diff --git a/quickdraw-game.html b/quickdraw-game.html
index 4742d7d..a2f92c1 100644
--- a/quickdraw-game.html
+++ b/quickdraw-game.html
@@ -67,11 +67,21 @@
               font-size: 2rem;
             }
 
+            #title-container {
+              justify-self: center;
+              justify-content: center;
+              display: flex;
+              flex-direction: row;
+              width: 100%;
+              gap: 2rem;
+            }
+
             #text-box {
                 display: flex;
-                flex-direction: row;
+                flex-direction: column;
                 align-content: end;
                 justify-content: space-evenly;
+                gap: 1rem;
                 text-align: center;
                 color: red;
                 width: 100%;
@@ -104,23 +114,26 @@
         <div id="text-box">
           
           <!-- intro related -->
-           <div style="display: flex; gap: 1rem;">
-            <span id="intro1" class="hidden title">QUICK</span>
-            <span id="intro2" class="hidden title">DRAW</span>
+           <div id="title-container">
+            <span id="title1" class="hidden title">QUICK</span>
+            <span id="title2" class="hidden title">DRAW</span>
           </div>
 
           <!-- gamemode menu buttons-->
           <div id="game-modes" class="hidden fade">
             <button id="normal" onclick="handleNormalMode()">normal</button>
-            <button id="countdown">countdown</button>
+            <button id="countdown" onclick="handleCountdownMode()">countdown</button>
             <!-- <button id="infinite">infinite</button> -->
           </div>
 
           <!-- pre-round text -->
-          <span id="gameText" class="hidden fade"></span>
+          <span id="game-text" class="hidden fade"></span>
 
-          <!-- post round text -->
-          <span id="round-end" class="hidden fade"></span>
+          <!-- post game buttons -->
+          <div id="game-over-buttons" class="hidden fade">
+            <button id="play-again" onclick="handlePlayAgain()">play again</button>
+            <button id="reset-game" onclick="handleReset()">back to main menu</button>
+          </div>
 
           <!-- countdown text -->
           <span id="ready" class="hidden title">READY?</span>
@@ -132,6 +145,7 @@
         </div>
 
         <script>
+          // SCREEN / SETUP VARIABLES
           let gameBorderWidth = 1;
           let targetWidth = 50;
           let targetHeight = 50;
@@ -150,38 +164,77 @@
           let xFrameAdjustment;
           let yFrameAdjustment;
 
-          let hovering = false;
-
-          let hoverCount = 0; // number of times the cursor has hovered over bullseye. used to cleanly handle round starting / cancelling
-
-          let targetsClickedThisRound = 0;
-          let gamemode = "";  // can be: "normal", "countdown", "infinite"
-          let roundmode = ""; // if gamemode is "countdown" or "infinite", can be: "rounds" or "frenzy"
+          // UX HELPERS
+          let drawingCircle = false;
+          let needsResizeAdjustment = false;
           
-          let currentRound = 0;
-          let countingDown = false;
-
-          let totalTime = 0.0;
+          // GAME STATE VARIABLES
+          let gamemode = "";  // can be: "normal", "countdown", "infinite"          
+          let countingDown   = false;
+          let hovering = false;
+          let hoverCount = 0; // number of times the cursor has hovered over bullseye. used to cleanly handle round starting / cancelling
+          let gameIsOver = false;
+          
+          // GAMEPLAY VARIABLES
+          let targetsClicked = 0;
+          
+          // "NORMAL" MODE ONLY VARIABLES
+          let currentRound   = 0;
+          let totalTime      = 0.0;
+          let roundSeconds   = 0.0;
           let roundTimeStart = 0;
-          let roundTimeEnd = 0;
-          let roundSeconds = 0.0;
+          let roundTimeEnd   = 0;
+          let bestNormalTime = 0;
 
-          let bestNormalTime = "none";
+          // "COUNTDOWN" MODE ONLY VARIABLES
+          let countdownTime = 0;
+          let bestCountdownScore = 0;
+
+          
+          // menu / text elements
+          let titleContainer = document.getElementById("title-container");
+          let title1 = document.getElementById("title1");
+          let title2 = document.getElementById("title2");
+
+          let gameModes = document.getElementById("game-modes");
+          let gameText = document.getElementById("game-text");
+          let gameOverButtons = document.getElementById("game-over-buttons");
 
-          // text elements
           let ready = document.getElementById("ready");
-          let intro1 = document.getElementById("intro1");
-          let intro2 = document.getElementById("intro2");
-          let gameText = document.getElementById("gameText");
-
           let one = document.getElementById("countdown1");
           let two = document.getElementById("countdown2");
           let three = document.getElementById("countdown3");
-
           let draw = document.getElementById("draw");
 
+          // setup initialization
           window.addEventListener("load", initGame);
 
+          async function initGame() {
+            // determine screen parameters + listen for changes
+            setParameters();
+            window.addEventListener("resize", handlePageResize);
+
+            center = generateTarget(xFrameAdjustment, yFrameAdjustment);
+            center.id = "center";
+            document.body.insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", center);
+
+            await drawTargetsInCircle(2);
+            if (needsResizeAdjustment) { 
+              // auto-reset screen if page was resized during animation
+              handlePageResize();
+            }
+
+            await fadeMainMenuIn();
+
+            if (localStorage.getItem("bestNormalTime") != null) {
+              bestNormalTime = Number.parseFloat(localStorage.getItem("bestNormalTime"));
+            }
+            if (localStorage.getItem("bestCountdownScore") != null) {
+              bestCountdownScore = Number.parseInt(localStorage.getItem("bestCountdownScore"));
+            }
+          }
+
+          // helper function to determine screen-size + ratios for rendering targets
           function setParameters(event) {
             pageHeight = window.innerHeight;
             pageWidth = window.innerWidth;
@@ -203,45 +256,25 @@
             console.log('frame: ' + frameWidth + ' x ' + frameHeight);
           }
 
-          async function initGame() {
-            setParameters();
+          async function handlePlayAgain(e) {
+            gameIsOver = false;
 
-            center = generateTarget(xFrameAdjustment, yFrameAdjustment);
-            center.id = "center";
-            document.body.insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", center);
+            // hide game over buttons
+            gameOverButtons.style.display = "none";
+            gameOverButtons.style.opacity = "0";
 
-            // await drawTargetsInCircle(2);
-            await drawTargetsInCircle(false);
+            // remove game text from DOM flow
+            gameText.style.display = "none";
+            gameText.style.opacity = "0";
 
-            // insert intro elements into document flow
-            intro1.style.display = "inline";
-            intro2.style.display = "inline";
-
-            // reveal intro elements
-            intro1.style.opacity = "100";
-            await sleep(500);
-            intro2.style.opacity = "100";
-            await sleep(1500);
-
-            intro1.classList.add("fade");
-            intro2.classList.add("fade");
-
-            intro1.style.opacity = "0";
-            intro2.style.opacity = "0";
-
-            await sleep(1000);
-
-            intro1.style.display = "none";
-            intro2.style.display = "none";
-
-            window.addEventListener("resize", handlePageResize);
-
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.display = "inline";
-            await sleep(500);
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.opacity = "100";
-
-            if (localStorage.getItem("bestNormalTime") != null) {
-              bestNormalTime = Number.parseFloat(localStorage.getItem("bestNormalTime"));
+            if (gamemode == "normal") {
+              handleNormalMode(e);
+            }
+            else if (gamemode == "countdown") {
+              handleCountdownMode(e);
+            }
+            else {
+              alert("cannot play again, gamemode does not exit?");
             }
           }
 
@@ -249,42 +282,58 @@
             gamemode = "normal";
             console.log("game mode: " + gamemode);
 
+            // setup mode parameters
             currentRound = 1;
             totalTime = 0;
 
-            center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleHoverStart);
-            center.addEventListener("mouseleave", handleHoverEnd);
+            await fadeMainMenuOut();
 
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.opacity = "0";
-            await sleep(500);
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.display = "none";
-
-            intro1.style.display = "none";
-            intro2.style.display = "none";
-            
+            // set game instruction text + fade it in
             gameText.innerText = "hover on middle circle to start the countdown,\nthen click the targets as fast as possible!";
             gameText.style.opacity = "0";
             gameText.style.display = "inline";
             await sleep(500);
             gameText.style.opacity = "100";
 
+            // enable player to start first round
+            center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleHoverStart);
+            center.addEventListener("mouseleave", handleHoverEnd);
+          }
+
+          async function handleCountdownMode(e) {
+            gamemode = "countdown";
+            console.log("game mode: " + gamemode);
+
+            await fadeMainMenuOut();
+            // set game instruction text + fade it in
+            gameText.innerText = "hover on middle circle to start the countdown,\nthen click as many targets as possible!";
+            gameText.style.opacity = "0";
+            gameText.style.display = "inline";
+            await sleep(500);
+            gameText.style.opacity = "100";
+
+            // enable player to start game
+            center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleHoverStart);
+            center.addEventListener("mouseleave", handleHoverEnd);
           }
 
           async function handleReset(e) {
+            gameIsOver = false;
+            gamemode = "";
             currentRound = 0;
-            center.removeEventListener("mouseover", handleReset);
+
+            // hide buttons
+            gameOverButtons.style.display = "none";
+            gameOverButtons.style.opacity = "0";
+
+            // remove game text from DOM flow
             gameText.style.display = "none";
             gameText.style.opacity = "0";
 
-            intro1.style.display = "inline";
-            intro2.style.display = "inline";
-            intro1.style.opacity = "100";
-            intro2.style.opacity = "100";
-
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.display = "inline";
-            await sleep(500);
-            document.getElementById("game-modes").style.opacity = "100"; 
+            // reintroduce main menu elements into DOM flow
+            await sleep(800);
             await drawTargetsInCircle(2);
+            await fadeMainMenuIn();
           }
 
           async function handleHoverStart(e) {
@@ -294,27 +343,91 @@
             console.log('hover count: ' + hoverCount);
             console.log('current round: ' + currentRound);
 
+            // remove all targets
             frameElement.replaceChildren();
-
-            // intro1.style.display = "none";
-            // intro2.style.display = "none";
             gameText.style.display = "none";
 
             if (gamemode == "normal") {
               await startNormalRound(currentRound);
             }
+            else if (gamemode == "countdown") {
+              await startCountdownMode();
+            }
             // if (infinityMode)
 
           }
 
+          async function startCountdownMode() {            
+            // if user cancels hover countdown, don't start round
+            if (!await normalModeRoundCountdown(hoverCount)) {
+              console.log("player canceled coundown");
+              return;
+            }
+            
+            // setup mode parameters
+            targetsClicked = 0;
+            tempTargetsClicked = 0;
+            countdownTime = 15.0;
+
+            // clear screen + render countdown / score
+            center.remove();
+            gameText.innerText = countdownTime.toFixed(3) + "s\ntargets clicked: " + targetsClicked;
+            gameText.style.display = "inline";
+            gameText.style.opacity = "100";
+
+            // begin actual game loop!
+            randomTargetGenerator(1);
+            while (countdownTime > 0.0) {
+              gameText.innerText = countdownTime.toFixed(3) + "s\ntargets clicked: " + targetsClicked;
+              // auto-reset screen if page was resized during animation
+              if (needsResizeAdjustment) { 
+                handlePageResize();
+              }
+              // generate new target if last one was clicked
+              if (targetsClicked != tempTargetsClicked) {
+                randomTargetGenerator(1);
+                tempTargetsClicked++;
+              }
+              countdownTime = countdownTime - .01;
+              await sleep(10);
+            }
+            gameIsOver = true;
+
+            // ensure no targets are still on screen after timer ends
+            frameElement.replaceChildren();
+
+            // show end of round text. if high score, alert player and save
+            if (targetsClicked > bestCountdownScore || bestCountdownScore == 0) {
+              if (bestCountdownScore == 0) {
+                alert("NEW HIGHEST SCORE!!! congratulations cowboy.");
+              }
+              else { 
+                alert("NEW HIGHEST SCORE!!! previous best: " + bestCountdownScore + " targets. congratulations cowboy.");
+              }
+              bestCountdownScore = targetsClicked;
+              localStorage.setItem("bestCountdownScore", bestCountdownScore);
+            }
+            gameText.innerText = "TARGETS CLICKED: " + targetsClicked + 
+              "\nHIGH SCORE: " + bestCountdownScore + 
+              "\nhover on circle to go back to main menu..";
+
+            // bring bullseye back to screen
+            center = generateTarget(xFrameAdjustment, yFrameAdjustment);
+            center.id = "center";
+            document.body.insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", center);
+            
+            gameOverButtons.style.display = "flex";
+            gameOverButtons.style.opacity = "100";
+          }
+
           async function startNormalRound(roundNumber) {
             if (roundNumber > 3) {
               handleReset({});
               return;
             }
 
-            if (!await startCountdown(hoverCount)) {
-             // if user canceled hover, don't continue round
+            // if user cancels hover countdown, don't start round
+            if (!await normalModeRoundCountdown(hoverCount)) {
              console.log("player canceled coundown");
              return;
             }
@@ -332,13 +445,13 @@
 
             // effectively begin the round
             console.log("starting round " + roundNumber);
-            document.getElementById("center").remove();
-            targetsClickedThisRound = 0;
+            center.remove();
+            targetsClicked = 0;
             roundTimeStart = Date.now();
-            placeTarget(numTargets);
-            while (targetsClickedThisRound < numTargets) {
+            randomTargetGenerator(numTargets);
+            while (targetsClicked < numTargets) {
               await sleep(10);
-              if (targetsClickedThisRound == numTargets) break;
+              if (targetsClicked == numTargets) break;
             }
             roundTimeEnd = Date.now();
             roundSeconds = (roundTimeEnd - roundTimeStart) / 1000;
@@ -351,22 +464,29 @@
             center.id = "center";
             document.body.insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", center);
 
-            // ensure draw isn't still lingering on screen
+            // ensure "DRAW" isn't still lingering on screen after round
             draw.style.display = "none";
             draw.style.opacity = "0";
 
             if (roundNumber == 3) {
               // GAME OVER STUFF
-              if (totalTime < bestNormalTime || bestNormalTime == "none") {
-                alert("NEW FASTEST TIME!!! previous best: " + bestNormalTime + "s. congratulations cowboy.");
+              gameIsOver = true;
+              if (totalTime < bestNormalTime || bestNormalTime == 0) {
+                if (bestNormalTime == 0) {
+                  alert("NEW FASTEST TIME!!! congratulations cowboy.");
+                }
+                else {
+                  alert("NEW FASTEST TIME!!! previous best: " + bestNormalTime.toFixed(3) + "s. congratulations cowboy.");
+                }
                 bestNormalTime = totalTime;
                 localStorage.setItem("bestNormalTime", bestNormalTime);
               }
               gameText.innerText = "ROUND: " + roundSeconds.toFixed(3) + 
                 "s\nTOTAL:   " + totalTime.toFixed(3) + 
-                "s\nBEST SCORE: " + bestNormalTime.toFixed(3) + 
-                "s\nhover on circle to go back to main menu..";
-              center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleReset);
+                "s\nBEST SCORE: " + bestNormalTime.toFixed(3);
+
+              gameOverButtons.style.display = "flex";
+              gameOverButtons.style.opacity = "100";
             }
             else {
               console.log("ROUND: " + roundSeconds.toFixed(3) + "s\nTOTAL:   " + totalTime.toFixed(3) + "\nhover on circle to start round " + currentRound);
@@ -375,7 +495,6 @@
               center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleHoverStart);
               center.addEventListener("mouseleave", handleHoverEnd);
             }
- 
 
             gameText.style.display = "inline";
             gameText.style.opacity = "100";
@@ -383,9 +502,10 @@
             return;
           }
 
-
-
-          async function startCountdown(hoverNumber) {
+          /**
+          * HELPER TO KICK-OFF "NORMAL MODE" ROUNDS
+          */ 
+          async function normalModeRoundCountdown(hoverNumber) {
             gameText.style.display = "none";
             countingDown = true;
 
@@ -411,15 +531,15 @@
 
             if (!hovering || hoverNumber != hoverCount) return false;
             three.style.opacity = "100";
-            await sleep(1000);
+            await sleep(500);
             
             if (!hovering || hoverNumber != hoverCount) return false;
             two.style.opacity = "100";
-            await sleep(1000);
+            await sleep(500);
             
             if (!hovering || hoverNumber != hoverCount) return false;
             one.style.opacity = "100";
-            await sleep(1000);
+            await sleep(500);
 
             if (!hovering || hoverNumber != hoverCount) return false;
             one.style.display = "none";
@@ -434,10 +554,12 @@
             draw.style.opacity = "100";
 
             countingDown = false;
+            // keep "DRAW" on screen for first second of the round
             setTimeout(() => {draw.style.display = "none"; draw.style.opacity = "0"; }, 1000);
             return true;
           }
 
+
           function handleHoverEnd(e) {
             hovering = false;
 
@@ -454,47 +576,81 @@
               three.style.opacity = "0";
 
               draw.style.opacity = "0";
-              
-              if (currentRound <= 1) {
-                drawTargetsInCircle();
-                gameText.innerText = "hover on middle circle to start the countdown,\nthen click the targets as fast as possible!";
+
+              if (gamemode == "normal") {
+                if (currentRound <= 1) {
+                  drawTargetsInCircle(0);
+                  gameText.innerText = "hover on middle circle to start the countdown,\nthen click the targets as fast as possible!";
+                }
+                else {
+                  gameText.innerText = "ROUND: " + roundSeconds.toFixed(3) + "s\nTOTAL:   " + totalTime.toFixed(3) + "s\nhover on circle to start round " + currentRound;
+                }
               }
-              else {
-                gameText.innerText = "ROUND: " + roundSeconds.toFixed(3) + "s\nTOTAL:   " + totalTime.toFixed(3) + "s\nhover on circle to start round " + currentRound;
+
+              else if (gamemode == "countdown") {
+                  drawTargetsInCircle(0);
+                  gameText.innerText = "hover on middle circle to start the countdown,\nthen click as many targets as possible!";
               }
+
               gameText.style.display = "inline";
               countingDown = false;
             }
           }
 
           function handleTargetClick(e) {
-            targetsClickedThisRound++;
+            targetsClicked++;
             e.target.remove();
           }
 
           function handlePageResize(event) {
+            // take note if page was resized during animation or mid-countdown round to auto-reset at earliest convenience
+            if (!needsResizeAdjustment && (drawingCircle || countdownTime > 0)) {
+              needsResizeAdjustment = true; return;
+            }
+
+            /**
+            * if no game has started yet, re-draw circle
+            *
+            * no matter what, if targets on screen, do not reset, do not redraw middle circle, but do flag for reset
+            *
+            * if adding eventListener, need to redraw center circle!
+            * 
+            * if we are playing normal mode: 
+            * -- if round 1, redraw cirlce and addEventListener for hover
+            * -- if round 2/3, only addEventListener for hover
+            * -- if round 4, only addEvenListener for reset
+            *
+            * if we are playing countdown mode: 
+            * -- if countdownTimer == 0, 
+            * ----- need a way to know if this is before or after the game!
+            * ----- if before game, redraw cirlce and addEventListener for hover
+            * ----- if after game, only addEventListener for reset
+            * -- if countdownTimer > 0, flag for reset upon next target clicked, no event listeners
+            **/
+
             frameElement.replaceChildren();
             setParameters();
             
-            document.getElementById("center").remove();
+            center.remove();
             center = generateTarget(xFrameAdjustment, yFrameAdjustment);
             center.id = "center";
             document.body.insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", center);
 
-            if (currentRound == 0 || (gamemode == "normal" && currentRound == 1)) {
-              drawTargetsInCircle();
+            if (gamemode == "") {
+              drawTargetsInCircle(0);
             }
-
-            if (currentRound >= 1) {
+            else if (gamemode != "") {
               center.addEventListener("mouseover", handleHoverStart);
               center.addEventListener("mouseleave", handleHoverEnd);
             }
 
             console.log('page: ' + pageWidth + ' x ' + pageHeight);
             console.log('frame: ' + frameWidth + ' x ' + frameHeight);
+            needsResizeAdjustment = false;
           }
 
           async function drawTargetsInCircle(drawDurationSeconds) {
+            drawingCircle = true;
             let r, x, y;
             let radians;
             let target;
@@ -507,8 +663,55 @@
               target = generateTarget(x, y);
               document.getElementById("frame").insertAdjacentElement("afterbegin", target);
               
-              if (drawDurationSeconds) await sleep((drawDurationSeconds * 1000) / 180);
+              if (drawDurationSeconds) {
+                target.classList.add("fade");
+                await sleep((drawDurationSeconds * 1000) / 180);
+              }
             }
+            drawingCircle = false;
+          }
+
+          // helpers for rendering main menu stuff
+          async function fadeMainMenuIn() {
+            title1.classList.remove("fade");
+            title2.classList.remove("fade");
+
+            // add main menu elements to DOM flow
+            titleContainer.style.display = "flex";
+            title1.style.display = "inline";
+            title2.style.display = "inline";
+            gameModes.style.display = "inline";
+
+            // make title elements actually visible
+            title1.style.opacity = "100";
+            await sleep(500);
+            title2.style.opacity = "100";
+            await sleep(1500);
+
+            // add fade class for when elements are removed
+            title1.classList.add("fade");
+            title2.classList.add("fade");
+
+            // fade in gamemodes
+            await sleep(500);
+            gameModes.style.opacity = "100";
+          }
+
+          async function fadeMainMenuOut() {
+            let targets = document.getElementsByClassName("target");
+            for (let i = 0; i < targets.length; i++) {
+              console.log(targets[i]);
+              targets[i].style.opacity = 0;
+            };
+            title1.style.opacity = "0";
+            title2.style.opacity = "0";
+            gameModes.style.opacity = "0";
+            await sleep(500);
+            titleContainer.style.display = "none";
+            gameModes.style.display = "none";
+
+            title1.style.display = "none";
+            title2.style.display = "none";
           }
 
 
@@ -517,7 +720,7 @@
           }
           
           // function to place a target somewhere random on the circle
-          function placeTarget(numTargets) {
+          function randomTargetGenerator(numTargets) {
             let radians, radius
             let x, y;
             let target;