Hello Climbers!
Your next challenge awaits. The fifth region, The Nest, has been released!
But before we get to the details, We're on sale during this Summer Sale (Later Today!) The game's price will be increasing after the sale, so fair warning if you're thinking about picking up the game that this is the best deal it'll be for a good while! Tell your friends!
Venture into Habitation Blue's long abandoned research sector in the campaign's fifth region: THE NEST. Wield a powerful handgun and your growing array of tools, artifacts, and other weapons to slash, rip, throw, gib, and otherwise wreck havoc within the Habitation turned alien jungle.
You, still, won't be alone on this journey. The Mass is hot on your tail and is growing more and more desperate as it continues its rouse from a long slumber.
Not all denizens of the superstructure are threats, your decisions over the course of the run will determine if you make friends with a powerful potential ally: The Mother of the Grubs. Do well enough by her, and she may gift you the Barnacle Hook. Kill her children, and she will instead throw you out of her protection and into the Hot Zone, or worse, into an early grave.
Interlude 4: Symbiosis
Infested Labs
Hot Zone
Feeding Trough
The Nest is an alien jungle, and is full of a massive variety of dangerous wildlife. From Sprider swarms, to packs of Grub Aunts, to shambling Barnacles which have been keeping their infested hosts 'alive' for decades, it's not an ecosystem suited to your imminent survival.
Which is why you'll need..
We are giving you a gun. Yes. A real honest to goodness firearm that shoots lead bullets fast enough to turn bloodbugs into pink mist. A Drake Combat Solutions MD95 10mm Service Pistol. A gun. Shoot. Bang Bang.
A handgun isn't the only new tool at your disposal however, over your run you may find that your array of Powerful Artifacts increases:
The two new major artifacts are:
The Rapier
A sword made from mercury, able to change its shape and propel the user forward. Dash into the ground while falling to pogo, or up a wall to skate. Also, great at stabbing.
The Barnacle Hook
A young Barnacle, trained to grab and release. Its stamina recovers extremely slowly, but like you it loves a good meal. Keep it fed, and you'll soar.
In addition, you may find two new minor artifacts:
The Cleaver
Rip and tear through enemies with ease, eat their (definitely very tasty and not hallucinated) flesh and power yourself up with each kill.
The Rho Stone
Found rarely or sold by the Roach Merchant, the Rho Stone can briefly protect yourself from all Mass forms when crushed.
While any signs of recent human habitation might be absent from your travels, the Lambda periphery that originated all alien life in the Nest was once host to an array of strange, and sometimes sapient, species. Now, some of them live in the Superstructure itself.
The Trader is willing to make a deal with any friendly passerby, even if you don't share a tongue or, well, any related mouthparts, for that matter.
The word is that he's set up a permanent shop somewhere in the Underworks. Though, with a keen eye (or a trusty hand scanner) you may be able to find him in nooks in many more places.
A slew of new perks have been deposited into your upgrade consoles. Pet Grubs, Become a Slaughterhouse, Get Sticky, and More.
In addition, there are three new Trinkets:
The Helmet
Keep your noggin safe from any incoming hazard, be it a bloodbug, bullets, or steam.
The Climbing Shoes
Catch your breath by locking your feet to the wall to barely drain any stamina, or climb-jump even more fervently than you already were.
The Calming Buddy
Official-Unofficial mascot of SB17, this stress toy is sure to keep you calm and collected when looking in your bag. So calm, in fact, it might feel like time is not moving at all. Because it isn't.
Oh, and that's right, there are two new Bindings:
Roach Mode
Become a roach. That's it, you're just a little fella. You have short stubby arms, but a hell of a kick jump.
Hunted
IT IS AFTER YOU IT IS AFTER YOU IT IS AFTER YOU IT IS AFTER YOU
Oh, and did we mention a whole grabbag of new and cool cosmetics? No? Well, this update has those too.
The Nest (And April’s Anniversary Update which was split from it) mark the next chapter of your climb through the Superstructure both narratively and mechanically. But do not worry, the ride isn't over yet.
Next Up: The Penultimate region, The Core. Once the height of advanced technology within the Superstructure, its massive power generation is now being overtaken by the Mass, and it's getting both hungrier and more capable. Good Luck. You'll need it.
Thank you so much for everything, hope you enjoy the new content!
-Dark Machine Games
Interlude: Symbiosis
Nest
Three subregions
Infested Labs
Hot Zone
Feeding Trough
Alternate Deadman's Handle
The Hunter
A new form of the Mass, evolved to chase you through the tight corridors of Habitation Blue.
Hanging Gardens
Moth Whelp - replacing Worker Bloodbugs
Nest
Grubs
Mother
Aunt
Sister
Bloodbugs
Swarm
Spitter
Barnacle Zombie
Scientist
Security
Vernal Gasbag
Myzonts
Tick Roach
Sprider
Ravelin
Roach Trader
Signal orchids
Flashflowers
Deep Water
Handgun
Shoot
Bang
Reload?
Two Major Artifact Items
The Rapier
The Barnacle Hook
Two Minor Artifact Items
The Cleaver
The Rho Stone
New Perks
Deep Pockets
You can pocket Rebar and other large items.
Your pockets can stack 3 of any regular item.
Carnal Bloodlust
Gain a temporary buff for every creature you kill.
Provides a lesser secondary permanent buff that levels up with every creature you kill.
Ammo Spiracles
Ammunition takes no inventory space.
Metacarpal Refinement
When climbing nonstop without jumping you gain increased reach and climbing speed.
Motherly Instincts
Grubs provide a buff when in your inventory.
Instead of crushing grubs you can pet them for a temporary buff.
Adhesive Perspiration
You sweat temporary stick goop when grounded.
Balance Changes
Overwhelmed
As you stay grounded longer you gain increased walking/running speed, climbing speed, jump height and a midair jump.
Muscle Relaxants
Buffed the amount of stamina regen per grip open and close.
Trinkets & Bindings
Trinkets
Calming buddy
Slows time while your inventory is open.
Climbing shoes
Reduces stamina drain while resting during a hang, and from climb-jumps.
OSHA approved helmet
Reduced grip loss, increased damage and knockback resistance.
Bindings
Hunted
DONT DIE DONT DIE DONT DIE DONT DIE
Roach Mode
Play as a roach! Short arms but you got big hops!!
New Cosmetics
Hand Cosmetics
Roach Hands
Xray Hands
Stone Hands
Infested Hands
Hammer Cosmetics
Crowbar
Crowbar (Retro)
Voice Cosmetics
Roach Voice
Items
Rho Spear Artifact
Overheat mechanic, spam the spear
Timepiece
Now recharges passively.
The Bazaar
Owned and operated by the friendly roach trader! Make fair trades and swap out trinkets! Unlock with a facility upgrade
Decals
Spears crack concrete! Bullets leave holes!! Leave handprints after using a grub!!!
Revamped mass textures/effects
Removed Gomblo. For real this time.
So many, but here's a few of the big ones:
Fixed Forward+ culling Blink Eyes, negative lights and bled lights culling in a few specific levels.
Fixed Parasite's Hardmode not being available.