Hydrophobia (XBLA)

[Goufunaki]

Released a while ago, didn't make a huge impression for everyone. Definitely had a lot of faults. But on Dec 21, the game is getting a major update and a price cut.

I already finished the game (it's only part 1 of i dunno how many), but I'm kinda excited to play it again.



http://kotaku.com/5715291/hydrophobi...-second-chance

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

[Valkysas]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

I'd never get it, because of the way the devs acted when they didn't like destructoid's review.

[DK]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

That's silly.

[Valkysas]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

They acted like 3 year olds who didn't get their way. Calling random people at Destructoid and hassling them for the reviewer's phone number, then accusing him of not playing the game at all for his review, which was disrespectful as ****, and then later just downgrading it to "he didn't play it right".

I'm not giving people like that my money.

[Biggie]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

I can empathize, I mean, you spend countless hours building something, and it's kinda gay when someone else just plays it for a few hours and completely ****s all over it.

[Valkysas]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

Then they should have made a better game. The list of fixes here shows that the original game was seriously flawed. Removing unfair damage by unseen elements? The variety in the list of fixes speaks volumes about the quality of the original game.

Regardless, if you want to be a respected game company, when you get a bad review, you just deal with it. You don't go and scream at anyone who works at the website where the review was posted, and demand the phone number of the reviewer so you can yell at him.

[Big Country]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

I'm not giving people like that my money.

So you're saying, you're not buying for the quality of the product but the personality of it's creator?

[John Mora]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

I had a similar dilemma of conscience with Shadow Complex. It's a good game, but it's also made with involvement from Orson Scott Card, who's a socially conservative bigot.

[Big Country]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

If we are really going to complain about producers who don't need our money...

[Shard]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

I think Orson Scott Card's connection and benefit from your support is more tenuous (and easier to mitigate) than paying money directly to the developer as Valk's suggesting.

It's discretionary spending on a hobby, and throwing your money behind a developer that dovetails with you philosophically (as Perv does nearly exclusively) or not supporting another because they act like dickwads (Valk) just means you come at it from a different angle than someone who's only trying to maximize fun.

The Short: I think we have room for everyone.

[Perversion]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

...and throwing your money behind a developer that dovetails with you philosophically (as Perv does nearly exclusively)

I know I've given plenty of lipservice to "voting with my wallet," but until I read and re-read that quoted statement, I didn't fully realize exactly how true the "nearly exclusively" part actually is.


Also, right before Muse's (sorry, I'm not calling you Duckroll) post, I immediately was gonna post something about Activision (I'm like Valk in your above statement with this, Shard), but Muse beat me to it.


Athough, they are a PUBLISHER, not a producer. I still supported DJ Hero because it dovetailed with my philosophy, I guess. Had I wanted to maximize my fun from the game, I would have waited a year down the line to buy it when it dropped to budget bin pricing. Instead, I was one of the few who wanted to support it in its launch window.


Let me ask you, am I a fool for putting my money behind developers who put out games that I want to continue to see being made, even though a chunk of these said games I rarely invest the time in to completely enjoy?

[Shard]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

Let me ask you, am I a fool for putting my money behind developers who put out games that I want to continue to see being made, even though a chunk of these said games I rarely invest the time in to completely enjoy?

The essence of the point is that I don't think it's worth arguing over how people spend their funbucks or laying foolishness at the feet of one person because they get their fun in a slightly different way.

If you're not playing games, then that maks you a collector (or an aficionado if you prefer), and collectors get into all sorts of esoteric stuff only to mount and display it. It does limit what you bring to the table when you're arguing for what makes a good game. If you don't taste the '21 Dom Perignon, how do you know it's good?

Edit: For example, my game tastes tend to line up more with yours than say Loki's, but if I'm interested in a game and Loki says it's gold, I'm not going to look for corroborating evidence, though the odds are, it'll be plentiful anyway. The breadth of his experience and enthusiasm more than compensate for the occasional hurmorous typo.

[John Mora]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

hurmorous typo.

[Shard]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

godammit.

[Perversion]

Re: Hydrophobia (XBLA)

John Mora is win.