Heretic + Hexen for Switch Receives First Major Update

Bethesda and Nightdive Studios have unleashed the first substantial update for their acclaimed re-release of the classic spell-casting shooters, Heretic + Hexen, across all available platforms. This comprehensive patch aims to enrich the player experience through a series of new functionalities, gameplay adjustments, crucial bug resolutions, and advanced modding capabilities, bringing it in line with the high standards set by modern re-imaginings of titles like DOOM and Quake. The update underscores a commitment to refining these beloved retro games for contemporary audiences.

Among the notable additions are several new features designed to enhance gameplay and accessibility. For Heretic, the original Firemace placement randomization has been reinstated, albeit with a guaranteed 100% spawn rate for added consistency. Players now have the option to disable cutscene subtitles through the Accessibility menu and can revert to the classic two-button press action for inventory item selection. Furthermore, an option has been introduced to maintain a constant flight height regardless of camera orientation, alongside the ability to disable weapon animation smoothing. Key bindings for 'look up,' 'look down,' and 'center view' have been added, and players can now use more buttons to navigate intermission text screens. The Gameplay Modifiers menu has also been made more accessible, now reachable from episode and player class selection screens.

The update also brings a host of changes, particularly for Hexen. The Bloodscourge weapon has received a damage buff, and its autoaim behavior has been refined to be more effective against large groups of enemies. Timon's Axe sees a slight increase in attack speed, while the Quietus weapon benefits from reduced mana consumption, dropping from 14 to 10 units of each mana type. Conversely, the Wraithverge's mana usage has slightly increased from 18 to 20. Significant improvements have been made to the smoothness of weapon attack animations for various Hexen weapons, including Timon's Axe, Hammer of Retribution, Mace of Contrition, Wraithverge, Sapphire Wand, and Bloodscourge. Weapon raise and lower animations also exhibit improved fluidity. Additionally, the menu ambience can now be disabled if the music soundtrack is set to 'None.'

Numerous bug fixes address long-standing issues across both titles. The automap now scrolls at a consistent speed regardless of screen resolution and zooms more rapidly with a mouse wheel. Strafe left and right keys now correctly cancel each other out, mirroring the original game's behavior. Monsters are no longer able to be pushed off ledges by player attacks, and triggers can no longer be bypassed by sliding along walls. Enemy missiles will no longer fire incorrectly downward, preventing premature explosions on windowsills. Monster melee attacks are no longer afflicted with infinite height, and multiplayer scoreboards will correctly display statistics. Issues with viewbob disabling causing weapon sprite offsets have been resolved, and locked door messages will no longer appear when activated from the reverse side. The strafe modifier key now functions correctly for mouse and controller movements, and missing accented glyphs in supported languages with the Classic typeface have been restored. Messages at the top of the screen will no longer become stuck after loading certain save games. Specific Heretic fixes include the Chaos Serpent in Faith Renewed no longer shooting fireballs over the player’s head, gauntlets no longer pushing enemies backward, and the status bar redrawing correctly after level transitions. Shadowspheres now properly penalize enemy aiming, and a black box on the Firemace sprite has been fixed. For Hexen, weapon sprite jittering for melee weapons like the Cleric Mace has been resolved, explosions no longer have infinite height, and switch sequence messages in Deathkings now print correctly.

Extensive level changes and fixes have been implemented for Heretic. Inconsistent blood floor texture behavior has been rectified, preventing damage from these areas. Discrepancies between locked door texture types have been standardized. Various maps received specific adjustments, such as E1M6 fixing overlapping monsters, E2M1 reducing Weredragons, E2M2 removing a floating stalactite, E2M5 fixing non-damaging lava, E2M7 removing unreachable enemies, E3M5 resolving gargoyles stuck on corpses, and E3M6 removing an unobtainable Quartz Flask. Softlocks in E4M2 and E5M3 have been addressed, and unobtainable secrets in E5M1 and E5M5 have been made accessible. Faith Renewed levels also received attention, fixing softlocks and unintended skips. Vestiges of Grandeur maps, including Serpent Temple and Korax's Domain, saw fixes for portal usage and softlock scenarios. The Microsoft Store version now supports the Windows virtual keyboard for text inputs, and the exclusive fullscreen option has been removed to address Game Bar overlay issues and facilitate virtual keyboard functionality. Modding changes include a warning for unavailable mod uploader with controllers, a new non-randomized Firemace actor for custom maps, and resolution of issues with wand start options and ambient sound limits. Additional flags and codepointers have been added for weapons and damage customization, enhancing modding flexibility.

This significant update for Heretic + Hexen marks a crucial step in preserving and enhancing these beloved titles for a new generation of players and long-time fans. By addressing technical issues, improving gameplay mechanics, and expanding customization options, the developers have ensured a more robust and enjoyable experience. Players are encouraged to explore the revamped content and discover the numerous quality-of-life improvements that breathe new life into these classic spell-slinging adventures.