Genome Guardian News

[h3]Lots of bugs have arisen due to a big change I made behind the scenes for players that can't run the game at full 60 FPS - the whole point was that these changes would ensure that the game feels the same regardless of framerate, but ironically this big change has produced the opposite effect.

I'm completely undoing that change and taking an entirely different & better approach that hopefully won't result in any new bugs popping up.

There's still a few things I need to check & change, but they're things that (if broken in this update) have been broken for players at low FPS basically since launch. I'll have more coverage of these things by 5.0.4.

Regardless, it's clear what the real problem is - the game obviously shouldn't be running as poorly as it does. I've said before that I want to address this and I've said I've tried to - aside from bug fixes, this is going to be my top priority again.[/h3]

[h3]⚖ BALANCE[/h3]

• (perk) Briefcase: it's super confusing how it works, and there's no way I can properly fit an explanation in its description, so I'm changing it into something that I think could be cool maybe: Briefcase is now "Knockback +100%, Range -50%". (this change was actually in 5.0.3 but I didn't mention it in patch notes because I forgot to update the in-game description 😅)
  

[h3]🔨 FIXES[/h3]

• Various bugs relating to microbe eliminations attained while at sub-60 FPS have been fixed (more Biomass per elimination, eliminations counting as multiple eliminations, Targets for eliminating microbes incrementing faster than they should, etc.).
  
• The Abyss would enter the visible area much faster than intended when below 60 FPS.
• The Abyss' Health drain is now consistent across all framerates.
• Multiple DEFEAT screens would appear if you died while at sub-60 FPS.
  
• Some turrets like Chronos and Tower would exhibit twitchy behaviour.
  
• Projectile Damage is now increased to compensate for when Firerate exceeds framerate (you probably didn't even notice, but if your framerate was, say, 30, and you were using AACC Hyperbeam, which has 60/s Firerate, you would have only been doing half the DPS!)
  
• "DANGER ALERT" text would sometimes overlap with the Bonus Research popup when you're able to pursue The Abyss.
• Various fade effects & spooky purple text popups will fade at the correct rate while below 60 FPS.
  

[h3]Handled the low performance stuff I mentioned in last update! (no increase to framerate for players that are struggling, but the game will feel much better for them). Won't have to "undo" it this time 😉[/h3]


[h3]⚖ BALANCE[/h3]

• (turret) Surge: Alright, it says it's back to 3.125/s Cooling Rate, but I did some stuff under the hood too - it's essentially what it was before.
  

[h3]🔄 CHANGES[/h3]

• (mode) Gameshow: The "reversed Knockback" Target now reverses Magnet's reversed Knockback, reversely.
  
• Hovering over the game mode name in the top right during gameplay will show you its description. Also the microbe depth modifiers.
  

[h3]🔨 FIXES[/h3]

• (perk) Cherry: The description now makes it clear that it's based on Critical Damage. not a Critical Hit (in other words, it's been compatible with Stamp and now the description agrees with that).
  
• (turret) Surge: Made some adjustments so that Firerate has a minimal impact on how long you can fire for (higher Firerate weapons could fire longer, unintentionally).
  
• (perk) Antifreeze: Fixed some scenarios where you couldn't fire again after reaching 0% Firerate with the perk.
  
• You'll no longer immediately fire a shot when starting a run when using a controller (or on Steamdeck).
  

[h3]I'm going to try figuring out a better solution to this problem, but (for reasons that I don't have time to explain because I'd be here for half an hour and I'd rather spend that time on fixing the problem), if you have low FPS and one of your weapons is 200+ Speed, those changes I made recently that ensured that your Cooling Rate (among other things) are what they should be, won't be active.[/h3]


[h3]⚖ BALANCE[/h3]

• (perk) Antifreeze: Now functions differently: "can shoot while overheated, Firerate -20% every 1s while overheated (resets upon cooling)". While I'm sure this will dissappoint some, rest assured knowing that Antifreeze still has amazing potential with this new functionality.
  
• (turret) Diesel: Removed the "while above 0% Fuel" requirement that I recently added.
  
• (turret) Surge: Eeeh screw it, I'll let it have 3.75/s Recharge Rate (instead of 3.125/s).
  

[h3]🔨 FIXES[/h3]

• (mode) Gameshow: The "Reversed Knockback" Target's effects would never go away, eheheh…
  
• (mode) Gameshow: A non-moving, duplicate turret could appear when choosing an Endless Mutation.
  
• (mode) Gameshow: Targets would sometimes continuously slide/fade off to the side while on the DEFEAT screen.
  
• (mode) Gameshow: The cursor wouldn't change to a crosshair if you have Skip Shop enabled and the shop gets skipped after the TARGETS menu appears.
  
• (mode) Gameshow: Failing Score quota check with the Defibrillator perk equipped would just kinda softlock the game.
  
• (mode) Gameshow: "PASS!" could appear next to your Score before the first Score quota check if you had 0 Score by that wave.
  
• (mode) Classic: After entering Endless, locked items wouldn't actually get locked, and they'd get rerolled.
  
• (perk) Condenser: Will now fade in/out to signify when it's active.
  
• (perk) Turbine: Wasn't reducing Health when you hit 0% Heat, since last update I think.
  
• The popup "you have 0 Heat Max" and "you have 0 Health Max" wouldn't show until wave 2 (was supposed to show immediately).
  
• Hovering over slotted, inactive weapon mods would only show the stats of the first slotted weapon mod.
  
• Firing while overheated (possible via the Antifreeze perk) would increment your # of total overheats each time (which would skew values in RECORDS and mess with certain Targets).
  
• High Weapon Speed (like 500+) would cause many strange things to occur, such as faster Movespeed, Cooling Rate, animations, and other oddities.
  
• (turret) Saturn: Fixed some homing wonkiness.
  

🚨 I'm aware of the "reversed Knockback" Target never turning off, fixing tomorrow (for now just avoid it).






[h3]🆕 GAMESHOW MODE[/h3]
Get ready for the ultimate test of your abilities and decision-making! This new mode has a bit of a learning curve, but there's in-game explanations of the mechanics when you first start playing it.



You'll need 40 perks unlocked to unlock Gameshow Mode - it's intended for experienced players that already know the ropes, which is why it's not a super early unlock like Shmup Mode. I know some players aren't super keen on starting a new mode at Surface Depth, but this time, I think you'll appreciate it a fair bit.

There may still be bugs - I did lots of testing myself, but hey, it's the first time it's going public. Also note that balance is not final (before you ask for certain Targets to be buffed/nerfed, know that there there's an advanced formula for determining their Score/Biomass rewards, and that while they're influenced by the type of Target, they can still vary wildly for the exact same Target).


[h3]🆕 CONTENT[/h3]
As always, the addition of a new mode means 2 new perks and 1 new turret to unlock:

• (perk) Tarantula: Achieve victory in Gameshow Mode at Depth 1. (the Jester Turret Trial can actually be done now that this perk is in the game!)
• (turret) Helix: Achieve victory in Gameshow Mode at Depth 3.
  
• (perk) Condenser: Achieve victory in Gameshow Mode at Depth 5.

Super excited to finally unleash Helix - you'll have to unlock it to see its full description and set of unique traits (one of which will make those extinction-related Awards significantly easier to obtain), but here's a little taste:



[h3]🔄 CHANGES[/h3]

• (turret) Tank:
  • Instead of needing to stop to shoot and cool, now it's "stop to shoot, move to cool". This feels a lot better.
  • Firerate -50% → -60%.
    
  • Size +60%.
    
  • Speed +60%.
    
  • Cooling Delay 1s → 0.5s.
    
  • Cooling Rate 25/s → 12.5/s.
• (turret) Surge: I'm reverting the Recharge Rate buff (so it's going from 3.75/s → 3/s), BUT I'm adding "Damage +30% to shots fired at 100% Electricity".
  
• (turret) Diesel: Buddy, you gotta learn how to use this without Antifreeze. Its low-Fuel Damage bonus now only applies above 0% & below 50% Fuel, but I'm upping it to +50% instead of +40%.
  
• (turret) Saturn: If a projectile has Homing + Bounce, after it Bounces, it will have regular Homing behaviour (since projectiles with Bounce stop orbiting after they hit something).
  
• (perk) Stamp: Changed description to clarify that hits on Stamped microbes don't count as Critical Hits.
  
• Added a bunch of new TIPS to the SETUP menu.
  
• (mode) Brood: A tad easier now.
  

[h3]🔨 FIXES[/h3]

• (perk) Backpack: No longer triggers Mirror, Pacemaker, Mixer, etc.
  
• (turret) Avarice: Last update pretty much broke it entirely - fixed!
  
• Abyssian Hunters are no longer immune to Knockback (they were never supposed to be).
  
• (perk) Bloodbag: It was letting players use the heal button multiple times (which was never intended).
  
• projectiles would sometimes not disappear when The Abyss is entering the area.
• (perk) Ruler, Protractor: Now affects Burn Damage.
  
• (turret) Boomerang: Bounce wasn't honouring Boomerang's Pierce, and now it does. Due to how Boomerang works, however, Bounce works somewhat differently - essentially all it does is prevent projectiles from leaving the visible area, so what'll happen is, projectiles you fire at the edge will sit there for a while until falling back to you.
  
• (turret) Surge: Weapons with 60/s Firerate wouldn't drain Electricity in some scenarios.
  
• Music visualizer effects are supposed to be disabled while in the shop, but pressing the "Onward!" button after victory wouldn't stop those effects.
  

[h3]LIKELY THE LAST UPDATE BEFORE MAJOR UPDATE 5: GAMESHOW MODE! (some time in the next 5 days)[/h3]

[h3]⚖ BALANCE[/h3]

• Hitscan + Bounce: Bounce now adds +500% width instead of just +400%.
  
• (weapon) CCCT Tracking Laser: Changed Bounce sprite a bit to look more clear.
  

[h3]🔄 CHANGES[/h3]

• The Abyss will constantly be losing Health automatically, which means defensive or just generally non-Damage-oriented builds still have a chance.
• (perk) Backpack, Microwave: these will unlock sooner now.
  
• (turret) Saturn: Homing projectiles now actually feel good on Saturn! Homing shots will try to orbit at the distance that the target is from you, instead of stop orbiting. Honestly quite proud of pulling this one off, check it out in-game!
  
• (turret) Saturn: Now takes projectile "squiggliness" into account (previously it just completely ignored it).
  

[h3]🔨 FIXES[/h3]

• 🚨 TO PLAYERS WITH LOW FPS: I made a change that won't increase your framerate, but it fixes many things that you've (perhaps unknowingly) been experiencing, such as slower Cooling Rate and wonky micobe behaviour.
  
• Hover-over stuff like weapon stats would sometimes still show after returning to SETUP.
  
• Projectiles that were very large would instantly despawn (or detonate, if it's an explosive weapon). This is supposed to happen to projectiles with Bounce that reach the size of the visible area, but it was happening to projectiles without Bounce and that were much smaller than that…
  

[h3]🎨 FAN ART[/h3]
"SAYMYNAME" by @true_boxed.in "Maw Underwatuh" by @suptoast