diff --git a/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt b/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
index 2810ab3..b49b9cc 100644
--- a/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
+++ b/saves/Level1-dialogue.txt
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-Have you heard of the tragedy of
-Darth Charlie the Wise?
\ No newline at end of file
+$Empty
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/LevelManager.java b/src/LevelManager.java
index 70a0f5a..18fbfa2 100644
--- a/src/LevelManager.java
+++ b/src/LevelManager.java
@@ -49,20 +49,20 @@ public class LevelManager implements Serializable {
         try {
             MapReader.inputMap(filePath);
             if (!hasDied) {
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueArray = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)));
-                if (GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.get(0).contains("$Villain")) {
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.remove(0);
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.isNarrator = false;
-                    // TODO: move img path to GamePanel
-                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.PORTRAIT = new BufferedImageWrapper("img\\dialogue\\Bouncer.png");
+                if (!(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)[0].equals("$Empty"))) {
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueArray = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(MapReader.inputDialogue(filePath)));
+                    if (GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.get(0).contains("$Villain")) {
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueArray.remove(0);
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.isNarrator = false;
+                        // TODO: move img path to GamePanel
+                        GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.PORTRAIT = new BufferedImageWrapper("img\\dialogue\\Bouncer.png");
+                    }
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.currentFrame = 0;
+                    GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.frameCounter = 0;
+                    GameFrame.game.isDialogue = true;
                 }
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.currentFrame = 0;
-                GameFrame.game.dialogueMenu.frameCounter = 0;
-                GameFrame.game.isDialogue = true;
             }
             // reset signs
-            GameFrame.game.tutorialSign = new ArrayList<WallSign>();
-            GameFrame.game.loreSign = new ArrayList<WallSign>();
             GameFrame.game.tutorialSign.clear();
             GameFrame.game.loreSign.clear();
             // temporary boolean, so only declared here
diff --git a/src/MenuPanel.java b/src/MenuPanel.java
index 4e38826..3784875 100644
--- a/src/MenuPanel.java
+++ b/src/MenuPanel.java
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ public class MenuPanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener{
             if(textBoxArray.get(currentBox).id.contains("game")){
                 gameStart = true;
             }
+            // always unpause game, no matter what screen is navigated to
+            GameFrame.game.isPaused = false;
             // logic for different screens starts here
             if (textBoxArray.get(currentBox).id.equals("game-start")) {
                 try {
@@ -170,6 +172,8 @@ public class MenuPanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener{
                     GameFrame.game.player.yVelocity = 0;
                     GameFrame.game.map = new Tile[1000][18];
                     GameFrame.game = new GamePanel(GameFrame.main); //run GamePanel constructor
+                    GameFrame.game.isContinue = true;
+                    textBoxArray.add(continueGame);
                     GameFrame.game.startThread();
                     GameFrame.main.add(GameFrame.game, "game", 0);
                 } catch (IOException | SpriteException | UnsupportedAudioFileException | LineUnavailableException ex) {