Hydrophobia

 Xbox 360
Hydrophobia Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 58 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 79 Ratings

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  • Summary: In the near future, a city-sized super ship, an enclave for rich people and shady businesses, is the setting for an ideological conflict began by terrorist attacks.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 58
  3. Negative: 16 out of 58
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    90
    You could always power through with some special ammunition, or grind past opponents with charged sonic blasts. But really, you'll only be cheating yourself out of all those marvelously entertaining chain-reaction killing sprees and the resulting scoring bonuses. [Nov 2010, p.72]
  2. Gaming Target
    79
    Hydrophobia features a compelling world and premise that's reminiscent of the creepy, built-up universes of BioShock and Half-Life. But, unlike those masterpieces, this seemingly unfinished XBLA game features too many narrative holes and missing gameplay elements, making it seem like there was more work to be done.
  3. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Dec 25, 2010
    70
    A unique experience that manages to offset its problems with great ideas and a superbly implemented core mechanic. [Issue#65, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. GamingExcellence
    65
    The package might be a bit overpriced, not giving nearly enough content for what you pay, but this game holds a lot of promise. As a first entry in a series of titles there is a lot to build on, setting a solid framework for the future games to expand on but there's just not enough here to easily recommend.
  5. 1UP
    58
    So, here's the thing: without the dynamic water effects, Hydrophobia is just a passable Live Arcade title. The game ends abruptly (an out-of-nowhere "To Be Continued" flashes on screen), it leaves something to be desired visually, and in some ways feels rushed; the only element raising Hydrophobia from pure mediocrity is its interesting use of water.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    Jan 2, 2011
    42
    Hydrophobia's waifish, glossed-over narrative is overshadowed by its shoddy combat and irritatingly obtuse navigation. At least the water is nice.
  7. GameCritics
    20
    Like any scientific breakthrough or new invention, Hydrophobia does represent a significant achievement in its own right. We're just going to have to wait until someone does anything worthwhile with it.

See all 58 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 36
  3. Negative: 7 out of 36
  1. bubblebobble
    Dec 16, 2010
    10
    Really enjoyed playing hydrophobia, I find the bad reviews to be a little unfair to be honest. The water really is the highlight of the game,Really enjoyed playing hydrophobia, I find the bad reviews to be a little unfair to be honest. The water really is the highlight of the game, looks fantastic. The production values are very high for an XBLA title, a lot of gameplay for not a lot of cash.… Expand
  2. GAMES2011
    Dec 31, 2010
    10
    I think the bad reviews are un-just for 800points its good - update has made a masive difference, i wasn't that keen first time round. It wasI think the bad reviews are un-just for 800points its good - update has made a masive difference, i wasn't that keen first time round. It was good but not brilliant, the changes made fix those little niggles and make it fun! Awesome game im giving 10 based on the patch.… Expand
  4. Blewburypie
    Dec 21, 2010
    10
    I thought this game was okay the first time around, if a little frustrating. However after playing the "Pure" update today I have to say theI thought this game was okay the first time around, if a little frustrating. However after playing the "Pure" update today I have to say the game is now awesome. What a brilliant update, the game plays so much more smoothly and all the brilliant and unique gameplay which was under the surface before is now bursting through. Brilliant arcade game, very unique experience!… Expand
  5. ChickGamer
    Jan 2, 2011
    9
    I first played this at Gamescom and really like it, the concept, the mechanics, everything!
    Now with the updated many things have been ironed    I first played this at Gamescom and really like it, the concept, the mechanics, everything!
    Now with the updated many things have been ironed out for a smoother experience, so we get a great game, an awesome support from developers and a price that's really low for all the game offers!

    I really hope to see a new chapter in the not too distant future!    … Expand
  6. StratRat1956
    Oct 4, 2010
    8
    Hydrophobia is a new $15 third person shooter / parkour game built on a revolutionary new water physics engine. The dynamic water physicsHydrophobia 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
  7. GiTSMunkey
    Dec 15, 2010
    8
    played Hydrophobia through twice, and i don't normally do that. I just wanted to see the water over and over, kept showing friends the water iplayed Hydrophobia through twice, and i don't normally do that. I just wanted to see the water over and over, kept showing friends the water i thought it was that good. Was a little sceptical about the hype surrounding the water stuff but playing it, i just can't believe i am playing an xbla game, no other game i have played has water like this. There were alot of times where i wanted to bite through my controller, but the checkpoints were pretty good so it wasn't so bad, but sometimes i would die and not really know why, parts of the game are very hectic with water sloshin around and stuff blowing up etc. But this was great when it was working in my favour. Hydrophobia most of all for me showed alot of courage, and i can't wait to see what they achieve with the next episode, its got a lot of potential. I would have liked more puzzley elements and maybe some bigger areas to explore, loved the swimming sections, some bits where i was crapping myself thinking i'm gna drown, and i actually held my own breath...

    Don't know when the next episode is out but i'll def be picking it up to see what else they have done with it.    … Expand
  8. NepotisticSham
    Oct 4, 2010
    0
    Where do I begin? Let me start by saying that in my 25 plus years of gaming experience, I struggle to remember playing a game that has soWhere do I begin? Let me start by saying that in my 25 plus years of gaming experience, I struggle to remember playing a game that has so woefully fallen short of its hype and promise. When announced several years ago, we were assured some kind of gameplay revolution, with the much touted HydroEngine promising to take the genre into new, unexplored, exciting territory. Interest was heightened further when it was revealed that the game would not be a boxed retail release, but rather distributed as downloadable content via Xbox Live Arcade. This, it was heralded, is the future. This will redefine peoples expectations of downloadable gaming. Well it certainly managed that. In ways more terrible than it was possible to imagine. A jewel in XBLA's crown to stand shoulder proudly along side Lara Croft and Shadow Complex. But for all the bluff and bluster, what we ended up with was a creaking, archaic throwback to a previous generation of gaming. Right from the off, it's evident that we're looking at a game that appears to have started its life a long, long time ago. After the uninspired opening nightmare sequence (that has been done better a 100 times before), we are introduced to the protagonists apartment. A bland environment, offering what is presumably meant to be a spectacular view of the city ship. But it isn't. It's as dull as it is lifeless, and it looks dated. So we are then thrust into the story via some very hackneyed dialogue and amateur looking cut scenes, with scant regard to plot, scene, or character development. And disaster happens. In a lift. You canâ… Expand

See all 36 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010