Aquanox 2 Extreme FX and Weapon Mod file

Installation; just unzip to game directory. There are two folders. Uninstalling mod is to remove those two folders.

Aquanox 2 Extreme FX Mod

The mod is inspired by underwater (instead of air) dense conditions causing special effects lasting longer by 5x. The effects scale is increased to 2x (if counting area size, that would be 2x2 = 4x). The mod does not affect gameplay because it is only about special effects. Considering the game is old and its environment is not rich in today's standard, the mod greatly enhanced the game by amplifying weapons, bullets, impacts, and target explosions.

I believe special effect mod is needed by every game, otherwise a lot of details are simply not noticed, put another way, also wasted. The special effects are normally referring to particle effects duration and scale, impacts to the environment, weapon details.

Aquanox 2's game content can be unpacked to allow modding. Modding is mostly modifying osd definition files. Because game source code is not available, game logic cannot be changed. Modding is mostly about weapon/ship ability, particle effects.

1. First Person Shooter is all about weapons and destruction. I think the guns are small in the screen estate, so I decided to increase the gun size by 33%. In turn the gun position is adjusted to suit with size.
2. After weapon, it is the bullet. I normally follow the rule all particle time duration can be increased 5x, size increases 2x.
3. After bullet, it is the bullet impact on targets and environment. There are only two types of impacts, ground and metal. Again, all particle time duration can be increased 5x, size increases 2x, for ground, size increases 5x.
4. At last, we can come to particle effects when target is destroyed. Again, all particle time duration can be increased 5x, size increases 2x. When ship explodes under water, it first has an black implosion effect.
5. Environment effect enhancement, increase plankton number 2x, sea plant max number 10x, bubble duration 5x, size 8x, underwater trail can also be longer duration. x5. Increase Debris. When ship dies and disappears, the process time is increased 5x. Sky color is more bluish.

With the change, weapons feel much more powerful, and combat becomes much more spectacular. It is over the top. Note it does need powerful modern computer to render the special effects, demanding the similar computing power of modern games.

Aquanox 2 Weapon Mod

All ships' default max number of guns are increased from 3 to 4.

The game has three improvements needed regarding weapons. First improvement needed is that a few weapons are without secondary mode. EMPactor, Vendatta, Plasma, and Plasma Jet. Second improvement needed is there is only one sniper weapon. Third improvement needed is that gatling speed is not optimized. For example, plasma gatling's secondary mode is exactly the same as plasma jet so it is not interesting. By increasing galting speed it is cool like minigun.

The mod addresses the problems by offering two upgrade tracks, while keeping the weapon damage profiles unchanged, so that it will not affect original gameplay balance.

Secondary Weapon “Cannon” Track

Secondary mode cannon means higher damage and long reload time.

Vendatta

Secondary mode added

Double shot, reload time 4x (0.8s), damage 2x, 280 MJ,

Damage rate 280 / 0.8 = 350 MJ

Plasma

Secondary mode added

Double shot, reload time 3x (1.2s), damage 2x, 800 MJ

Damage rate 800 / 1.2 = 666 MJ

Plasma Jet

Secondary mode added

Double shot, reload time 4x (0.8s), damage 2x, 800 MJ

Damage rate 800 / 0.8 = 1000 MJ

EMPactor

EMPactor's secondary mode added as a double shot volley. The shot is not simultaneous, but consists of two rapid fires. The shot reload time is increased 2x to 0.6s.

Hitman is the only weapon now that does not have a secondary mode. It is between a cannon and sniper.

Gatling track

Plasma Gatling

Plasma gatling's secondary reload rate is changed from 0.2s to 0.12s, while shell damage is decreased accordingly to keep total damage the same.

Plasma gatling's primary reload rate is changed from 0.12 to 0.06s, while shell damage is decreased ½ to keep total damage the same.

Laser Gatling

Laser gatling's primary reload rate is changed from 0.12 to 0.06s, while shell damage is decreased 1/2 to keep total damage the same.

Stingray

Stingray's primary reload rate is changed from 0.15 to 0.075s, while shell damage is decreased 1/2 to keep total damage the same.

New Sniper weapon

Sizzler is added as a sniper weapon with secondary zoom mode, being a high damage with long reload time weapon. Reload time is increased from 0.3 to 0.5s, but velocity is increased 2x.