Hydrophobia Prophecy - Discussion Thread

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Ethan_Hunt

Ethan_Hunt

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Yes. A lot of people haven't heard of this title, WHY? Because it was only on MS's shiny console for close to 8 months now. So it appears that the developers of the game, Dark Energy Digital, are going to finally release it's "enhanced" version for PC (via Steam) and PS3 (via PSN). Initially, when Hydrophobia was announced and demo'd, it managed to grab a lot of attention. After the game released, it got trashed by reviewers. Developers reworked the game to iron out the negative aspects and released a title update called 'Hydrophobia Pure'. Don't ask me how that went, as I didn't follow the games development and progress.

Any-hoo, here we are with the Hydrophobia Prophecy which is said to be (in Wiki's words) version 1.5 of the Xbox 360 version of the game. More details:

Xbox Live Arcade survival adventure game Hydrophobia won't be simply ported to the PS3 and PC. Instead, developers Dark Energy Digital are going to release an enhanced version of the game, dubbed Hydrophobia Prophecy.

"We could’ve just ported Hydrophobia Pure over to Steam and PSN after the positive response it received, but we decided to go much further," said Dark Energy Digital's Pete Jones. "The community really blew us away with the incredible response to Hydrophobia Pure and the outstanding level of feedback on the listening post, so we wanted to return the favour and ensure we created a bigger and better experience in every possible respect with Hydrophobia Prophecy for Steam and PSN."

Prophecy features updated graphics, new gameplay mechanics and exclusive levels. To make the game a more cinematic experience, Dark Energy has also tweaked the backstory, recast the voice acting and added a new ending. A new in-game feedback system called Darknet will let gamers give their opinions while playing Prophecy. This information will be then sent along to the devs.

Hydrophobia Prophecy will debut on Steam on May 9th. It can be pre-purchased at a 15% discount for $10.19 / £7.64. The PSN version is currently undated.
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Source: Hydrophobia Prophecy Coming To PC And PS3

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Nope. It's their own game engine called 'Hydro Engine'. A detailed list of the game's features:

Feature Summary

Enhanced Graphics Engine

* Enhanced environmental lighting throughout the game

* High resolution textures

* Updated video texture work

* Hugely improved particle systems throughout the game

* Depth of field effects implemented

* MLAA anti-aliasing

* Improved lighting and shadowing solutions

HydroEngine Enhancements

* Enhanced character DripMapping technology

* Improved reflection and refraction mapping

* Enhancement underwater visual effects

* Underwater depth of field effect

* Enhanced particle system and improved performance

* New high resolution RippleMap simulation responds to characters and objects

Improved Movement and Animations

* Jump distance more accurate relative to movement speed

* Added stationary jump

* Speed of movement through vents increased and animations improved

* Speed of movement with MAVI increased

* Various animations refined to provide better feedback

Character and dialogue

* Scoot character remodelled and reworked

* Scoot character recast, now played by Oliver Vaquer (GTA: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors, Law & Order)

* Characterisation improved with remastered voice acting and additional scenes

* Mila characters role has been enhanced with compelling new scenes

* New Morton character fleshes out the backstory

Narrative and Backstory

* Dramatic new plot points shed light on the back story and the Prophecy of Malthus

* New in game video communications enhance the narrative without disrupting gameplay

* Compelling new cutscenes and dramatic twists

* New mechanics designed around the deeper narrative

* Hydro Kinetic 'water powers' powers brought into the main story

* Dramatic new ending completes the story arc

Wading and Swimming

* Reworked Kate's bracing animation and responsiveness

* Eliminated undesirable situations where the character was swept out of player control

* Increased speed of recovery after being wiped out by water

* Removed invasive reactionary animations after being wiped out by water

Art Direction

* Improved environmental lighting

* Re-designed locations add variety and drama

* Spectacular new environments introduced

* Reworked environmental assets

Music and SFX

* New and improved music tracks

* Re-mastered audio and improved sound design

* New SFX added to various feedback systems

Puzzle Improvements and Additions

* Improved lock-on effect for electric cable puzzles

* Added mini-puzzles to existing areas

* Exclusive new environments introduce new physics based puzzles

* Ability to manipulate floating objects to solve bouyancy based puzzles

* New narrative based challenges

Enhanced Combat System

* Individual bone based enemy lock on feature (depending on difficult setting)

* Improved aim assist functionality

* Dynamic aim reticule adapts to different ammo types and combat behaviour

* Destructable object system reworked for greater feedback and effectiveness

* Ammo distribution refinements

* Greater variety of ammo earlier in the game

* AI enhancements and performance improvements

* Instant ammo collection features eliminates unneccessary button presses

* Rebalanced Sonic Rounds for more effective combat

* Reload times reduced for better combat flow

Cover System Enhancements

* Blind fire functionality added

* Turn corners while in cover and engage in flanking maneuvours

* Cover animation improvements

* More responsive and smooth cover transitions

All new Floating Cover system

* Grab bouyant object to use as dynamic cover in water

* Use floating cover on the surface or during underwater combat

New Climbing Combat system

* Ability to shoot and engage in combat while climbing or hanging

Level and Gameplay Design Improvements

* Enhanced and redesigned levels

* Exclusive new levels to explore throughout the game

* All new mechanics, puzzles and combat added

* Dramatic new end sequence using Hydro Kinetic abilities

* Decrypting doors sequence shortened

* Tutorial added for hack mini game

* Improved feedback, waypoint design and tutorials

* Better checkpoint design

* Improved difficulty setting design

* Rationalised waypoint system choice allows players to set their preference for how much hand holding they want independently of difficulty setting

Darknet

* Bring up Dev Feedback from the pause menu at any time to comment on your experience

* Your feedback is uploaded to Dark Energy augmented with contextual information about the gamestate

* Dark Energy will continue to act upon gathered data from the playing community

Menus reworked

* Front end menus re-designed

* In game menus re-designed

Value

* Pre-purchase on Steam for just $10.19 / £7.64 (including 15% pre-purchase discount)

* New locations, mechanics and narrative elements massively extend the lifespan of the main game
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Was following this when it released on the 360, the initial reviews were very lukewarm.

BTW, dont know why they named it rabies!!?? Hydrophobia means Rabies. :P
 
Oh yeah! :P

I assumed it was fear of water, then I looked it up and found, fear of water is actually called Aqua-phobia. :P
 
Although Hydrophobia refers to Rabies, it also means fear of water. Actual term for fear of water is aquaphobia, but hydrophobia is also correct.

Another fact is, a person suffering from rabies has symptoms of hydrophobia(or aquaphobia). ;)
 
So water + Rabies + fear = Hydrophobia? This shit is confusing. :S

Anyway, let's hope the PC version is optimized.
 
viralbug said:
Although Hydrophobia refers to Rabies, it also means fear of water. Actual term for fear of water is aquaphobia, but hydrophobia is also correct.
Another fact is, a person suffering from rabies has symptoms of hydrophobia(or aquaphobia). ;)
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good to know that.. Thanks!
 
Completed the game sometime back and it felt like a decent TP. There was absolutely no element of the so called 'survival horror' within the game. The sounds and OSTs, video sequences, NPCs everything were just plain normal. I am not sure if a lot of water alone could add to the scare factor within the game. There's plenty of water everywhere and a vast majority of the time is spent in the water, solving puzzles, opening doors, shooting bulkheads (leading to more water!), opening/closing valves etc.

In a nutshell - the protagonist is a girl Kate Wilson, who is a systems engineer onboard a luxury ocean-going vessel and the vessel is taken over by some terrorists known as Malthusians. Their intention is to reduce the population explosion by exterminating whatever remaining humans. The protagonist is able to hack into certain networks with a tool. Later she confronts a machine and takes it down.

The game wouldn't consume a lot of time for completion either. There are 3 acts and the second one takes most of the time. The graphics was decent and the dynamic water effects certainly is worth a mention here. The storyline was just okay'ish. Cover system and combat was BS.

Would rate the game a 7 on 10. Worth a playthrough. Passable otherwise.
 
Completed the game and it turned out to be pretty bland experience. Clunky controls made it that much worse. Nothing in this game was even commendable, except the water effects may be, but overall it was completely underwhelming.
 
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