Hydrophobia Prophecy gets first screens, coming to Steam
I’ve decided that I’ve been about as cruel to Hydrophobia as I should be, and the time has come to give Hydrophobia Prophecy, the self-styled “comprehensive reinvention”, the benefit of the doubt.
Despite originally being unable to take criticism, it seems the studio’s U-turn is quite sincere and Dark Energy Digital is serious about releasing a good game. The team has released a three-page Word document detailing improvements, which include character remodels, deeper narrative, an enhanced engine, rebalanced combat and more.
Prophecy will be coming to Steam as well as PlayStation Network, with the XBLA version uncertain. So that’s fun!
Check below for the full list of improvements.
Graphics
Enhanced Graphics Engine
- Enhanced environmental lighting throughout the game
- High resolution textures
- Updated video texture work
- Hugely improved particle systems throughout the game
- Depth of field effects implemented
- MLAA anti-aliasing
- Improved lighting and shadowing solutions
HydroEngine Enhancements
HydroEngine Graphical Improvements
- Enhanced character DripMapping technology
- Improved reflection and refraction mapping
- Enhancement underwater visual effects
- Underwater depth of field effect
- Enhanced particle system and improved performance
- New high resolution RippleMap simulation responds to characters and objects
Improved Movement and Animations
- Jump distance more accurate relative to movement speed
- Added stationary jump
- Speed of movement through vents increased and animations improved
- Speed of movement with MAVI increased
- Various animations refined to provide better feedback
Narrative and Backstory
Character and dialogue
- Scoot character remodelled
- Scoot character recast, now played by Oliver Vaquer (GTA: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors, Law & Order)
- Characterisation improved with remastered voice acting and additional scenes
- Mila characters role has been enhanced with compelling new scenes
Storyline enhanced and completed
- Dramatic new plot points shed light on the back story and the Prophecy of Malthus
- New in game video communications enhance the narrative without disrupting gameplay
- Compelling new cutscenes and dramatic twists
- New mechanics designed around the deeper narrative
- Hydro Kinetic powers brought into the main story
- Dramatic new ending completes the story arc
Wading and Swimming
Character Interaction with water
- Reworked Kate’s bracing animation and responsiveness
- Eliminated undesirable situations where the character was swept out of player control
- Increased speed of recovery after being wiped out by water
- Removed invasive reactionary animations after being wiped out by water
Art Direction
Major Environmental Overhaul
- Improved environmental lighting
- Re-designed locations add variety and drama
- Spectacular new environments introduced
- Reworked environmental assets
Audio
Music and SFX
- New and improved music tracks
- Re-mastered audio and improved sound design
- New SFX added to various feedback systems
Puzzles
Puzzle Improvements and Additions
- Improved lock-on effect for electric cable puzzles
- Added mini-puzzles to existing areas
- Exclusive new environments introduce new physics based puzzles
- Ability to manipulate floating objects to solve bouyancy based puzzles
- New narrative based challenges
Combat and Cover Systems
Enhanced Combat System
- Individual bone based enemy lock on feature (depending on difficult setting)
- Improved aim assist functionality
- Dynamic aim reticule adapts to different ammo types and combat behaviour
- Destructable object system reworked for greater feedback and effectiveness
- Ammo distribution refinements
- Greater variety of ammo earlier in the game
- AI enhancements and performance improvements
- Instant ammo collection features eliminates unneccessary button presses
- Rebalanced Sonic Rounds for more effective combat
- Reload times reduced for better combat flow
Cover System Enhancements
- Blind fire functionality added
- Turn corners while in cover and engage in flanking maneuvours
- Cover animation improvements
- More responsive and smooth cover transitions
All new Floating Cover system
- Grab bouyant object to use as dynamic cover in water
- Use floating cover on the surface or during underwater combat
- New Climbing Combat system
- Ability to shoot and engage in combat while climbing or hanging
Levels and Game Balance
Level Design Improvements
- Enhanced and redesigned levels
- Exclusive new levels to explore throughout the game
- All new mechanics, puzzles and combat added
- Dramatic new end sequence using Hydro Kinetic abilities
- Decrypting doors sequence shortened
- Tutorial added for hack mini game
- Improved feedback, waypoint design and tutorials
- Better checkpoint design
- Improved difficulty setting design
- Rationalised waypoint system choice allows players to set their preference for how much hand holding they want independently of difficulty setting
Darknet
Contextual Dev Feedback System
- Bring up Dev Feedback from the pause menu at any time to comment on your experience
- Your feedback is uploaded to Dark Energy augmented with contextual information about the gamestate
- Dark Energy will continue to act upon gathered data from the playing community
GUI and Front End
Menus reworked
- Front end menus re-designed
- In game menus re-designed
Value
- Pre-purchase the Steam version for just $10.19 / £7.64 (including 15% pre-purchase discount
- New locations, mechanics and narrative elements extend the lifespan of the main game massively
