Hydrophobia Pure – Updates:

Graphics

• 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

• Physics Enhancements
• Increased number of dynamic objects
• More realistic character water resistance
• Explosive forces re-balanced

Controls, Cameras, Animation

• 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

Platforming and Climbing

• All New Climbing System
• Continuous hand-over-hand climbing system added
• All new, more realistic animations
• More fluid climbing controls and movement
• 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 and Cutscenes

• Dialogue Re-edit
• Dialogue has been pruned
• Irritating or extraneous lines cut
• Cutscenes Re-edit
• Cutscenes reviewed and edited
• Overly long cutscenes shortened

Collectables

• Collectables Interface Improved
• 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 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 Enhanced

• Improved swimming controls, more finely balanced
• 180 degree swim turn removed
• Improved camera behaviour when swimming
• Underwater combat system streamlined

Puzzle Improvements

• 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

Combat and Cover Systems

• 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

• Design Improvements
• 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