Greetings again restless cherubs. It would seem your Father has thrown you into the Abyss once more... but you are not alone, for a hundred hungerous lidless eyes see you!
A few days ago marked a year since the release of Spirits Abyss. After a very manic Early Access it was nice to take a break from the Abyss and come back to it with fresh eyes. But firstly a big thanks to YOU for the really great reception to the game. :]
This update focusses on the main three game modes: Hunt, Adventure, and Pilgrimage, and in particular adding new late game content. But there's some other bits and bobs to play with too.
New Regions
Two new unlockable regions have been added called the Cursedom Temple and Endless Nightmare which can only be unlocked in the Undying Pilgrimage game mode. They are pretty chaotic and difficult so once unlocked they become new optional regions that you can choose to enter or not, if you dare.
The Cursedom Temple is a mad place suffused with curses and adds 5 new enemies. A new variant of the Restless Realms has also been added, called the Accursed Realms. Again the Accursed Realms are an optional area which can be accessed in two special ways if you fancy an extra challenge.
The Endless Nightmare is a truly peculiar place. It doesn't have any new enemies, instead the entire level, it's layout, traps, and enemies, are randomly plucked from every other region of the game.
New Clans
Two new clans have been added called the Monastic and Technocrats, which can only unlocked in the new regions. The Monastic are a cursed order but can mutate their bombs into controllable pets, while the Technocrat make use of technology and their own mecha-constructs. They're intended for experienced players so are rather unusual with their abilities.
Guardian Sentinels
Something I wanted with this update was to make the three main game modes feel a bit more unique from one another. In the Adventure mode before entering the Fallen Sanctum you'll now be confronted by a new mini-boss to contend with, the Sanctum Sentinel (though there is a secret way to bypass it). Since thematically they defend the Sanctum from intruders, in the Hunt mode the Fallen Sanctum has been replaced with the Sanctum Outerwall. And in the Pilgrimage a new Restless Sentinel awaits who defends the vortex to the Restless Realms.
Special Hearts
Two new special heart types have been added, Restless Hearts and Cursed Hearts, which behave like the Pure Hearts. Restless Hearts however offer less invincibility and are automatically removed at stage end. Cursed Hearts offer random invincibility and the chance of inflicting a curse effect. Speaking of which, 9 new curse effects have been added, ranging from turning everybody on screen into exploding frogs or bat bombs, to simply dropping a massive lit bomb on your bonce.
Other New Stuff
- Added 13 achievements related to the new content.
- 4 new sub-stages: Gamester Boutique, Cargo Carriages, Views Apparition, Olden Trial. Of note is the Boutique, which offers a way to make use of your collected Clashful Cards within the normal game modes.
- 6 new level special rooms, ranging from cursed monuments, to a desperate feller being hunted by a wraith.
- 16 new items, ranging from mecha-constructs, a holy item capable of rebirth, to a device that teleports all crates to you.
- Added a Quick Look button for speedily looking down.
- Added a Clan Skins setting, which allows you to set skins independently for each Clan.
Region Changes
Slimes Mire
- The variants look a bit different now. Previously just some of the walls would be recoloured but now all of them are.
- Added a pink variant that's very shroomy and bouncy and contains a big mushroom chest.
- Added the chance for a boingy exit which can extend straight up.
Sinners Chambers
- Added the chance for a normal non-path room to have a vertical wall to block off the row (level was otherwise a bit too open).
- Added some decorative dudes to the jails to keep you company.
The Sullenwoods
- Hanged Haunts have a chance of dropping a Restless Heart upon death.
Restless Realms
- Soulmass and Soulstorms have a chance of dropping a Restless Heart upon death (or Cursed Heart in the case of the Accursed Realm).
Other Random Changes
- The Minesmithers clan can now mine upwards by holding... Up!
- On the Game Mode selection screen pressing Down will now take you straight to that game mode's online leaderboard.
- Added a new track specific to the Nightmare region (called Shipwreck In The Pacific Ocean).
- Added some new level entry art when starting an Adventure or Pilgrimage in the normal regions.
- All huge chests now require a bomb to open (or Skeleton Key).
- If a booby trapped cursed crate is attacked there's now a chance it will turn into a Cursed Frog.
- Replaced all the Black & White screen effects with a slightly less eye scorching pink effect.
Sub-Stages
- Sealed Domain (Ashen Palace): Float blocks will always appear here now (so more items are useful).
- Sealed Domain (Sanguine Mechanius): A Chaotica Jewel will now also open it.
- Sealed Domain (Frostal Fields): Added a bunch of different items that will be used when interacting with the door to open it.
- Fairy Fountain: Bestowing a cursed item will now always result in you being cursed.
Stage Special Rooms
- Shop: If you buy all four items in a noble shop you'll now be given a Loyalty Card.
- Sin Repent: There's now a chance of the creature being Accursed, in which case the heart offering will be turned into a cursed heart instead of pure.
- Cursed Vault: Regular Jewels and Cracked Jewels can now also open it with a slightly different effect.
Item Changes
- Snow Globe: This item's use has been changed. It now acts like a souped-up Glint Firecrackers, plus any walls onscreen will be replaced with ice blocks and the region will switch to a cold variant if available.
- Spookobomb: You're no longer immortal when using this item (sorry).
- Mommy's Bow: This now gives a Restless Heart instead of a normal one.
- Divine Trinket: Removed the Pure Heart aspect as it was a bit confusing.
- Crate Locator: Renamed to Loot Locator as it now also shows treasure chests on your map.
Other Game Mode Stuff
The other game modes haven't been completely left out.
Cabin Reminiscel
- Added a new fishy NPC to the hub.
- The game mode unlock mirror will now only show after the Undying Pilgrimage has been beaten.
- Other unlocks will now show in this game mode (eg Hat/Clan unlocks).
Clashful Cards
- 7 new Fighter Cards have been added.
Blood Moon Trials
- Added 3 new trials: Preserver Purity Trial, Nightmare Realm Trial, Telemond Time Trial.
Soul Survival
- The Gleam Monocle will now also hide all falling snow.
- Added 8 items to the stage item pool.
*PHEW*
That's your lot for now. Enjoy, and here's some screenies to wet your accursed appetites! :]
