The Hydrophobia Team Delivers A Majorly Overhauled Version Of Their Game
The water-rific Xbox Live Arcade game Hydrophobia released earlier this tear to a very muddled, very harsh sea of reviews. Dark Energy Didtal, the game’s developer, has taken all of the criticism that the game has received and plan on releasing a massive update to the game that will bring a cataclysmic change to the Hydrophobia world.
Dark Energy is calling the update Hydrophobia Pure, and have announced that the update releases today. They state that “it overhauls many of the game’s systems and introduces a number of enhancements, according to the feedback we received from critics and the community.” It also comes with a new price for Hydrophobia – 800 Microsoft Points. Any player who already owns Hydrophobia will get the update for free, so don’t worry.
Here’s the full list of changes that are being made to the game:
Improved Graphics
- Character dynamic self-shadowing
- Enhanced lighting
- Improved textures
- Better water spray effects
- Improved water reflection and refraction
- Enhanced electricity effects
- Environmental geometry tweaks
- Additional video texture work
Physics Enhancements
- Increased number of dynamic objects
- More realistic character water resistance
- Explosive forces re-balanced
Overhauled Camera System
- Camera positioned closer to character
- Improved tracking of the action
- Enhanced collision detection
- Better FOV for framing the action
Improved Movement and Animations
- More fluid and precise character control
- Improved character animations add realism
- Enhanced animation transitions make the character more ‘weighty’
New Climbing System
- Continuous hand-over-hand climbing system added
- All new, more realistic animations
- More fluid climbing controls and movement
Platforming
- Automatic ledge grab functionality
- Improved swing mechanic
- Improved jump-from-balance mechanic
Control Layout
- Switch to a more traditional control layout
- A to jump
- LT to aim
- RB to detonate enhanced Gel and Energy Rounds
Dialogue Re-Edit
- Dialogue has been pruned
- Irritating or extraneous lines cut
Cutscenes Re-edit
- Cutscenes reviewed and edited
- Overly long cutscenes shortened
Collectables
- Emails and E-Books no longer interrupt gameplay when collected
- Collectables re-positioned throughout levels
- Points awarded for collectables tweaked
New Waypoint System
- Waypoints for every objective and sub objective
- Choose permanent on-screen waypoints or new MAVI only mode
- Waypoints added for Ciphers and Frequency Keys with colour coding
- Corpses with Frequency Keys glow orange for easy identification
Map Improved
- Improved controls and button layout
- Default view of Kate’s position
- Toggle Kate’s position / objective location manually
- Easier to navigate
Prompts
- Prompts re-worked for better clarity
- Prompt triggering reviewed and improved
Tutorials
- Video tutorials cut back
- Improved in game tutorials
- New tutorial puzzles
Wading Improved
- Enhanced physical character feedback from water forces
- Improved transitions between wade states
Swimming Improved
- Improved swimming controls, more finely balanced
- 180 degree swim turn removed
- Improved camera behaviour when swimming
- Underwater combat system streamlined
Puzzles
- Improved feedback for Cipher and Frequency Keys
- Ciphers re-positioned for greater accessibility
- New mission orders related to Ciphers add to the backstory
- Existing puzzles refined where possible
- New electric puzzle elements added
Damage System Improved
- Kate no longer unfairly damaged/killed by unseen elements
- Fire/electrical damage reduced
- Combat damage re-balanced
Overhauled Damage Feedback
- Monochrome health feedback system implemented
- Enhanced directional damage indication
- Heartbeat force feedback and SFX added
- Audio ducking system improves health feedback
All New Oxygen Feedback System
- Oxygen bar added
- Heartbeat force feedback and SFX added
- Phobia effect for oxygen feedback enhanced
- Phobia audio hallucinations added
- FOV pulse added for drowning feedback
- Phobia warping effect removed from non-submerged sections
Overhauled Combat System
- Automatic weapon holster/unholster system
- Seamless integration of combat / non-combat systems
- Improved aim reticule
- Aim remapped to LT
- Destructible objects highlighted more clearly
- Destructible objects easier to hit
- A greater supply of ammo throughout the levels
- AI improved and enemies rebalanced
- More enemies and more engaging combat design
Weapons Improved
- Sonic Rounds overheat removed
- Sonic Rounds charge time halved
- Sonic Rounds do more damage to NPCs and are lethal
- Multiple Gel and Energy Rounds can be deployed simultaneously
- Deployed Gel/Energy rounds can be detonated as a group
All New Cover System
- Smoother transitions in and out of cover
- Easier and more intuitive to get in and out of cover
- Toggle cover whether armed or unarmed
- All new animations make cover system more realistic
Checkpoints and Reloading
- Checkpoint positions reviewed and improved
- More checkpoints
- Automated and faster reload after death
Levels and Game Balance
- Vent behaviour improved
- General level design tweaks
- AI numbers and positioning improved
- Ammo amount and placement improved
- Collectible placement improved
- Gameplay balance improved throughout
Value
- Price dropped to just 800 Microsoft points
- Trial extended to allow players to sample more of the game for free
That’s enough to make the critics smile, right?
