1. Buttonpop

   10

   I love this game!! The physics of the water make it so original, making every tiny movement seem that little more unique and it's so beautiful! Also, the use of water as a partial weapon make confrontations with the terrorists a lot more exciting than the generic cover and shoot!! A definite recommended game!… Expand

   • Helpful?

     2 of 2 users said yes
2. StratRat1956

   8

   Hydrophobia is a new $15 third person shooter / parkour game built on a revolutionary new water physics engine. The dynamic water physics implemented in Hydrophobia is unlike anything I have seen in any other game involving interaction with water. From the way that the buoyancy changes with water level, to the realistic flow as a large volume of water is transferred from one space to another, to the impact it has on the character and other flotsam and jetsam caught up in it to the puzzles that must be solved in order to complete the game, Hydrophobia is a fresh new entry where games so often seem to blur into one another. In Hydrophobia, you play the protagonist, Kate Wilson, who is the chief security officer on a city-sized cruise ship christened "Queen of the World". The setting is in an overpopulated world in which this ship is an escape for those fortunate or rich enough to acquire accommodations on the huge vessel. However the ship has been taken over by a terrorist sect who believes the only way toward saving the world is through depopulation - "Save the world, kill yourself" is a common phrase seen in graffiti that the group has written on walls throughout the mega-cruiser. A massive waterborne craft wit compromised is the perfect environment to display the capabilities of such a dynamic new engine. As far as the gameplay is concerned, it is decent. There are some camera issues, especially in those challenges where you need to find an exit before the room completely floods. There is a greater sense of urgency to the parkour because you will drown if you don't find that air pocket on the way to your next destination. Fortunately, Kate has some high tech device that provide a 3D map showing paths to objectives, air pockets, and which hatches are open and which ones are locked. I found the map a bit difficult to manipulate in order to obtain the optimal view. The combat system requires you to think; your only weapon is a pistol that you must charge up before it shoots compressed air which takes about 5 or 6 shots to kill someone. You need to find other means to take out your opponent, such as an exploding barrel among the flotsam, a leaking gas receiver, a live electrical cable to knock into the water, or a glass door to blow open letting a flood of water in to drown your adversary. There are challenges and awards / achievements for taking down foes using various and combined methods. There are more potent rounds available for the pistol but they are rare and usually linked to a very specific puzzle or means of escape. The voice acting is passable. The invisible and omnipotent helpmeet with who you are always in communication has a somewhat fake Scottish brogue. The protagonist is supposed to be American, but often British dialect of the voice actor sneaks in. The setting and story are good and well executed. I haven't finished Hydrophobia yet. I needed something to play until Fable III comes out later this month and this has proved to be a very enjoyable diversion and, at $15 US, this game is a great value. I am looking forward to the future of this franchise.… Expand

   • Helpful?

     3 of 3 users said yes
3. rory1978

   0

   *Game opens, presented with Ps2 grade visuals. The Bedroom setting, was uninteresting, nothing could be interacted with, objects to pick up were unclear. *Interesting populated areas where trains come and go and characters were walking around are simply hinted at in FMV sequences, and the FMV looked more fun than the games interaction. Showing Kate running up walls to access hatches and luxurious crowd scenes, none of which could be sustained 'in-game'. *Despite setting the scene albeit vaguely, and showing us a Wireframe model of the size of the Queen Of The Pond (whatever). The disastrous FMV and amateur story telling shows us a Bomb on a lift that detonates.. and the next thing the entire Boat is blown up. What could have been a major action set piece or even a little bit MORE FMV that could perhaps push to be exciting was lost. Instead, we have.. bomb on a lift. *The FMV direction what very much dominates the game is very poor, poor voice acting, poor animation, poor character models. The ‘direction’ is just confusing and struggles to keep the player informed of what’s going on or interested in what’s going on. I also found moments where background audio, the music and character audio all seems to blend into one Mono track and I couldn't hear either of them clearly. *The tightrope walking segments were poor. The camera being off kilter behind the character goes in no way to help you control her. The useless camera with apparently no basic AI doesn't help guide you or indicate jumpable areas. *Hacking segments were totally useless, a pointless mini game stolen from other games (is used in Star Trek: Online). No clear prompts to help you figure out what you're supposed to do when the wavy lines come on the screen, and no repercussion for failing the mini game. ie. zap of electric or sapping health slightly with a 'fail task' overload. *Terrible alpha texture maps which don't draw properly, and don't draw particle effect behind them. Smoke effects were dire, explosions were terrible. Filling the screen with bloom and shaking the camera doesn’t cut it. Appalling particle effects, water and clipping across the board. "Flashlight??? WHAT FLASHLIGHT. When following the prompt to press up on the D-pad to activate the Flashlight.. a halo of light appears around the character.. but with NO visible source? She's not holding a flashlight, she's not got a flashlight clipped onto her.. a light just suddenly appears... from nowhere. Unfinished!!! "I found the suggestion of 'MOUNT LADDER' ridiculous. Most games are happy just to prompt "CLIMB" or "USE". 'Mount Ladder' Really did make me chuckle" I could go on................... .. ALL IN ALL... UTTER RUBBISH... and a product to be utterly ashamed of. UNFINISHED... and a WATER LONG WAY TO GO.… Expand

   • Helpful?

     3 of 5 users said yes

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