Phantom Blade Zero’s first major update reduces the frequency of grab attacks used by Hua, the Deadly Betrothed, on Wayfarer and Pathbreaker difficulties. Other difficulty settings are unchanged. The adjustment is part of version 1.0302256, which also includes performance improvements and a range of bug fixes.
Hua is an optional early-game boss whose lunging grab can deal heavy damage. The attack is signalled by a bright red flash, but can be difficult to evade, particularly when spectral white lilies obscure part of the screen. Players must dodge the grab rather than parry or block it.
The patch adds “Hit Sound Intensity” and “Hit Impact Sound Intensity” controls to the audio settings. On PC, players can now remap the “Interact / Talk” action for both keyboard and controller. The update also improves performance in some areas, adjusts the behaviour of certain bosses and enemies, and changes some environmental mechanisms.
On PC, an updated shader compilation process is intended to reduce startup times. Ray-tracing shaders are no longer compiled by default at startup. Players who had Ray tracing disabled will need to recompile shaders once on their first launch after installing the update; those who had it enabled can start playing without that initial recompilation. Enabling ray tracing in the settings will compile the required shaders the next time the game is restarted.
Other PC changes reduce stuttering when using a Bluetooth-connected controller and make NVIDIA Reflex work when set to “Auto” with V-Sync enabled. The update also fixes issues that could block progress or leave the player character stuck, along with problems affecting cutscenes, visuals, combat and hair rendering on certain AMD graphics cards with specific driver versions.
Sources: Polygon.