Better as it went along.
Hydrophobia: Prophecy makes a horrible first impression with silly, momentum-killing cut scenes and a confusing story line. And initially, the game doesn't do a good job of making these things seem trivial as it is painfully slow to find its rhythm and groove as a thrill ride. Fortunately, underneath all the slop (wonky controls at times, confusing level design at times, awful voice acting and dialogue all the time), Hydrophobia is a pretty decent game at its core. The game play manages to emulate Gears of War, Prince of Persia, and others with moderate success. What Hydrophobia really gets right are the elemental death traps that constantly bombard your heroine as you escape a compound seized by terrorists. If you can pick it up on Steam for cheap, it's worth a try if only to experience the water effects which are nothing short of dazzling.
