Console gamers have become all-too-familiar with the post-release title update, but it’s never been quite like this. Hydrophobia developers Dark Energy Digital have gone through the laundry list of complaints that made the game a subpar experience and addressed just about all of it.
I mean, look at this:
Hydrophobia Pure Features:
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 Collectable 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
All that and you get a price drop on top of it. If ever a game was deserving of a second look, Hydrophobia has arguably earned it.
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Joe DonatoVideo games became an amazing, artful, interactive story-driven medium for me right around when I played Panzer Dragoon Saga on Sega Saturn. Ever since then, I've wanted to be a part of this industry. Somewhere along the line I, possibly foolishly, decided I'd rather write about them than actually make them. So here I am.