healthTier = ((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6);
-      faceIndex = 106 + (healthTier * 3);
-    }
-
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIcon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89; // Default to Pistol
-
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Tints the top 80% of the screen red based on player.damageFlash intensity
-  void _applyDamageFlash() {
-    // Grab the intensity (0.0 to 1.0)
-    double intensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-
-    // Calculate how much to boost red and drop green/blue
-    int redBoost = (150 * intensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * intensity);
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        int index = y * width + x;
-        int color = _buffer.pixels[index];
-
-        int r = color & 0xFF;
-        int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-        int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-        r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-        g = (g * colorDrop).toInt();
-        b = (b * colorDrop).toInt();
-
-        _buffer.pixels[index] = (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
index f1739e4..9691a9b 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_menu.dart';
 
 import 'cli_rasterizer.dart';
 
@@ -17,6 +18,36 @@ import 'cli_rasterizer.dart';
 /// preserving a 4:3 presentation while falling back to size warnings when the
 /// terminal is too small.
 class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
+  static const Map<String, List<String>> _menuFont = {
+    'A': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'B': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'C': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10001', '01110'],
+    'D': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'E': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'F': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'G': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10111', '10001', '10001', '01111'],
+    'H': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'I': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '11111'],
+    'K': ['10001', '10010', '10100', '11000', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'L': ['10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'M': ['10001', '11011', '10101', '10101', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'N': ['10001', '10001', '11001', '10101', '10011', '10001', '10001'],
+    'O': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'P': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'R': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'S': ['01111', '10000', '10000', '01110', '00001', '00001', '11110'],
+    'T': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    'U': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'W': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10101', '10101', '11011', '10001'],
+    'Y': ['10001', '10001', '01010', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    '?': ['01110', '10001', '00001', '00010', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    '!': ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    ',': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00100', '01000'],
+    '.': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00110'],
+    "'": ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+    ' ': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+  };
+
   static const double _targetAspectRatio = 4 / 3;
   static const int _defaultLineHeightPx = 18;
   static const double _defaultCellWidthToHeight = 0.55;
@@ -326,6 +357,112 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
     _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
   }
 
+  @override
+  void drawMenu(WolfEngine engine) {
+    final int bgColor = _rgbToPaletteIndex(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
+    final int panelColor = _rgbToPaletteIndex(engine.menuPanelRgb);
+    const int headingIndex = 119;
+    const int selectedTextIndex = 19;
+    const int unselectedTextIndex = 23;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < _screen.length; i++) {
+      _screen[i] = bgColor;
+    }
+
+    _fillRect320(28, 70, 264, 82, panelColor);
+
+    final art = WolfClassicMenuArt(engine.data);
+    _drawMenuTextCentered('HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?', 48, headingIndex, scale: 2);
+
+    final bottom = art.pic(15);
+    if (bottom != null) {
+      _blitVgaImage(bottom, (320 - bottom.width) ~/ 2, 200 - bottom.height - 8);
+    }
+
+    final face = art.difficultyOption(
+      Difficulty.values[engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex],
+    );
+    if (face != null) {
+      _blitVgaImage(face, 28 + 264 - face.width - 10, 92);
+    }
+
+    final cursor = art.pic(engine.isMenuCursorAltFrame ? 9 : 8);
+    const rowYStart = 86;
+    const rowStep = 15;
+    const textX = 70;
+    const labels = [
+      'CAN I PLAY, DADDY?',
+      "DON'T HURT ME.",
+      "BRING 'EM ON!",
+      'I AM DEATH INCARNATE!',
+    ];
+    for (int i = 0; i < Difficulty.values.length; i++) {
+      final y = rowYStart + (i * rowStep);
+      final isSelected = i == engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+      if (isSelected && cursor != null) {
+        _blitVgaImage(cursor, 38, y - 2);
+      }
+
+      _drawMenuText(
+        labels[i],
+        textX,
+        y,
+        isSelected ? selectedTextIndex : unselectedTextIndex,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuText(
+    String text,
+    int startX,
+    int startY,
+    int colorIndex, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    final double scaleX = width / 320.0;
+    final double scaleY = height / 200.0;
+
+    int x320 = startX;
+    for (final rune in text.runes) {
+      final char = String.fromCharCode(rune).toUpperCase();
+      final pattern = _menuFont[char] ?? _menuFont[' ']!;
+
+      for (int row = 0; row < pattern.length; row++) {
+        final bits = pattern[row];
+        for (int col = 0; col < bits.length; col++) {
+          if (bits[col] != '1') continue;
+
+          for (int sy = 0; sy < scale; sy++) {
+            for (int sx = 0; sx < scale; sx++) {
+              final int px320 = x320 + (col * scale) + sx;
+              final int py200 = startY + (row * scale) + sy;
+
+              final int drawX = (px320 * scaleX).toInt();
+              final int drawY = (py200 * scaleY).toInt();
+              if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
+                _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorIndex;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      x320 += (6 * scale);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuTextCentered(
+    String text,
+    int y,
+    int colorIndex, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    final int textWidth = text.length * 6 * scale;
+    final int x = ((320 - textWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, 319);
+    _drawMenuText(text, x, y, colorIndex, scale: scale);
+  }
+
   @override
   String finalizeFrame() {
     if (!isSixelSupported) {
@@ -395,7 +532,9 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
     StringBuffer sb = StringBuffer();
     sb.write('\x1bPq');
 
-    double damageIntensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
+    double damageIntensity = _engine.isDifficultySelectionPending
+        ? 0.0
+        : _engine.player.damageFlash;
     int redBoost = (150 * damageIntensity).toInt();
     double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * damageIntensity);
 
@@ -530,6 +669,26 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
     }
   }
 
+  void _fillRect320(int startX, int startY, int w, int h, int colorIndex) {
+    final double scaleX = width / 320.0;
+    final double scaleY = height / 200.0;
+
+    final int destStartX = (startX * scaleX).toInt();
+    final int destStartY = (startY * scaleY).toInt();
+    final int destWidth = math.max(1, (w * scaleX).toInt());
+    final int destHeight = math.max(1, (h * scaleY).toInt());
+
+    for (int dy = 0; dy < destHeight; dy++) {
+      for (int dx = 0; dx < destWidth; dx++) {
+        final int drawX = destStartX + dx;
+        final int drawY = destStartY + dy;
+        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
+          _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorIndex;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   void _drawNumber(
     int value,
     int rightAlignX,
@@ -571,4 +730,32 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
       _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
     }
   }
+
+  int _rgbToPaletteIndex(int rgb) {
+    final int targetR = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
+    final int targetG = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    final int targetB = rgb & 0xFF;
+
+    int bestIndex = 0;
+    int bestDistance = 1 << 30;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
+      final int color = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[i];
+      final int r = color & 0xFF;
+      final int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
+      final int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
+
+      final int dr = targetR - r;
+      final int dg = targetG - g;
+      final int db = targetB - b;
+      final int dist = (dr * dr) + (dg * dg) + (db * db);
+
+      if (dist < bestDistance) {
+        bestDistance = dist;
+        bestIndex = i;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return bestIndex;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
index 847b7f6..b698877 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
@@ -3,8 +3,39 @@ import 'dart:math' as math;
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
 import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_menu.dart';
 
 class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
+  static const Map<String, List<String>> _menuFont = {
+    'A': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'B': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'C': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10001', '01110'],
+    'D': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
+    'E': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'F': ['11111', '10000', '10000', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'G': ['01110', '10001', '10000', '10111', '10001', '10001', '01111'],
+    'H': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'I': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '11111'],
+    'K': ['10001', '10010', '10100', '11000', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'L': ['10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '10000', '11111'],
+    'M': ['10001', '11011', '10101', '10101', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
+    'N': ['10001', '10001', '11001', '10101', '10011', '10001', '10001'],
+    'O': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'P': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10000', '10000', '10000'],
+    'R': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10100', '10010', '10001'],
+    'S': ['01111', '10000', '10000', '01110', '00001', '00001', '11110'],
+    'T': ['11111', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    'U': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '10001', '01110'],
+    'W': ['10001', '10001', '10001', '10101', '10101', '11011', '10001'],
+    'Y': ['10001', '10001', '01010', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100'],
+    '?': ['01110', '10001', '00001', '00010', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    '!': ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00100'],
+    ',': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00100', '01000'],
+    '.': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00110', '00110'],
+    "'": ['00100', '00100', '00100', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+    ' ': ['00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000', '00000'],
+  };
+
   late FrameBuffer _buffer;
   late WolfEngine _engine;
 
@@ -145,10 +176,135 @@ class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
     _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
   }
 
+  @override
+  void drawMenu(WolfEngine engine) {
+    final int bgColor = _rgbToFrameColor(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
+    final int panelColor = _rgbToFrameColor(engine.menuPanelRgb);
+    final int headingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[119];
+    final int selectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[19];
+    final int unselectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[23];
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < _buffer.pixels.length; i++) {
+      _buffer.pixels[i] = bgColor;
+    }
+
+    const panelX = 28;
+    const panelY = 70;
+    const panelW = 264;
+    const panelH = 82;
+
+    for (int y = panelY; y < panelY + panelH; y++) {
+      if (y < 0 || y >= height) continue;
+      final rowStart = y * width;
+      for (int x = panelX; x < panelX + panelW; x++) {
+        if (x >= 0 && x < width) {
+          _buffer.pixels[rowStart + x] = panelColor;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    final art = WolfClassicMenuArt(engine.data);
+    _drawMenuTextCentered('HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?', 48, headingColor, scale: 2);
+
+    final bottom = art.pic(15);
+    if (bottom != null) {
+      final x = (width - bottom.width) ~/ 2;
+      final y = height - bottom.height - 8;
+      _blitVgaImage(bottom, x, y);
+    }
+
+    final face = art.difficultyOption(
+      Difficulty.values[engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex],
+    );
+    if (face != null) {
+      _blitVgaImage(face, panelX + panelW - face.width - 10, panelY + 22);
+    }
+
+    final cursor = art.pic(engine.isMenuCursorAltFrame ? 9 : 8);
+    const rowYStart = panelY + 16;
+    const rowStep = 15;
+    const textX = panelX + 42;
+    const labels = [
+      'CAN I PLAY, DADDY?',
+      "DON'T HURT ME.",
+      "BRING 'EM ON!",
+      'I AM DEATH INCARNATE!',
+    ];
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < Difficulty.values.length; i++) {
+      final y = rowYStart + (i * rowStep);
+      final isSelected = i == engine.menuSelectedDifficultyIndex;
+
+      if (isSelected && cursor != null) {
+        _blitVgaImage(cursor, panelX + 10, y - 2);
+      }
+
+      _drawMenuText(
+        labels[i],
+        textX,
+        y,
+        isSelected ? selectedTextColor : unselectedTextColor,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  int _rgbToFrameColor(int rgb) {
+    final int r = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
+    final int g = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    final int b = rgb & 0xFF;
+    // Framebuffer expects bytes in RGBA order; this packed int produces that
+    // layout on little-endian platforms.
+    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuText(
+    String text,
+    int startX,
+    int startY,
+    int color, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    int x = startX;
+    for (final rune in text.runes) {
+      final char = String.fromCharCode(rune).toUpperCase();
+      final pattern = _menuFont[char] ?? _menuFont[' ']!;
+
+      for (int row = 0; row < pattern.length; row++) {
+        final bits = pattern[row];
+        for (int col = 0; col < bits.length; col++) {
+          if (bits[col] != '1') continue;
+          for (int sy = 0; sy < scale; sy++) {
+            for (int sx = 0; sx < scale; sx++) {
+              final drawX = x + (col * scale) + sx;
+              final drawY = startY + (row * scale) + sy;
+              if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
+                _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] = color;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      x += (6 * scale);
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _drawMenuTextCentered(
+    String text,
+    int y,
+    int color, {
+    int scale = 1,
+  }) {
+    final textWidth = text.length * 6 * scale;
+    final x = ((width - textWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, width - 1);
+    _drawMenuText(text, x, y, color, scale: scale);
+  }
+
   @override
   FrameBuffer finalizeFrame() {
     // If the player took damage, overlay a red tint across the 3D view
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
+    if (!_engine.isDifficultySelectionPending &&
+        _engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
       _applyDamageFlash();
     }
     return _buffer; // Return the fully painted pixel array
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index b72093e..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,473 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_entities.dart';
-
-abstract class Rasterizer<T> {
-  late List<double> zBuffer;
-  late int width;
-  late int height;
-  late int viewHeight;
-
-  /// A multiplier to adjust the width of sprites.
-  /// Pixel renderers usually keep this at 1.0.
-  /// ASCII renderers can override this (e.g., 0.6) to account for tall characters.
-  double get aspectMultiplier => 1.0;
-
-  /// A multiplier to counteract tall pixel formats (like 1:2 terminal fonts).
-  /// Defaults to 1.0 (no squish) for standard pixel rendering.
-  double get verticalStretch => 1.0;
-
-  /// The logical width of the projection area used for raycasting and sprites.
-  /// Most renderers use the full buffer width.
-  int get projectionWidth => width;
-
-  /// Horizontal offset of the projection area within the output buffer.
-  int get projectionOffsetX => 0;
-
-  /// The logical height of the 3D projection before a renderer maps rows to output pixels.
-  /// Most renderers use the visible view height. Terminal ASCII can override this to render
-  /// more vertical detail and collapse it into half-block glyphs.
-  int get projectionViewHeight => viewHeight;
-
-  /// Whether the current terminal dimensions are supported by this renderer.
-  /// Default renderers accept all sizes.
-  bool isTerminalSizeSupported(int columns, int rows) => true;
-
-  /// Human-readable requirement text used by the host app when size checks fail.
-  String get terminalSizeRequirement => 'Please resize your terminal window.';
-
-  /// The main entry point called by the game loop.
-  /// Orchestrates the mathematical rendering pipeline.
-  T render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    width = engine.frameBuffer.width;
-    height = engine.frameBuffer.height;
-    // The 3D view typically takes up the top 80% of the screen
-    viewHeight = (height * 0.8).toInt();
-    zBuffer = List.filled(projectionWidth, 0.0);
-
-    // 1. Setup the frame (clear screen, draw floor/ceiling)
-    prepareFrame(engine);
-
-    // 2. Do the heavy math for Raycasting Walls
-    _castWalls(engine);
-
-    // 3. Do the heavy math for Projecting Sprites
-    _castSprites(engine);
-
-    // 4. Draw 2D Overlays
-    drawWeapon(engine);
-    drawHud(engine);
-
-    // 5. Finalize and return the frame data (Buffer or String/List)
-    return finalizeFrame();
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // ABSTRACT METHODS (Implemented by the child renderers)
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Initialize buffers, clear the screen, and draw the floor/ceiling.
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine);
-
-  /// Draw a single vertical column of a wall.
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  );
-
-  /// Draw a single vertical stripe of a sprite (enemy/item).
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  );
-
-  /// Draw the player's weapon overlay at the bottom of the 3D view.
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine);
-
-  /// Draw the 2D status bar at the bottom 20% of the screen.
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine);
-
-  /// Return the finished frame (e.g., the FrameBuffer itself, or an ASCII list).
-  T finalizeFrame();
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // SHARED LIGHTING MATH
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Calculates depth-based lighting falloff (0.0 to 1.0).
-  /// While the original Wolf3D didn't use depth fog, this provides a great
-  /// atmospheric effect for custom renderers (like ASCII dithering).
-  double calculateDepthBrightness(double distance) {
-    return (10.0 / (distance + 2.0)).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
-  }
-
-  ({double distance, int side, int hitWallId, double wallX})?
-  _intersectActivePushwall(
-    Player player,
-    Coordinate2D rayDir,
-    Pushwall activePushwall,
-  ) {
-    double minX = activePushwall.x.toDouble();
-    double maxX = activePushwall.x + 1.0;
-    double minY = activePushwall.y.toDouble();
-    double maxY = activePushwall.y + 1.0;
-
-    if (activePushwall.dirX != 0) {
-      final double delta = activePushwall.dirX * activePushwall.offset;
-      minX += delta;
-      maxX += delta;
-    }
-
-    if (activePushwall.dirY != 0) {
-      final double delta = activePushwall.dirY * activePushwall.offset;
-      minY += delta;
-      maxY += delta;
-    }
-
-    const double epsilon = 1e-9;
-
-    double tMinX = double.negativeInfinity;
-    double tMaxX = double.infinity;
-    if (rayDir.x.abs() < epsilon) {
-      if (player.x < minX || player.x > maxX) {
-        return null;
-      }
-    } else {
-      final double tx1 = (minX - player.x) / rayDir.x;
-      final double tx2 = (maxX - player.x) / rayDir.x;
-      tMinX = math.min(tx1, tx2);
-      tMaxX = math.max(tx1, tx2);
-    }
-
-    double tMinY = double.negativeInfinity;
-    double tMaxY = double.infinity;
-    if (rayDir.y.abs() < epsilon) {
-      if (player.y < minY || player.y > maxY) {
-        return null;
-      }
-    } else {
-      final double ty1 = (minY - player.y) / rayDir.y;
-      final double ty2 = (maxY - player.y) / rayDir.y;
-      tMinY = math.min(ty1, ty2);
-      tMaxY = math.max(ty1, ty2);
-    }
-
-    final double entryDistance = math.max(tMinX, tMinY);
-    final double exitDistance = math.min(tMaxX, tMaxY);
-
-    if (exitDistance < 0 || entryDistance > exitDistance) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    final double hitDistance = entryDistance >= 0
-        ? entryDistance
-        : exitDistance;
-    if (hitDistance < 0) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    final int side = tMinX > tMinY ? 0 : 1;
-    final double wallCoord = side == 0
-        ? player.y + hitDistance * rayDir.y
-        : player.x + hitDistance * rayDir.x;
-
-    return (
-      distance: hitDistance,
-      side: side,
-      hitWallId: activePushwall.mapId,
-      wallX: wallCoord - wallCoord.floor(),
-    );
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // CORE ENGINE MATH (Shared across all renderers)
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  void _castWalls(WolfEngine engine) {
-    final Player player = engine.player;
-    final SpriteMap map = engine.currentLevel;
-    final List<Sprite> wallTextures = engine.data.walls;
-    final int sceneWidth = projectionWidth;
-    final int sceneHeight = projectionViewHeight;
-
-    final Map<String, double> doorOffsets = engine.doorManager
-        .getOffsetsForRenderer();
-    final Pushwall? activePushwall = engine.pushwallManager.activePushwall;
-
-    final double fov = math.pi / 3;
-    Coordinate2D dir = Coordinate2D(
-      math.cos(player.angle),
-      math.sin(player.angle),
-    );
-    Coordinate2D plane = Coordinate2D(-dir.y, dir.x) * math.tan(fov / 2);
-
-    for (int x = 0; x < sceneWidth; x++) {
-      double cameraX = 2 * x / sceneWidth - 1.0;
-      Coordinate2D rayDir = dir + (plane * cameraX);
-      final pushwallHit = activePushwall == null
-          ? null
-          : _intersectActivePushwall(player, rayDir, activePushwall);
-
-      int mapX = player.x.toInt();
-      int mapY = player.y.toInt();
-
-      double deltaDistX = (rayDir.x == 0) ? 1e30 : (1.0 / rayDir.x).abs();
-      double deltaDistY = (rayDir.y == 0) ? 1e30 : (1.0 / rayDir.y).abs();
-
-      double sideDistX, sideDistY, perpWallDist = 0.0;
-      int stepX, stepY, side = 0, hitWallId = 0;
-      bool hit = false, hitOutOfBounds = false, customDistCalculated = false;
-      double textureOffset = 0.0;
-      double? wallXOverride;
-      Set<String> ignoredDoors = {};
-
-      if (rayDir.x < 0) {
-        stepX = -1;
-        sideDistX = (player.x - mapX) * deltaDistX;
-      } else {
-        stepX = 1;
-        sideDistX = (mapX + 1.0 - player.x) * deltaDistX;
-      }
-      if (rayDir.y < 0) {
-        stepY = -1;
-        sideDistY = (player.y - mapY) * deltaDistY;
-      } else {
-        stepY = 1;
-        sideDistY = (mapY + 1.0 - player.y) * deltaDistY;
-      }
-
-      // DDA Loop
-      while (!hit) {
-        if (sideDistX < sideDistY) {
-          sideDistX += deltaDistX;
-          mapX += stepX;
-          side = 0;
-        } else {
-          sideDistY += deltaDistY;
-          mapY += stepY;
-          side = 1;
-        }
-
-        if (mapY < 0 ||
-            mapY >= map.length ||
-            mapX < 0 ||
-            mapX >= map[0].length) {
-          hit = true;
-          hitOutOfBounds = true;
-        } else if (map[mapY][mapX] > 0) {
-          if (activePushwall != null &&
-              mapX == activePushwall.x &&
-              mapY == activePushwall.y) {
-            continue;
-          }
-
-          String mapKey = '$mapX,$mapY';
-
-          // DOOR LOGIC
-          if (map[mapY][mapX] >= 90 && !ignoredDoors.contains(mapKey)) {
-            double currentOffset = doorOffsets[mapKey] ?? 0.0;
-            if (currentOffset > 0.0) {
-              double perpWallDistTemp = (side == 0)
-                  ? (sideDistX - deltaDistX)
-                  : (sideDistY - deltaDistY);
-              double wallXTemp = (side == 0)
-                  ? player.y + perpWallDistTemp * rayDir.y
-                  : player.x + perpWallDistTemp * rayDir.x;
-              wallXTemp -= wallXTemp.floor();
-              if (wallXTemp < currentOffset) {
-                ignoredDoors.add(mapKey);
-                continue; // Ray passes through the open part of the door
-              }
-            }
-            hit = true;
-            hitWallId = map[mapY][mapX];
-            textureOffset = currentOffset;
-          } else {
-            hit = true;
-            hitWallId = map[mapY][mapX];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-
-      if (hitOutOfBounds || !hit) {
-        if (pushwallHit == null) {
-          continue;
-        }
-
-        customDistCalculated = true;
-        perpWallDist = pushwallHit.distance;
-        side = pushwallHit.side;
-        hitWallId = pushwallHit.hitWallId;
-        wallXOverride = pushwallHit.wallX;
-        textureOffset = 0.0;
-        hit = true;
-        hitOutOfBounds = false;
-      }
-
-      if (!customDistCalculated) {
-        perpWallDist = (side == 0)
-            ? (sideDistX - deltaDistX)
-            : (sideDistY - deltaDistY);
-      }
-
-      if (pushwallHit != null && pushwallHit.distance < perpWallDist) {
-        customDistCalculated = true;
-        perpWallDist = pushwallHit.distance;
-        side = pushwallHit.side;
-        hitWallId = pushwallHit.hitWallId;
-        wallXOverride = pushwallHit.wallX;
-        textureOffset = 0.0;
-      }
-
-      if (perpWallDist < 0.1) perpWallDist = 0.1;
-
-      // Save for sprite depth checks
-      zBuffer[x] = perpWallDist;
-
-      // Calculate Texture X Coordinate
-      double wallX =
-          wallXOverride ??
-          ((side == 0)
-              ? player.y + perpWallDist * rayDir.y
-              : player.x + perpWallDist * rayDir.x);
-      wallX -= wallX.floor();
-
-      int texNum;
-      if (hitWallId >= 90) {
-        texNum = 98.clamp(0, wallTextures.length - 1);
-      } else {
-        texNum = ((hitWallId - 1) * 2).clamp(0, wallTextures.length - 2);
-        if (side == 1) texNum += 1;
-      }
-      Sprite texture = wallTextures[texNum];
-
-      // Texture flipping for specific orientations
-      int texX = (((wallX - textureOffset) % 1.0) * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-      if (side == 0 && math.cos(player.angle) > 0) texX = 63 - texX;
-      if (side == 1 && math.sin(player.angle) < 0) texX = 63 - texX;
-
-      // Calculate drawing dimensions
-      int columnHeight = ((sceneHeight / perpWallDist) * verticalStretch)
-          .toInt();
-      int drawStart = (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + sceneHeight ~/ 2).clamp(
-        0,
-        sceneHeight,
-      );
-      int drawEnd = (columnHeight ~/ 2 + sceneHeight ~/ 2).clamp(
-        0,
-        sceneHeight,
-      );
-
-      // Tell the implementation to draw this column
-      drawWallColumn(
-        projectionOffsetX + x,
-        drawStart,
-        drawEnd,
-        columnHeight,
-        texture,
-        texX,
-        perpWallDist,
-        side,
-      );
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _castSprites(WolfEngine engine) {
-    final Player player = engine.player;
-    final List<Entity> activeSprites = List.from(engine.entities);
-    final int sceneWidth = projectionWidth;
-    final int sceneHeight = projectionViewHeight;
-
-    // Sort from furthest to closest (Painter's Algorithm)
-    activeSprites.sort((a, b) {
-      double distA = player.position.distanceTo(a.position);
-      double distB = player.position.distanceTo(b.position);
-      return distB.compareTo(distA);
-    });
-
-    Coordinate2D dir = Coordinate2D(
-      math.cos(player.angle),
-      math.sin(player.angle),
-    );
-    Coordinate2D plane =
-        Coordinate2D(-dir.y, dir.x) * math.tan((math.pi / 3) / 2);
-
-    for (Entity entity in activeSprites) {
-      Coordinate2D spritePos = entity.position - player.position;
-
-      double invDet = 1.0 / (plane.x * dir.y - dir.x * plane.y);
-      double transformX = invDet * (dir.y * spritePos.x - dir.x * spritePos.y);
-      double transformY =
-          invDet * (-plane.y * spritePos.x + plane.x * spritePos.y);
-
-      // Only process if the sprite is in front of the camera
-      if (transformY > 0) {
-        int spriteScreenX = ((sceneWidth / 2) * (1 + transformX / transformY))
-            .toInt();
-        int spriteHeight = ((sceneHeight / transformY).abs() * verticalStretch)
-            .toInt();
-        int displayedSpriteHeight =
-            ((viewHeight / transformY).abs() * verticalStretch).toInt();
-
-        // Scale width based on the aspectMultiplier (useful for ASCII)
-        int spriteWidth =
-            (displayedSpriteHeight * aspectMultiplier / verticalStretch)
-                .toInt();
-
-        int drawStartY = -spriteHeight ~/ 2 + sceneHeight ~/ 2;
-        int drawEndY = spriteHeight ~/ 2 + sceneHeight ~/ 2;
-        int drawStartX = -spriteWidth ~/ 2 + spriteScreenX;
-        int drawEndX = spriteWidth ~/ 2 + spriteScreenX;
-
-        int clipStartX = math.max(0, drawStartX);
-        int clipEndX = math.min(sceneWidth, drawEndX);
-
-        int safeIndex = entity.spriteIndex.clamp(
-          0,
-          engine.data.sprites.length - 1,
-        );
-        Sprite texture = engine.data.sprites[safeIndex];
-
-        // Loop through the visible vertical stripes
-        for (int stripe = clipStartX; stripe < clipEndX; stripe++) {
-          // Check the Z-Buffer to see if a wall is in front of this stripe
-          if (transformY < zBuffer[stripe]) {
-            int texX = ((stripe - drawStartX) * 64 ~/ spriteWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-
-            // Tell the implementation to draw this stripe
-            drawSpriteStripe(
-              projectionOffsetX + stripe,
-              drawStartY,
-              drawEndY,
-              spriteHeight,
-              texture,
-              texX,
-              transformY,
-            );
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Darkens a 32-bit 0xAABBGGRR color by roughly 30% without touching Alpha
-  int shadeColor(int color) {
-    int r = (color & 0xFF) * 7 ~/ 10;
-    int g = ((color >> 8) & 0xFF) * 7 ~/ 10;
-    int b = ((color >> 16) & 0xFF) * 7 ~/ 10;
-    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/sixel_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/sixel_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 9633081..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/sixel_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,423 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-import 'dart:typed_data';
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/cli_rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
-  static const double _targetAspectRatio = 4 / 3;
-  static const int _defaultLineHeightPx = 18;
-  static const double _defaultCellWidthToHeight = 0.55;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalColumns = 117;
-  static const int _minimumTerminalRows = 34;
-  static const int _maxRenderWidth = 320;
-  static const int _maxRenderHeight = 240;
-  static const String _terminalTealBackground = '\x1b[48;2;0;150;136m';
-
-  late Uint8List _screen;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-  int _offsetColumns = 0;
-  int _offsetRows = 0;
-  int _outputWidth = 1;
-  int _outputHeight = 1;
-  bool _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-
-  FrameBuffer _createScaledBuffer(FrameBuffer terminalBuffer) {
-    final int previousOffsetColumns = _offsetColumns;
-    final int previousOffsetRows = _offsetRows;
-    final int previousOutputWidth = _outputWidth;
-    final int previousOutputHeight = _outputHeight;
-
-    final double fitScale = math.min(
-      terminalBuffer.width / _minimumTerminalColumns,
-      terminalBuffer.height / _minimumTerminalRows,
-    );
-
-    final int targetColumns = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalColumns * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-    final int targetRows = math.max(
-      1,
-      (_minimumTerminalRows * fitScale).floor(),
-    );
-
-    _offsetColumns = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.width - targetColumns) ~/ 2);
-    _offsetRows = math.max(0, (terminalBuffer.height - targetRows) ~/ 2);
-
-    final int boundsPixelWidth = math.max(
-      1,
-      (targetColumns * _defaultLineHeightPx * _defaultCellWidthToHeight)
-          .floor(),
-    );
-    final int boundsPixelHeight = math.max(
-      1,
-      targetRows * _defaultLineHeightPx,
-    );
-
-    final double boundsAspect = boundsPixelWidth / boundsPixelHeight;
-    if (boundsAspect > _targetAspectRatio) {
-      _outputHeight = boundsPixelHeight;
-      _outputWidth = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    } else {
-      _outputWidth = boundsPixelWidth;
-      _outputHeight = math.max(1, (_outputWidth / _targetAspectRatio).floor());
-    }
-
-    if (_offsetColumns != previousOffsetColumns ||
-        _offsetRows != previousOffsetRows ||
-        _outputWidth != previousOutputWidth ||
-        _outputHeight != previousOutputHeight) {
-      _needsBackgroundClear = true;
-    }
-
-    final double renderScale = math.min(
-      1.0,
-      math.min(
-        _maxRenderWidth / _outputWidth,
-        _maxRenderHeight / _outputHeight,
-      ),
-    );
-    final int renderWidth = math.max(1, (_outputWidth * renderScale).floor());
-    final int renderHeight = math.max(1, (_outputHeight * renderScale).floor());
-
-    return FrameBuffer(renderWidth, renderHeight);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    final FrameBuffer originalBuffer = engine.frameBuffer;
-    final FrameBuffer scaledBuffer = _createScaledBuffer(originalBuffer);
-    // We only need 8-bit indices for the 256 VGA colors
-    _screen = Uint8List(scaledBuffer.width * scaledBuffer.height);
-    engine.frameBuffer = scaledBuffer;
-    try {
-      return super.render(engine);
-    } finally {
-      engine.frameBuffer = originalBuffer;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Top half is ceiling color index (25), bottom half is floor color index (29)
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      int colorIndex = (y < viewHeight / 2) ? 25 : 29;
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        _screen[y * width + x] = colorIndex;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + viewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // Note: Directional shading is omitted here to preserve strict VGA palette indices.
-      // Sixel uses a fixed 256-color palette, so real-time shading requires a lookup table.
-      _screen[y * width + x] = colorByte;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(viewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // 255 is the "transparent" color index
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        _screen[y * width + stripeX] = colorByte;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (width * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = (viewHeight * 0.8).toInt();
-
-    int startX = (width ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        viewHeight - weaponHeight + (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int drawX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < viewHeight) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    _drawNumber(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.score, 96, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.health, 192, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.ammo, 232, 176, engine.data.vgaImages);
-
-    _drawFace(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  String finalizeFrame() {
-    final String clearPrefix = _needsBackgroundClear
-        ? '$_terminalTealBackground\x1b[2J\x1b[0m'
-        : '';
-    _needsBackgroundClear = false;
-    return '$clearPrefix\x1b[${_offsetRows + 1};${_offsetColumns + 1}H${toSixelString()}';
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // SIXEL ENCODER
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Converts the 8-bit index buffer into a standard Sixel sequence
-  String toSixelString() {
-    StringBuffer sb = StringBuffer();
-
-    // Start Sixel sequence (q = Sixel format)
-    sb.write('\x1bPq');
-
-    // 1. Define the Palette (and apply damage flash directly to the palette!)
-    double damageIntensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-    int redBoost = (150 * damageIntensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * damageIntensity);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
-      int color = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[i];
-      int r = color & 0xFF;
-      int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-      int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-      if (damageIntensity > 0) {
-        r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-        g = (g * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-        b = (b * colorDrop).toInt().clamp(0, 255);
-      }
-
-      // Sixel RGB ranges from 0 to 100
-      int sixelR = (r * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelG = (g * 100) ~/ 255;
-      int sixelB = (b * 100) ~/ 255;
-
-      sb.write('#$i;2;$sixelR;$sixelG;$sixelB');
-    }
-
-    // 2. Encode scaled image in 6-pixel vertical bands.
-    for (int band = 0; band < _outputHeight; band += 6) {
-      Map<int, Uint8List> colorMap = {};
-
-      // Map out which pixels use which color in this 6px high band
-      for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-        for (int yOffset = 0; yOffset < 6; yOffset++) {
-          int y = band + yOffset;
-          if (y >= _outputHeight) break;
-
-          int colorIdx = _sampleScaledPixel(x, y);
-          if (!colorMap.containsKey(colorIdx)) {
-            colorMap[colorIdx] = Uint8List(_outputWidth);
-          }
-          // Set the bit corresponding to the vertical position (0-5)
-          colorMap[colorIdx]![x] |= (1 << yOffset);
-        }
-      }
-
-      // Write the encoded Sixel characters for each color present in the band
-      bool firstColor = true;
-      for (var entry in colorMap.entries) {
-        if (!firstColor) {
-          // Carriage return to overlay colors on the same band
-          sb.write('\$');
-        }
-        firstColor = false;
-
-        // Select color index
-        sb.write('#${entry.key}');
-
-        Uint8List cols = entry.value;
-        int currentVal = -1;
-        int runLength = 0;
-
-        // Run-Length Encoding (RLE) loop
-        for (int x = 0; x < _outputWidth; x++) {
-          int val = cols[x];
-          if (val == currentVal) {
-            runLength++;
-          } else {
-            if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-            currentVal = val;
-            runLength = 1;
-          }
-        }
-        if (runLength > 0) _writeSixelRle(sb, currentVal, runLength);
-      }
-
-      if (band + 6 < _outputHeight) {
-        sb.write('-');
-      }
-    }
-
-    // End Sixel sequence
-    sb.write('\x1b\\');
-    return sb.toString();
-  }
-
-  int _sampleScaledPixel(int outX, int outY) {
-    final int srcX = ((((outX + 0.5) * width) / _outputWidth) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          width - 1,
-        );
-    final int srcY = ((((outY + 0.5) * height) / _outputHeight) - 0.5)
-        .round()
-        .clamp(
-          0,
-          height - 1,
-        );
-    return _screen[srcY * width + srcX];
-  }
-
-  void _writeSixelRle(StringBuffer sb, int value, int runLength) {
-    String char = String.fromCharCode(value + 63);
-    // Sixel RLE format: !<count><char> (only worth it if count > 3)
-    if (runLength > 3) {
-      sb.write('!$runLength$char');
-    } else {
-      sb.write(char * runLength);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // PRIVATE HUD HELPERS (Adapted for 8-bit index buffer)
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  void _blitVgaImage(VgaImage image, int startX, int startY) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-    final double scaleX = width / 320.0;
-    final double scaleY = height / 200.0;
-
-    final int destStartX = (startX * scaleX).toInt();
-    final int destStartY = (startY * scaleY).toInt();
-    final int destWidth = math.max(1, (image.width * scaleX).toInt());
-    final int destHeight = math.max(1, (image.height * scaleY).toInt());
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < destHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < destWidth; dx++) {
-        int drawX = destStartX + dx;
-        int drawY = destStartY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
-          int srcX = (dx / scaleX).toInt().clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = (dy / scaleY).toInt().clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            _screen[drawY * width + drawX] = colorByte;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumber(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImage(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFace(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex = (health <= 0)
-        ? 127
-        : 106 + (((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6) * 3);
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIcon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89;
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/software_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/software_rasterizer.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 847b7f6..0000000
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/src/software_rasterizer.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,265 +0,0 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
-
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
-import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_engine.dart';
-
-class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
-  late FrameBuffer _buffer;
-  late WolfEngine _engine;
-
-  // Intercept the base render call to store our references
-  @override
-  FrameBuffer render(WolfEngine engine) {
-    _engine = engine;
-    _buffer = engine.frameBuffer;
-    return super.render(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void prepareFrame(WolfEngine engine) {
-    // Top half is ceiling color (25), bottom half is floor color (29)
-    int ceilingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[25];
-    int floorColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[29];
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      int color = (y < viewHeight / 2) ? ceilingColor : floorColor;
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        _buffer.pixels[y * width + x] = color;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWallColumn(
-    int x,
-    int drawStart,
-    int drawEnd,
-    int columnHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double perpWallDist,
-    int side,
-  ) {
-    for (int y = drawStart; y < drawEnd; y++) {
-      // Calculate which Y pixel of the texture to sample
-      double relativeY =
-          (y - (-columnHeight ~/ 2 + viewHeight ~/ 2)) / columnHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-      int pixelColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-
-      // Darken Y-side walls for faux directional lighting
-      if (side == 1) {
-        pixelColor = shadeColor(pixelColor);
-      }
-
-      _buffer.pixels[y * width + x] = pixelColor;
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawSpriteStripe(
-    int stripeX,
-    int drawStartY,
-    int drawEndY,
-    int spriteHeight,
-    Sprite texture,
-    int texX,
-    double transformY,
-  ) {
-    for (
-      int y = math.max(0, drawStartY);
-      y < math.min(viewHeight, drawEndY);
-      y++
-    ) {
-      double relativeY = (y - drawStartY) / spriteHeight;
-      int texY = (relativeY * 64).toInt().clamp(0, 63);
-
-      int colorByte = texture.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-
-      // 255 is the "transparent" color index in VGA Wolfenstein
-      if (colorByte != 255) {
-        _buffer.pixels[y * width + stripeX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawWeapon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int spriteIndex = engine.player.currentWeapon.getCurrentSpriteIndex(
-      engine.data.sprites.length,
-    );
-    Sprite weaponSprite = engine.data.sprites[spriteIndex];
-
-    int weaponWidth = (width * 0.5).toInt();
-    int weaponHeight = (viewHeight * 0.8).toInt();
-
-    int startX = (width ~/ 2) - (weaponWidth ~/ 2);
-    int startY =
-        viewHeight - weaponHeight + (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset ~/ 4);
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
-        int texX = (dx * 64 ~/ weaponWidth).clamp(0, 63);
-        int texY = (dy * 64 ~/ weaponHeight).clamp(0, 63);
-
-        int colorByte = weaponSprite.pixels[texX * 64 + texY];
-        if (colorByte != 255) {
-          int drawX = startX + dx;
-          int drawY = startY + dy;
-          if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < viewHeight) {
-            _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] =
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int statusBarIndex = engine.data.vgaImages.indexWhere(
-      (img) => img.width == 320 && img.height == 40,
-    );
-    if (statusBarIndex == -1) return;
-
-    // 1. Draw Background
-    _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[statusBarIndex], 0, 160);
-
-    // 2. Draw Stats (100% mathematically accurate right-aligned coordinates)
-    _drawNumber(1, 32, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Floor
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.score, 96, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Score
-    _drawNumber(3, 120, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Lives
-    _drawNumber(
-      engine.player.health,
-      192,
-      176,
-      engine.data.vgaImages,
-    ); // Health
-    _drawNumber(engine.player.ammo, 232, 176, engine.data.vgaImages); // Ammo
-
-    // 3. Draw BJ's Face & Current Weapon
-    _drawFace(engine);
-    _drawWeaponIcon(engine);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  FrameBuffer finalizeFrame() {
-    // If the player took damage, overlay a red tint across the 3D view
-    if (_engine.player.damageFlash > 0) {
-      _applyDamageFlash();
-    }
-    return _buffer; // Return the fully painted pixel array
-  }
-
-  // ===========================================================================
-  // PRIVATE HELPER METHODS
-  // ===========================================================================
-
-  /// Maps the planar VGA image data directly to 32-bit pixels.
-  /// (Assuming a 1:1 scale, which is standard for the 320x200 software renderer).
-  void _blitVgaImage(VgaImage image, int startX, int startY) {
-    int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
-    int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-
-    for (int dy = 0; dy < image.height; dy++) {
-      for (int dx = 0; dx < image.width; dx++) {
-        int drawX = startX + dx;
-        int drawY = startY + dy;
-
-        if (drawX >= 0 && drawX < width && drawY >= 0 && drawY < height) {
-          int srcX = dx.clamp(0, image.width - 1);
-          int srcY = dy.clamp(0, image.height - 1);
-
-          int plane = srcX % 4;
-          int sx = srcX ~/ 4;
-          int index = (plane * planeSize) + (srcY * planeWidth) + sx;
-
-          int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
-          if (colorByte != 255) {
-            _buffer.pixels[drawY * width + drawX] =
-                ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawNumber(
-    int value,
-    int rightAlignX,
-    int startY,
-    List<VgaImage> vgaImages,
-  ) {
-    const int zeroIndex = 96;
-    String numStr = value.toString();
-    int currentX = rightAlignX - (numStr.length * 8);
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < numStr.length; i++) {
-      int digit = int.parse(numStr[i]);
-      if (zeroIndex + digit < vgaImages.length) {
-        _blitVgaImage(vgaImages[zeroIndex + digit], currentX, startY);
-      }
-      currentX += 8;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawFace(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int health = engine.player.health;
-    int faceIndex;
-
-    if (health <= 0) {
-      faceIndex = 127; // Dead face
-    } else {
-      int healthTier = ((100 - health) ~/ 16).clamp(0, 6);
-      faceIndex = 106 + (healthTier * 3);
-    }
-
-    if (faceIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[faceIndex], 136, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _drawWeaponIcon(WolfEngine engine) {
-    int weaponIndex = 89; // Default to Pistol
-
-    if (engine.player.hasChainGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 91;
-    } else if (engine.player.hasMachineGun) {
-      weaponIndex = 90;
-    }
-
-    if (weaponIndex < engine.data.vgaImages.length) {
-      _blitVgaImage(engine.data.vgaImages[weaponIndex], 256, 164);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Tints the top 80% of the screen red based on player.damageFlash intensity
-  void _applyDamageFlash() {
-    // Grab the intensity (0.0 to 1.0)
-    double intensity = _engine.player.damageFlash;
-
-    // Calculate how much to boost red and drop green/blue
-    int redBoost = (150 * intensity).toInt();
-    double colorDrop = 1.0 - (0.5 * intensity);
-
-    for (int y = 0; y < viewHeight; y++) {
-      for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
-        int index = y * width + x;
-        int color = _buffer.pixels[index];
-
-        int r = color & 0xFF;
-        int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
-        int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
-
-        r = (r + redBoost).clamp(0, 255);
-        g = (g * colorDrop).toInt();
-        b = (b * colorDrop).toInt();
-
-        _buffer.pixels[index] = (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47a7ec9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/// Shared menu helpers for Wolf3D hosts.
+library;
+
+import 'package:wolf_3d_dart/wolf_3d_data_types.dart';
+
+/// Known VGA picture indexes used by the original Wolf3D control-panel menus.
+///
+/// Values below are picture-table indexes (not raw chunk ids).
+/// For example, `C_CONTROLPIC` is chunk 26 in `GFXV_WL6.H`, so its picture
+/// index is `26 - STARTPICS(3) = 23`.
+abstract class WolfMenuPic {
+  static const int hBj = 0; // H_BJPIC
+  static const int hTopWindow = 3; // H_TOPWINDOWPIC
+  static const int cOptions = 7; // C_OPTIONSPIC
+  static const int cCursor1 = 8; // C_CURSOR1PIC
+  static const int cCursor2 = 9; // C_CURSOR2PIC
+  static const int cNotSelected = 10; // C_NOTSELECTEDPIC
+  static const int cSelected = 11; // C_SELECTEDPIC
+  static const int cBabyMode = 16; // C_BABYMODEPIC
+  static const int cEasy = 17; // C_EASYPIC
+  static const int cNormal = 18; // C_NORMALPIC
+  static const int cHard = 19; // C_HARDPIC
+  static const int cControl = 23; // C_CONTROLPIC
+  static const int cEpisode1 = 27; // C_EPISODE1PIC
+  static const int cEpisode2 = 28; // C_EPISODE2PIC
+  static const int cEpisode3 = 29; // C_EPISODE3PIC
+  static const int cEpisode4 = 30; // C_EPISODE4PIC
+  static const int cEpisode5 = 31; // C_EPISODE5PIC
+  static const int cEpisode6 = 32; // C_EPISODE6PIC
+  static const int statusBar = 83; // STATUSBARPIC
+  static const int title = 84; // TITLEPIC
+  static const int pg13 = 85; // PG13PIC
+  static const int credits = 86; // CREDITSPIC
+  static const int highScores = 87; // HIGHSCORESPIC
+
+  static const List<int> episodePics = [
+    cEpisode1,
+    cEpisode2,
+    cEpisode3,
+    cEpisode4,
+    cEpisode5,
+    cEpisode6,
+  ];
+}
+
+/// Structured accessors for classic Wolf3D menu art.
+class WolfClassicMenuArt {
+  final WolfensteinData data;
+
+  WolfClassicMenuArt(this.data);
+
+  int? _resolvedIndexOffset;
+
+  VgaImage? get controlBackground {
+    final preferred = mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cControl);
+    if (_looksLikeMenuBackdrop(preferred)) {
+      return preferred;
+    }
+
+    // Older data layouts may shift/control-panel art around nearby indices.
+    for (int delta = -4; delta <= 4; delta++) {
+      final candidate = mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cControl + delta);
+      if (_looksLikeMenuBackdrop(candidate)) {
+        return candidate;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return preferred;
+  }
+
+  VgaImage? get title => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.title);
+
+  VgaImage? get heading => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.hTopWindow);
+
+  VgaImage? get selectedMarker => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cSelected);
+
+  VgaImage? get unselectedMarker => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cNotSelected);
+
+  VgaImage? get optionsLabel => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cOptions);
+
+  VgaImage? get credits => mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.credits);
+
+  VgaImage? episodeOption(int episodeIndex) {
+    if (episodeIndex < 0 || episodeIndex >= WolfMenuPic.episodePics.length) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    return mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.episodePics[episodeIndex]);
+  }
+
+  VgaImage? difficultyOption(Difficulty difficulty) {
+    switch (difficulty) {
+      case Difficulty.baby:
+        return mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cBabyMode);
+      case Difficulty.easy:
+        return mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cEasy);
+      case Difficulty.medium:
+        return mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cNormal);
+      case Difficulty.hard:
+        return mappedPic(WolfMenuPic.cHard);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Returns [index] after applying a detected version/layout offset.
+  VgaImage? mappedPic(int index) {
+    return pic(index + _indexOffset);
+  }
+
+  int get _indexOffset {
+    if (_resolvedIndexOffset != null) {
+      return _resolvedIndexOffset!;
+    }
+
+    // Retail and shareware generally place STATUSBAR/TITLE/PG13/CREDITS as a
+    // contiguous block. If files are from a different release, infer a shift.
+    for (int i = 0; i < data.vgaImages.length - 3; i++) {
+      final status = data.vgaImages[i];
+      if (!_looksLikeStatusBar(status)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      final title = data.vgaImages[i + 1];
+      final pg13 = data.vgaImages[i + 2];
+      final credits = data.vgaImages[i + 3];
+      if (_looksLikeFullScreen(title) &&
+          _looksLikeFullScreen(pg13) &&
+          _looksLikeFullScreen(credits)) {
+        _resolvedIndexOffset = i - WolfMenuPic.statusBar;
+        return _resolvedIndexOffset!;
+      }
+    }
+
+    _resolvedIndexOffset = 0;
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  bool _looksLikeStatusBar(VgaImage image) {
+    return image.width >= 280 && image.height >= 24 && image.height <= 64;
+  }
+
+  bool _looksLikeFullScreen(VgaImage image) {
+    return image.width >= 280 && image.height >= 140;
+  }
+
+  bool _looksLikeMenuBackdrop(VgaImage? image) {
+    if (image == null) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return image.width >= 180 && image.height >= 100;
+  }
+
+  VgaImage? pic(int index) {
+    if (index < 0 || index >= data.vgaImages.length) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    final image = data.vgaImages[index];
+
+    // Ignore known gameplay HUD art in menu composition.
+    if (index == WolfMenuPic.statusBar + _indexOffset) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    if (image.width <= 0 || image.height <= 0) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return image;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_flutter.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_flutter.dart
index f516bc1..cb8f506 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_flutter.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_flutter.dart
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ class Wolf3d {
   /// Shared engine audio backend used by menus and gameplay sessions.
   final EngineAudio audio = WolfAudio();
 
+  /// Engine menu background color as 24-bit RGB.
+  int menuBackgroundRgb = 0x890000;
+
+  /// Engine menu panel color as 24-bit RGB.
+  int menuPanelRgb = 0x590002;
+
   /// Shared Flutter input adapter reused by gameplay screens.
   final Wolf3dFlutterInput input = Wolf3dFlutterInput();
 
@@ -41,6 +47,54 @@ class Wolf3d {
   /// Index of the episode currently selected in the UI flow.
   int get activeEpisode => _activeEpisode;
 
+  Difficulty? _activeDifficulty;
+
+  /// The difficulty applied when [launchEngine] creates a new session.
+  Difficulty? get activeDifficulty => _activeDifficulty;
+
+  /// Stores [difficulty] so the next [launchEngine] call uses it.
+  void setActiveDifficulty(Difficulty difficulty) {
+    _activeDifficulty = difficulty;
+  }
+
+  /// Clears any previously selected difficulty so the engine can prompt for one.
+  void clearActiveDifficulty() {
+    _activeDifficulty = null;
+  }
+
+  WolfEngine? _engine;
+
+  /// The most recently launched engine.
+  ///
+  /// Throws a [StateError] until [launchEngine] has been called.
+  WolfEngine get engine {
+    if (_engine == null) {
+      throw StateError('No engine launched. Call launchEngine() first.');
+    }
+    return _engine!;
+  }
+
+  /// Creates and initializes a [WolfEngine] for the current session config.
+  ///
+  /// Uses [activeGame], [activeEpisode], and [activeDifficulty]. Stores the
+  /// engine so it can be retrieved via [engine]. [onGameWon] is invoked when
+  /// the player completes the final level of the episode.
+  WolfEngine launchEngine({required void Function() onGameWon}) {
+    _engine = WolfEngine(
+      data: activeGame,
+      difficulty: _activeDifficulty,
+      startingEpisode: _activeEpisode,
+      frameBuffer: FrameBuffer(320, 200),
+      menuBackgroundRgb: menuBackgroundRgb,
+      menuPanelRgb: menuPanelRgb,
+      audio: audio,
+      input: input,
+      onGameWon: onGameWon,
+    );
+    _engine!.init();
+    return _engine!;
+  }
+
   /// Sets the active episode for the current [activeGame].
   void setActiveEpisode(int episodeIndex) {
     if (_activeGame == null) {
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_input_flutter.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_input_flutter.dart
index 8a6b7f1..1c5874e 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_input_flutter.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_flutter/lib/wolf_3d_input_flutter.dart
@@ -37,7 +37,12 @@ class Wolf3dFlutterInput extends Wolf3dInput {
       LogicalKeyboardKey.controlLeft,
       LogicalKeyboardKey.controlRight,
     },
-    WolfInputAction.interact: {LogicalKeyboardKey.space},
+    WolfInputAction.interact: {
+      LogicalKeyboardKey.space,
+      LogicalKeyboardKey.enter,
+      LogicalKeyboardKey.numpadEnter,
+    },
+    WolfInputAction.back: {LogicalKeyboardKey.escape},
     WolfInputAction.weapon1: {LogicalKeyboardKey.digit1},
     WolfInputAction.weapon2: {LogicalKeyboardKey.digit2},
     WolfInputAction.weapon3: {LogicalKeyboardKey.digit3},
@@ -52,6 +57,9 @@ class Wolf3dFlutterInput extends Wolf3dInput {
   double _mouseDeltaX = 0.0;
   double _mouseDeltaY = 0.0;
   bool _previousMouseRightDown = false;
+  bool _queuedBack = false;
+  double? _queuedMenuTapX;
+  double? _queuedMenuTapY;
 
   // Mouse-look is optional so touch or keyboard-only hosts can keep the same
   // adapter without incurring accidental pointer-driven movement.
@@ -105,6 +113,17 @@ class Wolf3dFlutterInput extends Wolf3dInput {
     }
   }
 
+  /// Queues a one-frame back action, typically from system back gestures.
+  void queueBackAction() {
+    _queuedBack = true;
+  }
+
+  /// Queues a one-frame menu tap with normalized coordinates [0..1].
+  void queueMenuTap({required double x, required double y}) {
+    _queuedMenuTapX = x.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+    _queuedMenuTapY = y.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+  }
+
   /// Returns whether any bound key for [action] is currently pressed.
   bool _isActive(WolfInputAction action, Set<LogicalKeyboardKey> pressedKeys) {
     return bindings[action]!.any((key) => pressedKeys.contains(key));
@@ -146,6 +165,11 @@ class Wolf3dFlutterInput extends Wolf3dInput {
         _isNewlyPressed(WolfInputAction.interact, newlyPressedKeys) ||
         (mouseLookEnabled && isMouseRightDown && !_previousMouseRightDown);
 
+    isBack =
+        _isNewlyPressed(WolfInputAction.back, newlyPressedKeys) || _queuedBack;
+    menuTapX = _queuedMenuTapX;
+    menuTapY = _queuedMenuTapY;
+
     // Left click or Ctrl to fire
     isFiring =
         _isActive(WolfInputAction.fire, pressedKeys) ||
@@ -169,5 +193,8 @@ class Wolf3dFlutterInput extends Wolf3dInput {
     // weapon switching only fire once per physical key press.
     _previousKeys = Set.from(pressedKeys);
     _previousMouseRightDown = isMouseRightDown;
+    _queuedBack = false;
+    _queuedMenuTapX = null;
+    _queuedMenuTapY = null;
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
index cf63cc0..b240b7a 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ class _WolfAsciiRendererState extends BaseWolfRendererState<WolfAsciiRenderer> {
   }
 
   @override
-  Color get scaffoldColor => const Color.fromARGB(255, 4, 64, 64);
+  Color get scaffoldColor => widget.engine.isDifficultySelectionPending
+      ? _colorFromRgb(widget.engine.menuBackgroundRgb)
+      : const Color.fromARGB(255, 4, 64, 64);
 
   @override
   void performRender() {
@@ -51,6 +53,10 @@ class _WolfAsciiRendererState extends BaseWolfRendererState<WolfAsciiRenderer> {
         ? const SizedBox.shrink()
         : AsciiFrameWidget(frameData: _asciiFrame);
   }
+
+  Color _colorFromRgb(int rgb) {
+    return Color(0xFF000000 | (rgb & 0x00FFFFFF));
+  }
 }
 
 /// Paints a pre-rasterized ASCII frame using grouped text spans per color run.
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_flutter_renderer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_flutter_renderer.dart
index d1905cc..5336cf3 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_flutter_renderer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_flutter_renderer.dart
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ class _WolfFlutterRendererState
   }
 
   @override
-  Color get scaffoldColor => const Color.fromARGB(255, 4, 64, 64);
+  Color get scaffoldColor => widget.engine.isDifficultySelectionPending
+      ? _colorFromRgb(widget.engine.menuBackgroundRgb)
+      : const Color.fromARGB(255, 4, 64, 64);
 
   @override
   void performRender() {
@@ -85,4 +87,8 @@ class _WolfFlutterRendererState
       ),
     );
   }
+
+  Color _colorFromRgb(int rgb) {
+    return Color(0xFF000000 | (rgb & 0x00FFFFFF));
+  }
 }