Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    Hydrophobia Prophecy

    Game » consists of 4 releases. Released May 10, 2011

    Yet another Hydrophobia re-release. Hydrophobia Prophecy is a Steam and PSN “comprehensive reinvention” release of the original Xbox Live Arcade game. As such, Prophecy features new levels, new puzzles, a re-tooled narrative, and even several technical enhancements like better lighting, textures, and animations.

    Why Dark Energy Digital Won't Just Give Up on Hydrophobia

    • 155 results
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    Avatar image for datarez
    datarez

    875

    Forum Posts

    2873

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 6

    #51  Edited By datarez

    Really interesting.  I'm glad they're continuing to work on the game. I don't have it yet, but if I find out that these changes are rolled into the xbla version I might pick it up. 
     
    Thanks for doing a story about an older game. There's so many games that get skipped or just get missed due to bad release date or whatever. More often I've become a gamer that starts picking up games after the price drop since it happens so quickly now. But by the time I'm playing them, just a couple months later, the communities have moved on.

    Avatar image for winsord
    winsord

    1642

    Forum Posts

    86

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 13

    #52  Edited By winsord

    I'm glad to see they're continuing to work on this title, but it's not really a problem or the controls or the graphics that makes me uninterested in this game. Personally, it's simply that I don't find it to be a very interesting concept, so no matter how much it's upgraded, I probably won't play it. :/

    Avatar image for twinblade
    Twinblade

    72

    Forum Posts

    1

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #53  Edited By Twinblade

    where is this update for 360? i was one of the few who bought the original, and now they're just dumping us on the side of the road.

    Avatar image for cerogravian
    Cerogravian

    382

    Forum Posts

    4179

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 8

    #54  Edited By Cerogravian

    It's good too see this kind of dedication, but I fear that they will unfortunately suffer from it...

    Avatar image for fancysoapsman
    FancySoapsMan

    5984

    Forum Posts

    2

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 13

    #55  Edited By FancySoapsMan

    It's nice to see they care so much about one project.

    Avatar image for deactivated-57beb9d651361
    deactivated-57beb9d651361

    4541

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    Articles like these are the reason why Patrick was such a great addition. 
     
    Besides that, it serves to put the spotlight on specific titles. I may very well pick up Hydrophobia now; it's only 7 quid on Steam.

    Avatar image for johndudebro
    JohnDudebro

    956

    Forum Posts

    3908

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #57  Edited By JohnDudebro

    I would rather they put all this effort into making a new game instead of trying to salvage this one.

    Avatar image for xyzygy
    xyzygy

    10595

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #58  Edited By xyzygy

    God this sound like such a waste of time. Do they think people will have the time to play through their games over and over to try to help them make it better? Isn't that what a good QA team does? Why are they making paying customers do the work they should be doing? 
     
    Not only that, the game is VERY meh and really they should just move on. Does not make any sense why they're holed up with this game. We get it, nice water tech. Now use that tech in a DIFFERENT game.

    Avatar image for boringk
    BoringK

    405

    Forum Posts

    497

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 27

    #59  Edited By BoringK

    Every time they do this, I feel like more and more of a clown and a guinea pig for having paid $15 for the game when it first came out because I was genuinely interested in it. It's like I paid to be a tester.

    Avatar image for zitosilva
    zitosilva

    1897

    Forum Posts

    805

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 3

    #60  Edited By zitosilva

    It's interesting that they're so commited in trying to improve the game, but it's too late for me. I played through the original 360 release, and that was as much Hydrophobia as I'd like to have in a lifetime. Maybe if they end up making the trilogy and change a lot of things in the sequels they'll have me back. But this first one, no thanks.

    Avatar image for daviddoel
    daviddoel

    32

    Forum Posts

    2

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #61  Edited By daviddoel

    Great story and that's some forward thinking on the part of the developers. Seems like a natural progression for a segment of this industry.

    Avatar image for lordandrew
    LordAndrew

    14609

    Forum Posts

    98305

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 36

    #62  Edited By LordAndrew
    @Jaxley said:
    I'm sure I read last year that Hydrophobia was going to be a series of episodic releases. So the first one has come out three times now, technically. Are they actually still planning on the next chapters?
    I'm sure they want to get Hydrophobia right before continuing. If they released the second game and the only Hydrophobia that existed before that was the original... Few people would really be interested in that. By improving Hydrophobia first, Dark Energy Digital gets better at it and shows potential players that a second Hydrophobia could actually be good.
    Avatar image for magikgimp
    MagikGimp

    792

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #63  Edited By MagikGimp

    Seems like some people think we have too much time on our hands. Oh wait, we do.

    Avatar image for kollay
    kollay

    2170

    Forum Posts

    49

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #64  Edited By kollay

    Makes me want to just get this because of how much faith these dudes put on their work.

    Avatar image for kyrieee
    kyrieee

    401

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #65  Edited By kyrieee
    @Blood_for_the_blood_God
    I'm not, but I actually meant single player games, I should've been more clear.
    It's just weird to me to change so much in game that's usually made to be played through once. I don't want books to be rewritten either.
    Avatar image for bhhawks78
    bhhawks78

    1348

    Forum Posts

    18

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #66  Edited By bhhawks78

    Patrick, after the way the dev team for this game reacted to negative reviews (destructoid most famously)  I'm disappointed you are giving them any sort of voice.  They are a giant group of children and can't wait until they go out of business.

    Avatar image for donpixel
    DonPixel

    2867

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #67  Edited By DonPixel

    OK.. still not interested, perhaps coming with a new better idea was to hard..

    Avatar image for ahab88
    ahab88

    273

    Forum Posts

    50

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 5

    #68  Edited By ahab88

    I enjoyed Hydrophobia, but it certainly had it's flaws. The water tech was great and maybe they can license that as middleware.

    Avatar image for artie
    Artie

    869

    Forum Posts

    16698

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 10

    User Lists: 17

    #69  Edited By Artie

    I love what Klepek brings to news writing for GB. Original stories that involve interviewing developers for things other than PR. Gives an interesting look at the industry.

    Avatar image for vhold
    vhold

    577

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #70  Edited By vhold

    My guess is that they can't get an investor for another big game, so they're trying to milk this one to raise enough money to finance one themselves.  I think this game could use a quick look.

    Avatar image for kalmis
    kalmis

    1745

    Forum Posts

    6127

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 115

    User Lists: 6

    #71  Edited By kalmis

    Bought this while back on a sale and will play it, one day

    Avatar image for thiz
    thiz

    4

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #72  Edited By thiz

    Hydrophobia: Prophecy is avery good game. I havent played the first two versions of the game, but just knowing the new Hydrophobia made me like the game a lot. Bashing the developers for that would be very stupid, i dont get it. People just seem to love hating. Get mature please and accept that there is more then just black and white.

    Avatar image for goldanas
    Goldanas

    568

    Forum Posts

    8

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #73  Edited By Goldanas

    I was interested in the game when they first showed trailers of it. When it finally released and that Quick Look showed up, I was disappointed with how ugly and clunky it looked and how bad the voice acting was.
     
    I heard about the first update improving lots of things and I say, "that's cool".
     
    Then they announce the PC version with a staggering amount of new updates addressing every one of my initial quibbles including the voice acting. They hired a new voice actor to replace the shitty one who speaks to you throughout the course of the game.
     
    It was ten dollars and I bought it.
     
    It looked pretty incredible and ran well enough, but there were some performance issues that slowed down my system somewhat.
     
    The next day, a patch resolves this, and it runs at a solid 60fps. The water physics are incredible. The controls in water and out feel very smooth and peppy. While the climbing moments aren't as swift, I have no difficulty getting to where I'm going. The shooting (which I heard the worst about) feels great, impactful, and I take a lot of pleasure in the different ammo types and the environmental hazards and the points system they use to encourage you.
     
    Plus there are exploration items and loads of little hidden things.
     
    I never played this game initially, but when I played it on the PC after that second patch, I played through the entire thing in one sitting. It was excellent and just what I wanted. I enjoyed the surprise new ability of the manipulation of water at the end and wish there was more of that.
     
    A lot of people are clamoring for a sequel instead of the updates. It's because of the updates that I want a sequel.

    Avatar image for kyle
    Kyle

    2383

    Forum Posts

    6307

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 12

    #74  Edited By Kyle

    I have to admit- they got me. I will now buy this game out of sheer curiosity after all these updates. I have never seen a developer so dedicated to improving a game that was initially received less than favorably. I kind of feel like I should reward the effort, if nothing else... It's totally unusual.

    Avatar image for kyle
    Kyle

    2383

    Forum Posts

    6307

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 12

    #75  Edited By Kyle
    @Twinblade said:
    where is this update for 360? i was one of the few who bought the original, and now they're just dumping us on the side of the road.
    If I had to guess, some stuff they did to the PC version was more than could be done with a simple update, and XBLA release slots aren't so easily attained. Though they did put out a number of updates for the 360 version.
    Avatar image for twolines
    TwoLines

    3406

    Forum Posts

    319

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #76  Edited By TwoLines

    We changed this game like... 5 times, and people STILL don't like it! 
    Please, tell us what are we doing wrong! Clearly, we have NO idea how to make a game. 
    Can you help us? Please, oh god, PLEASE help us!

    Avatar image for deactivated-57b1d7d14d4a5
    deactivated-57b1d7d14d4a5

    2945

    Forum Posts

    950

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 3

    Give up on Dark Energy giving up?

    Avatar image for brackynews
    Brackynews

    4385

    Forum Posts

    27681

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 48

    #79  Edited By Brackynews

    They were certainly dickish about it at first release, but I don't dislike them for that, I simply lost all interest in their product because they can't decide what their product is. It's a terrible pun, but their water game is wishy-washy.
     
    If they really want to impress me, release it as a toolset and see what the community can come up with for a top-tier fluid dynamics engine. "You got LittleBigPlanet in my Shadow Complex in my SpeedTree..." That could be pretty damn cool.
     

    If you play a game on Facebook you can bet your behaviour and profile information is being used to improve the game and help the developer make better games in the future--why on earth would we not do the same?

    Possibly the worst comparison Hewson could have made, but I see why he made it. DarkNet seems like a good idea. Perhaps this will spark a new trend of developers hanging on to development staff to make an interactive medium that much more interactive. It smacks of an MMO in a "please don't pull a Galaxies" kind of way, but if you can design the levels to encourage replayability, maybe it's something players can stay hooked on. 
    (line, sinker, etc. ;P )
    Avatar image for galacticpunt
    GalacticPunt

    1512

    Forum Posts

    4

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #80  Edited By GalacticPunt

    Wow, great article / interview.  This may well be the best text piece ever posted on Giant Bomb since its inception.  This is a really thoughtful piece on how game development likely going to evolve.  Whatever they're paying Patrick, it can't be enough!
     
    (Try that at your next negotiation:  "Some anonymous dude on the internet said I need a raise.")

    Avatar image for gbrading
    gbrading

    3317

    Forum Posts

    10581

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 34

    User Lists: 5

    #81  Edited By gbrading

    It's pretty amazing they are that committed to making their game better that they would almost rebuild it from the ground up.

    Avatar image for lowestformofwit
    lowestformofwit

    343

    Forum Posts

    128

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 3

    #82  Edited By lowestformofwit

    They need to sort out the voice acting.  Scoot (or scotty or whatever you call him) has a put on Scottish accent which just plain insults us Scots.
     
    They also need to release the next game as the first ended very abruptly.  I'm sure the majority of people who were going to buy it have got it by now.

    Avatar image for kibblez
    Kibblez

    774

    Forum Posts

    119

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 6

    User Lists: 1

    #83  Edited By Kibblez

    I think this is an incredibly dumb idea on the dev's part to try and justify some social interaction with their "fans" (wherever they are). I'm fine with pre-release betas and the like, because that makes sense given the fact the games aren't out for public consumption at that point. But this just seems like them being lazy and having a way too hard time moving on. Just leave the game alone for goodness' sake, move on and make something new that isn't as screwed up. The fact that anyone who doesn't work for the developer or publisher can sit there basically TESTING their game WAY after its initial release is beyond a joke to me. 
     
    There's commitment and then there's obsession. Someone working up top at this dev needs to just lay down the law and make everybody move the fuck on.

    Avatar image for cornbredx
    cornbredx

    7484

    Forum Posts

    2699

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 15

    #84  Edited By cornbredx

    All I got from this was "we're incredibly inept at game making and cant make a new game until we get enough people to keep buying this one."
     
    Whatever few fans they have they're leeching until they have all their money (because the fans will support you). I really am not liking this developer more and more. They still haven't even apologized for their rude behaviour towards critics.
     
    Whatever, that's old news I know. I don't trust this developer though. They aren't being special in their design philosophy- they're trying to recoup development costs on a game no one wants because the developers are dicks.

    Avatar image for kchark
    kchark

    5

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #85  Edited By kchark

    I think Hydrophobia is a decent game with a very interesting world and overall story. I hope that they eventually add more of that story to the game after they get everything working the way they want.

    Avatar image for vinsanityv22
    vinsanityv22

    1066

    Forum Posts

    6

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #86  Edited By vinsanityv22

    I actually think that it's neat they're fixing so much and listening to feedback. I wish Silicon Knights would've done this to Too Human. I mean, it's often better to just take your lessons learned and move onto the next project - that is true. However, for a small developer like this, they probably aren't guaranteed to make a few more games at this point, and they have to turn this into something successful. Either commercially or in terms of their reputation, at least - ideally both. Besides, it's still a pretty original take on things, so it's worth revisiting and refining in my book.
     
    If this were out on PS3, and the PSN were working, I'd download it in a heartbeat. Especially with the chance to give the studio some feedback (something that would, no doubt, make for some interesting sequels). But I guess I'll have to give it a shot on PC instead.

    Avatar image for redrocketwestie
    RedRocketWestie

    381

    Forum Posts

    69

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 4

    #87  Edited By RedRocketWestie

    It's all just a gesture to get people who never tried the game to pick it up. What better way to prove to the cynical gamers that you're serious about improving your product than to put realtime feedback into the game? Those people had made up their minds about Hydrophobia from the reviews alone, and they're probably very unlikely to buy a sequel. Hell, people who BOUGHT it might be unlikely to buy a sequel, so if they're planning on doing one, they need to buy back some good will with the community. 
     
    I also strongly disagree with the idea that "everyone who was going to get this game already has it." Some have already said they're intrigued by the passion and commitment they're demonstrating. I'll admit, I'm curious as well. It's more of a marketing ploy than anything else, but it's a good marketing ploy that you don't see much. "We're not giving up on this game -- we're committed to making it good" tells me that they care how people see them. Maybe it's impossible to undo the damage of the early reviews and developer backlash, but if they don't even make an effort, they'll be dead in the water (pun intended) on their next release, even if it's not a sequel. 
     
    The Facebook comparison is just bizarre, though. The common thread between games that continually evolve is that they also don't end. MMOs and Facebook games aren't linear story progressions that follow a plot arc. They're grinds. And personally, I don't like the idea of taking myself out of the game every 5 minutes to provide feedback, even if it IS a grind. 

    Avatar image for mynameisjoe
    MyNameIsJoe

    187

    Forum Posts

    11

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #88  Edited By MyNameIsJoe

    I'd be interested in seeing Jeff and Ryan do another QL at this point.

    Avatar image for talideon
    talideon

    50

    Forum Posts

    174

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #89  Edited By talideon
    @pow1149 said:
    Now, if we could just have a few of the prophecy improvements filtered into the 360 version... than I'd be a happy guy.
    Specifically, the second half of the game...
    Avatar image for bluefroman
    bluefroman

    74

    Forum Posts

    227

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #90  Edited By bluefroman

    Dedication to your product and obsession are two different things.   This qualifies as the latter. 

    Avatar image for jackel2072
    Jackel2072

    2510

    Forum Posts

    370

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 11

    #91  Edited By Jackel2072

    I have a theory why this game wont die. If this was any other development studio, they would have closed there doors after the game solid poorly. But now we have 3 release of this game? someone at that studio has a lot of money and can carelessly throw it around. Also its better to give up on an IP if it fails hard, maybe try again with a sequel, yes. but not the same game. its already left a bad taste in peoples mouth. 

    Avatar image for nosnitsttam
    nosnitsttam

    57

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 2

    #92  Edited By nosnitsttam

    totally sold on this game now. no other company has shown this much devotion. last time this much love was given to a game by devs was the witcher enhanced edition 

    Avatar image for robertorri
    RobertOrri

    1207

    Forum Posts

    433

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #93  Edited By RobertOrri

    One year from now, this studio will be closing.

    Avatar image for darkjester74
    darkjester74

    1743

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #94  Edited By darkjester74
    @BlueFroman said:
    Dedication to your product and obsession are two different things.   This qualifies as the latter. 
    Agreed.  I also dont understand the comments about this game being very polarizing.  My impression was.....it's fine.  A run of the mill third person action game with some slightly different mechanics.  Certainly nothing earth shattering, but not offensively bad either.
    Avatar image for salad10203
    salad10203

    684

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #95  Edited By salad10203

    I bought it on Steam and I thought the whole game was great, just short.

    Avatar image for romination
    Romination

    2930

    Forum Posts

    14226

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 1

    #96  Edited By Romination

    I'm actually enjoying seeing them obsessed with making this game good. They worked on it for a long time and it seems like they want to actually make good on it. Besides, what they learn here could inform their next product, which might actually be good the first time out.

    Avatar image for lordandrew
    LordAndrew

    14609

    Forum Posts

    98305

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 36

    #97  Edited By LordAndrew
    @TwoLines said:
    We changed this game like... 5 times, and people STILL don't like it! Please, tell us what are we doing wrong! Clearly, we have NO idea how to make a game. Can you help us? Please, oh god, PLEASE help us!
    Generally, the people who still don't like it are the people who haven't given it another chance. Many of them haven't even given it a first chance. Of the three versions of this game, which have you given chances?
    Avatar image for soviut
    Soviut

    168

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #98  Edited By Soviut

    Simply awesome tooling on their part.  They should take a hiatus from game development and just become a tool development studio.

    Avatar image for spiritof
    Spiritof

    2471

    Forum Posts

    28754

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 25

    User Lists: 27

    #99  Edited By Spiritof

    I wish that more game companies would charge me to do their play testing for them.

    Avatar image for xpgamer7
    xpgamer7

    2488

    Forum Posts

    148

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 12

    User Lists: 5

    #100  Edited By xpgamer7

    I understand they want the game they put so much into to be perfect, but doing this only allows people who are already playing to comment on it  and at this point alll the people playing really love the game for what it is. This will improve it but it's tedious and as I said before the only people who will put the time in are those who love it and are still playing.

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.