Patch 040

Early Access Patch 040: The NIGHTY NIGHT Update - March 10, 2020

This Major Update opens up even more ways to battle out of hell, with a powerful new weapon, new weapon Aspects, and lots more story to sink your teeth into! As always, we will be closely monitoring feedback and are planning on at least a couple of follow-up patches. Thank you very much for playing!

Highlights

 * Malphon, the Twin Fists: pummel your foes into the ground with this furious close-quarters weapon
 * Mirror of Night Rework: now with twice the Talents, inviting more choices to fit your playstyle
 * Aspect of Arthur: wield the might of Holy Excalibur with this legendary Aspect of the Stygian Blade
 * Improved Visual Effects: we've made frenetic combat easier to parse without compromising the oomph
 * New Pact of Punishment Conditions: see if you can survive Benefits Package and Routine Inspection
 * Administrative Chamber: access your Permanent Record beyond a mysterious locked door in the House
 * New House of Hades Events: the god of the dead's residence is livelier than ever
 * Expanded Story: hours of added narrative featuring Nyx, Chaos, Artemis, Zeus, and more

Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

 * Twin Fists: new! Unlock earlier weapons to reveal this (once you return from an escape attempt)
 * Twin Fists (Zagreus Aspect): new! Gain attack speed and dodge chance
 * Twin Fists (Talos Aspect): new! Drag foes to you with the power of the Magnetic Cutter
 * Twin Fists (Demeter Aspect): new! Obliterate foes with the power of the Giga Cutter
 * Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect): new! Seek Nyx to learn more (unlock Guan Yu and Blade aspects first)
 * Eternal Spear (Guan Yu Aspect): Spin attack now bounces off obstacles rather than passing through
 * Adamant Rail: increased accuracy; now the sixth weapon to be unlocked, after the Twin Fists
 * Added one more frame of invulnerability to the Dash (you now are fully invulnerable until you can move)

Boons & Blessings

 * Reduced base offering rate of Legendary and Duo Boons; a new Mirror Talent lets you boost this
 * Huge Catch (Poseidon): new! Increases chance of finding fishing points
 * Holy Shield (Athena): fixed Evergreen Acorn (Eurydice) activating at the same time when you are hit
 * True Shot (Artemis): reduced damage scaling from improved rarity
 * Unhealthy Fixation (Aphrodite): can now be offered if you have Broken Resolve; fixed issues where Charmed damage bonus did not expire
 * Battle Rage (Ares): expires after first hit from Aspect of Zeus Throw special; no longer expires when recalling the Spear's Throw special
 * Urge to Kill (Ares): improved scaling from Poms
 * Snow Burst (Demeter): now correctly fires at your position while loading ammo using Aspect of Hera; no longer hits through obstacles
 * Mistral Dash (Demeter): increased damage
 * Atrophic (Chaos): fixed issues causing incorrect adjustments to Life Total
 * Roiling (Chaos): duration no longer reduced by Boss encounters (since it does not affect those encounters)
 * Auto Reload (Hermes): new! Regenerate Bloodstones faster (if you have a certain Mirror talent)
 * Bad News (Hermes): new! Deal bonus Cast damage to foes without Cast ammo in them (if you have a certain Mirror talent)
 * Greater Recall (Hermes): now requires first having one of Hermes' Cast-affecting Boons
 * Flurry Shot (Hermes): reduced power scaling from improved rarity
 * Quick Reload (Hermes): increased power scaling at Heroic rarity

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

 * Double Nova (Blade): reduced penalty to damage radius
 * Cursed Slash (Blade): reduced penalty to Life Total
 * Charged Volley (Bow): increased minimum range; no longer offered while using Aspect of Chiron
 * Relentless Barrage (Bow): fixed an issue where it sometimes stopped working with Aspect of Chiron
 * Chain Shot (Bow): shots no longer bounce off of invisible Chamber boundaries
 * Minotaur Rush (Shield): increased Bull Rush Power Shot damage
 * Charged Shot (Shield): increased minimum range
 * Explosive Return (Shield): slightly reduced damage
 * Exploding Launcher (Rail): slightly reduced damage
 * Cluster Bomb (Rail): adjusted firing pattern
 * Hazard Bomb (Rail): now fires on press (rather than on release); fixed interaction with Inescapable Blast
 * Spread Fire (Rail): reworked; now fires as a single, powerful blast
 * Long Knuckle (Fist): new! Attacks have improved range and damage
 * Rolling Knuckle (Fist): new! Attack combo ends in a powerful hook punch
 * Concentrated Knuckle (Fist): new! Successive attacks against the same foe deal more damage
 * Breaching Cross (Fist): new! Your Dash-Strike pierces foes and deals bonus damage to Armor
 * Explosive Upper (Fist): new! Your Dash-Special (unique to Twin Fists) deals bonus area damage
 * Rush Kick (Fist): new! Dash toward foes with a powerful kick
 * Flying Cutter (Fist): new! Hold Special for a stronger, longer range strike
 * Draining Cutter (Fist): new! Slay foes with your Cutter special to restore some Life
 * Quake Cutter (Fist): new! Deal area damage while landing from your Cutter special

Foes & Encounters

 * 'Trial of the Gods': updated many effects from spurned gods; no longer occur in smaller chambers
 * Thanatos: reduced appearance rate in Tartarus; removed Flame Wheels from appearing in these fights
 * Larger chambers in Asphodel now only appear later in the region
 * Bone Hydra: a wider variety of heads can appear (note that no new types have been added)
 * Exalted Longspear: attack visual more closely matches its hit box
 * Splitter: updated pattern of split-firing projectiles (it should look better)
 * The Minotaur: updated spin attack, specific to the effect of Extreme Measures (Pact)
 * Theseus: can no longer invoke Demeter's aid before you have met her
 * Crawler: Elite variant no longer appears, although...
 * ...added a terrifying new mini-boss encounter to the Temple of Styx...

Mirror of Night

 * Reworked! More choices, improved usability, reduced total Darkness cost; in more detail:
 * Added a new flip-side Talent for each Talent! Only one Talent per pair can be active at a time
 * Removed ability to subtract ranks in a given talent; added a full Darkness refund option
 * Talents are no longer all visible at the start of the game; they are now unlocked two rows at a time
 * Later Talents cost less Darkness; if you had more invested than is now required, it has been refunded. Total Darkness required to max all Talents is less than before (when there were half as many Talents)
 * Fiery Presence: new! Deal more damage vs. undamaged foes
 * Dark Regeneration: new! Recover health when you collect Darkness
 * Stubborn Defiance: new! A single Death Defiance effect that replenishes in each Chamber
 * Ruthless Reflex: new! Dash just before taking damage for bonus damage and dodge chance
 * Stygian Soul: new! Your Cast ammo regenerates automatically (instead of dropping from foes)
 * Golden Touch: new! Earn money between Underworld regions based on how much you have
 * High Confidence: new! Deal bonus damage while your Life Total is high
 * Abyssal Blood: new! Foes with Cast ammo in them move slower and deal less damage
 * Family Favorite: new! Deal bonus damage for each different Olympian whose Boons you have
 * Olympian Legacy: new! Improves chance of finding Duo or Legendary Boons
 * Gods' Chosen: new! Improves chance of finding chambers with Boons, Hammers, or Poms
 * Fated Persuasion: new! You can randomly alter Boon and Well of Charon choices offered
 * Note: We have plans to do even more with the Darkness resource in future updates

Keepsakes & Items

 * Lucky Tooth (Skelly): reduced healing at higher ranks (bringing it in line with other defensive Keepsakes)
 * Broken Spearpoint (Fallen Warrior): fixed issues with it not working against some Final Boss attacks
 * Black Shawl (Nyx): reworked; now gives bonus damage vs. undamaged foes and while backstabbing
 * Companion Mort (Thanatos): no longer blockable by shield-bearing foes
 * Companion Rib (Skelly): increased resistance to wall-slam damage
 * Companion Shady (Sisyphus): resource drops now affected by certain Boons; reduced money drops
 * Touch of Styx (Well): new! Improves healing from Stubborn Defiance
 * Touch of Styx Dark (Fallen Warrior): new! A superior version of the above
 * Trove Tracker (Well): no longer offered in the Temple of Styx (Lord Hades wouldn't put troves there)

Pact of Punishment

 * Budget Cuts: cut from game; replaced with...
 * Routine Inspection: new! Disables Mirror of Night talents, three at a time from the bottom
 * Benefits Package: new! Gives Dire (a.k.a Armored) foes an assortment of nasty Perks:
 * Shifter: teleports around from time to time
 * Bruiser: extra armor
 * Puller: surrounded by a field that pulls you in
 * Savior: intermittently makes nearby foes briefly invulnerable
 * Slugger: hits harder
 * Speeder: moves and attacks faster
 * Linker: links to other foes via a continuous beam that damages you
 * Cloner: summons 1-Life copies of itself
 * Burner: spews molten puddles
 * Seeker: ranged attacks track you
 * Popper: bursts into Exalted Shades that self-destruct
 * The Condition previously called No Choice now is called Approval Process

Permanent Record

 * new! Added a screen summarizing each of your escape attempts; find it in the House's locked chamber
 * Note: This is a first-pass version of this screen, which we expect to continue improving in subsequent Major Updates

House Contractor

 * Added items specific to certain subplots...

Fated List of Minor Prophecies

 * Whence Night and Darkness Came: new! Nyx and Chaos shall be reunited
 * Musician and Muse: new! Orpheus and Eurydice shall be reunited
 * The Holy King: new! The Aspect of Arthur shall reach the surface
 * Slashed Benefits: new! Foes with all Benefits Package Perks shall be slain
 * Denizens of the Deep: new! A variety of fish shall be caught
 * Dark Reflections: new! Successful escapes shall be completed using all Mirror Talents
 * End to Torment: aiding Sisyphus is more involved than before (if you haven't done this yet)
 * Updated requirements to fulfill several other Prophecies (won't affect you if you've already fulfilled them)

Level Design & Environments

 * Added two new chambers to Asphodel
 * It is easier to reliably dash across gaps in several Temple of Styx chambers
 * Updated, clearer cover layout in the Final Boss chamber
 * The lounge's kitchen area in the House of Hades is easier to get to
 * You can now get into one of the locked chambers in the House of Hades...
 * Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers

Art & Visual FX

 * Updated main menu based on new Major Update
 * Added new portraits and character model for Nyx
 * Added new character model and animations for Hypnos
 * Added new animations for Dusa
 * Added some new animations for Lord Hades
 * Added unique art, animation, and VFX for the Twin Fists and its Aspects
 * Added unique art, animation, and VFX for the Aspect of Arthur (Blade)
 * Updated the look of Olympian Boon pick-ups
 * Updated the look of the House Contractor screen
 * Updated the look of the Well of Charon screen
 * Updated the look of the Pool of Purging screen
 * Updated the look of the Fated List screen
 * Updated the look of information panels (e.g. the one that says THERE IS NO ESCAPE)
 * Added presentation while resetting offered choices using Fated Persuasion (Mirror)
 * Added and updated some icons in the Mirror of Night and Pact of Punishment
 * Added graphical icons for various new Boons, Aspects, and Upgrades
 * Updated the look of one of the locked doors in the House of Hades
 * Made various improvements, detailed below, that in aggregate should improve clarity during combat
 * Updated on-hit visual effects (they are cleaner and now have directionality)
 * Updated on-hit visual effects for rapid-fire attacks
 * Updated on-hit visual effects for foes with Armor
 * Updated visual effects when foes are slain
 * Updated the look of damage shroud (i.e., when you get hit; this no longer reduces visibility as much)
 * Updated the look of the Power Shot full-screen effect (not as jarring as before)
 * Updated the look of Trap floor panels (they should be easier to spot)
 * Foes' Summoning Circles now are sized relative to the foe; they have varying sound effects as well
 * Minor improvements to the look of the Underworld Map between regions
 * Minor improvements to Weapon Unlock presentation
 * Other minor visual changes, fixes, and improvements

Menus & UI

 * Updated Mirror of Night screen and presentation based on new functionality
 * Added category-specific indicators when House Contractor has new items or is sold out
 * Added reminder to activate Legendary Keepsakes in certain contexts
 * Added feedback when failing to power up Pierced Butterfly (Thanatos) or Lambent Plume (Hermes)
 * Added ammo-regeneration indicator while using Stygian Soul (Mirror)
 * Improved sorting of resources along right screen edge
 * Improved feedback using Charged Throw (Spear)
 * Made various improvements, detailed below, that in aggregate should improve clarity during combat
 * Updated Damage Numbers presentation to reduce clutter (successive damage now ticks up a single number)
 * Updated Boon Sidebar to show only relevant Boons (everything is still in the Boon Info screen)
 * Updated Status Curse stack feedback on foes
 * Other minor fixes, changes, and improvements

Music & SFX

 * Added new sound effects for the Twin Fists
 * Added new sound effects for the Aspect of Arthur (Blade)
 * Updated sound effects for the Well of Charon and Purging Pool
 * Updated sound effects for the House Contractor
 * Updated sound effects for some attacks from spurned Olympians
 * Added and updated ambient sounds in some chambers
 * Other minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements

Voice & Narrative

 * Extended Affinity Gauges for Nyx, Chaos, Artemis, and Zeus (you can give them more gifts)
 * Added many narrative events (with Nyx, Chaos, Orpheus, Eurydice, Artemis, Zeus, Hades, and more)
 * Added new Remembrance sequences (when Lord Hades appears at the start of some escape attempts)
 * Added several new Duo Boon interactions for some pairings
 * Added many new Zagreus voice lines to various contexts for additional variety
 * Added more voiceover variety in the Final Boss encounter
 * Added Codex entry for Malphon, the Twin Fists
 * Added Codex entries for Underworld Regions (i.e., various locations)
 * Added Codex entries for River Denizens (i.e., fish)
 * Added Codex entries for Fables (use Legendary Keepsakes to unlock these)
 * Updated Codex entry for Nyx
 * Added utterly nightmarish new Flashback Sequence...
 * Added yet another new Early Access Ending variant
 * Minor changes to effects on Nyx voiceover
 * Updated requirements and other minor changes to various narrative events
 * Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events
 * Added several missing subtitles

New Settings

 * Added Master Volume setting to Settings
 * Added Screen Shake toggle to Settings

Miscellaneous

 * Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our plans for our next Major Update, slated for June
 * Added community-translated content in some languages (translations are ongoing for newer content)
 * Added a number of new Victory Screen Commendations
 * Lord Hades will sometimes judge the shades gathered in his Great Hall
 * Dusa and Megaera will sometimes be gossiping in the lounge
 * Hypnos will sometimes fall back asleep
 * Wretched Broker now has a Limited Time Offer letting you exchange Darkness for Gemstones
 * While switching auto-aim targets with the Bow and Rail, Zagreus quickly rotates instead of snapping (this is a cosmetic change with no effect on aim speed)
 * Urns can now be broken as a result of some knock-away effects (not just direct attack)
 * Added a visual hint when trying to exit chambers before collecting the reward
 * Keepsake Screen no longer shows available Ambrosia before it can be used there
 * Minor improvements to door interact presentation in the Temple of Styx
 * Minor improvements to Rod of Fishing presentation
 * Sisyphus now tosses items in your general direction
 * Updated Credits with additional Community Contributors (Thank you for all your help!!)
 * References to lava changed to magma (as is well known, magma is beneath the earth, lava is above it)
 * Various text fixes, updates, and clarifications

Bug Fixes

 * Fixed lag issues using Switch Pro controllers (if you run into input issues, please report them by pressing F10)
 * Fixed rare instances of foes taking wall-slam damage multiple times from a single knock-away effect
 * Fixed damage effects playing after Death Defiance activation, rather than before
 * Fixed Splendid Lyre sometimes not making a sound when used
 * Fixed God of War (Fated List) coming from Artemis rather than Ares
 * Fixed an issue where gifting Thanatos during an escape attempt made him noninteractive in the House
 * Fixed being able to use exits in some Chambers while using the Rod of Fishing
 * Fixed certain story events in the Prince's Bedchambers not queuing properly
 * Fixed issues toggling some House Decor items from the House Contractor
 * Fixed a graphical issue exiting the Temple of Styx
 * Fixed a visual issue where Chill effects would tint a character's speech bubble
 * Fixed a visual issue when Wave-Makers are affected by Chill effects
 * Fixed weapon charge-up sounds sometimes persisting between chambers
 * Many other minor fixes

Quote of the Patch
"Nyx, whom the Romans called Nox, is a scarcely personified abstraction... Alone she spawned a large and generally unpleasant brood that included Moros (Doom), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), the Fates, and Nemesis."

- Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology (E. Tripp)

Note: You should see v0.26754 in-game once you have the update.