Hydrophobia (XBLA)

Now this is what I call a quality Xbox Live Arcade game! It feels more like an action-adventure game from the PC gaming world than it does an Xbox360 game, think more half-life or system shock and that is what Hydrophobia is kind of like!

The graphics in this game are very futuristic and dark overall, but there is huge attention to detail around every corner. The only problem from an aesthetic point of view is that you don't have very much time to stop and admire these nice graphics because the game-play is fast and at times nerve racking.

This is an experience for older gamers because there is adult humour, scenes of terror and a plot which is far too complicated for the younger players.

The game begins with the main character Kate Wilson, in her apartment talking to her co-worker Scot (nickname Scoot) who is responsible for her within the complex which this game is set. You immediately feel as though these two characters are very good friends that share a strong working relationship, and quite possibly a good out-of-work friendship too.

Kate is a young security engineer who lives and works in a futuristic city complex, which is located on a massive sea vessel known as "The queen of the world". It is the 21st century and it seems as if science has accelerated the growth of mankind to the point where food can be easily generated, using sophisticated nano and engine driven technologies.

Now I'm pretty sure all this water wasn't here before!


Shortly after being introduced to the main characters, the danger sets in as Kate's connection to the computer network becomes severed. She goes out to investigate, ignoring Scoot's advice to take the night off from work. While she is using a lift to access a maintenance area, the camera shifts to the lift shaft where there is a foreign object. Seconds later this object turns out to be a bomb, which explodes, causing the lift to fall several decks deep. She escapes the lift unhurt and proceeds to a control area, where Scoot advises her there is an access panel.

Here is where things begin to get hectic, she approaches a system operator to ask about fixing the network but quickly realises that the system operator is dead. Nothing makes sense yet and Scoot advises her on what to do, she follows this advice and just as things seem to be working out, there are more explosions which prevent her from accessing the controls. Kate must find another route and this involves jumping and shimmying along nearby structures.

The tea kettle was swept away, so I had to improvise!


Upon completing these tricky tasks, Kate and Scoot quickly realise that the city is being overtaken by a terrorist group known as the Malthusian. The city begins to breach from the explosions and flames engulf the upper decks, water fills the lower corridors and the network is forced into a panic mode, which strips her of the security access she needs to escape.

From here, Scoot guides her to where she needs to go, using a radio communications link in another sector. Being the chief of systems engineering, he has access to camera feeds and can help her overcome some of the obstacles along the way. It's upto the player now, to do the right things at the right time, to move forward successfully without getting hurt or dying.

I wish it would stop raining, I already showered today!


This game is great because I think each person that plays it, will play it slightly different than the next. An example of this is when I was hiding behind a wall, waiting for the enemy to walk within shooting distance... I had the option of blasting him to death with my stun gun, shooting the explosive barrel next to him or electrocuting him with a nearby power box. The thing is I chose the power box but misfired and shattered a glass door, which released water on top of his head, drowning him and leaving my jaw open wide in total disbelief.

Water plays a big part in this game, as you would imagine with the title of the game being hydrophobia (from the Greek term meaning water-fear). The game engine simulates water in a very intelligent way, with each wave affecting another, there is a certain uniqueness to the way in which the water flows. When using the MAVI tool, you can clearly see the ripples in the water and exactly how each one is moving. Evidently the water effects were a big part of the game's development and it is nice to see a game developer focusing on something which nearly every game company has overlooked since next gen gaming was first introduced.

I really like this game, not only because of the enhanced effects and the hacking elements, but because its not trying to be something its not. It is posing as an average game but clearly it is way above average and should be considered much more worthy than some of the Xbox Live Arcade titles out there, to me it seems more like a full version Xbox360 game and while it lacks hype and continuous replay value, it has what many of the modern games do not... depth.

Take this ya nasty water! pow, pow, pow, pow, owned!


I have observed criticism from popular gaming magazines and web sites, which seem to slate this game, with comments like the graphics are outdated or the backtracking gets old fast... well duh! do you want the game to hand itself to you on a plate or do you want it to make you work for the goal? Back when games weren't all about graphics there was a little thing called luck, which required the player to time their moves correctly in order to succeed. This game honours that very method of play and you will find that if you take your time to observe and experiment, then you will be rewarded with random laughs and the satisfaction of knowing your plan worked as you had intended. With patience, comes strategy and victory!

one funny thing I noticed while "backtracking" to an area I unlocked was the indirect suicide of a Malthusian, he had stumbled a little too close to a gas pipe that I had fractured on my way through and ultimately barbecued himself, had I not accessed the camera feed when I did, I probably would have missed this dumb moment! I really wish this could've been captured on the video because it proves my point about luck and patience.

please watch the youtube video below to see some of the things you can do in this game!



To buy this game, please click on the XBLA image below and purchase it online right now!