Hydrophobia revamp announced

Will this get a re-review then EG?

Breaking news: Developer says they've fixed all the problems with a game with a patch. Film at 11.

So, 800 is a permanent repricing? For the scope of the game that doesn't really sit well with other prices on XBLA.

If this is permanent, I may wait for a sale to take the plunge.

It's refreshing to hear that a developer is actively listening and pursuing gripes that gamers have. I too hope for a EG re-review to see whether their extra effort has been worth it.

Polish a turd all you want. It's still a Turd.

Who cares, plenty of much better games around to buy instead!!

@ouchio

Any other well-worn and equally constructively pointless cliche's to use?

As long as Simon does the re-review of course

A re-review would be essential, it's good to see them want to fix a game they clearly care about so I'm well willing to give it a go based on another review.

@siro: Major does not list it as Deal of the Week, may be permanent.

And yes, a quick re-review (even short one without score) would be nice.

Fair play to them. A new review by the same reviewer would be useful as I might buy this now the price is 800 msp.

Takes guts to admit you're wrong, so I hope this update for Hydrophobia will get this studio the credit they deserve. Even if after the update, the game is still crap, the studio deserves credit for listening to the gamer and actively trying to do something about the reported problems. Quite a different way of doing things than most developers, ey, Treyarch?

Ok might buy this now. When im done with a few games i havent completed yet mind.

Dear DED, I did not buy the game originally, but I like the way you have listened to criticism and have actually made an effort to improve the game. I will now buy it. Thanks.

Well, good on them for doing this. I, too, hope EG give it a re-review.

Fair play to them to be honest.

It's good to see a developer do this and I hope it works out for them. While ideally all problems should have been solved prior to the initial release, it could be that the play testers just get used to some of the things that are obvious flaws to someone playing for the first time, and so nothing gets done about them. There are a lot of games which could be brilliant but are hurt by things that mess up the pace, and could be fixed with just some restructuring rather than the makers just brushing things under the carpet and moving onto making the next thing.

So if I own the game before hand I will get this update for free?

Bumbuliuz: Yes, it's a title update (a patch), it'll be free.

Eraser: "Takes guts to admit you're wrong..."

Deborah Jones acting like a child and lashing out at reviewers in the wake of the game's release probably greased the wheels of admission somewhat too.

But still, I'm stoked at the title update for Hydrophobia (guess I should get used to calling it Hydrophobia Pure now). Has anyone seen the list of what's actually been updated? It's humongous!

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