debug/test_level_builder.gd

@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ func _build_player() -> void:
 	shape.shape.height = 1.8
 	player.add_child(shape)
 
-	# Movement controller MUST be attached first, before machine/children
-	var mover_script = load("res://movement/player_movement_controller.gd")
+	var mover_script = preload("res://movement/player_movement_controller.gd")
 	if mover_script:
 		player.set_script(mover_script)
 
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ func _build_player() -> void:
 	sm.name = "MovementStateMachine"
 	player.add_child(sm)
 
-	var sm_script = load("res://movement/movement_state_machine.gd")
+	var sm_script = preload("res://movement/movement_state_machine.gd")
 	if sm_script:
 		sm.set_script(sm_script)
 

movement/player_movement_controller.gd

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ signal chain_updated(count: int, bonus: float)
 var machine: MovementStateMachine
 var jump_buffered: bool = false
 var _ready_ran: bool = false
+var _machine: MovementStateMachine = null
 
 # ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 func _ensure_machine() -> MovementStateMachine:
@@ -33,13 +34,16 @@ func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 	if event.is_action_pressed("ui_accept"):
 		# Space / jump
 		pass
-	_machine.input_jump_just_pressed = Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump")
-	_machine.input_jump_pressed = Input.is_action_pressed("jump")
-	_machine.input_sprint = Input.is_action_pressed("sprint")
-	_machine.input_crouch = Input.is_action_pressed("crouch")
-	_machine.input_dash = Input.is_action_just_pressed("dash")
+	var node := _ensure_machine()
+	if not node:
+		return
+	node.input_jump_just_pressed = Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump")
+	node.input_jump_pressed = Input.is_action_pressed("jump")
+	node.input_sprint = Input.is_action_pressed("sprint")
+	node.input_crouch = Input.is_action_pressed("crouch")
+	node.input_dash = Input.is_action_just_pressed("dash")
 	var input_v := Input.get_vector("move_left", "move_right", "move_forward", "move_back")
-	_machine.input_dir = input_v
+	node.input_dir = input_v
 
 
 @onready var _machine = get_node("MovementStateMachine")