Hydrophobia Prophecy is described as version 1.5 of the game that began life on the Xbox 360 last year.

It also follows the December 2010 release of Hydrophobia Pure on Xbox Live Arcade.

The game includes new levels – around 70 per cent of the game is new - and existing levels have been reworked.

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The PlayStation Network version, which launches shortly after the Steam version, supports the Move controller, and will be similarly priced.

Here, the navigation controller controls player movement, and the Move controller is used to control the camera and aiming.

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Graphics

* 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

* 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
* 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

* 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

* 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

* Improved environmental lighting
* Re-designed locations add variety and drama
* Spectacular new environments introduced
* Reworked environmental assets

Audio

* New and improved music tracks
* Re-mastered audio and improved sound design
* New SFX added to various feedback systems

Puzzles

* 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

* 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
* 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

* 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

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acidspunk said:

Don´t be fooled by the laundry list guys. The latest update for the 360 version had a similar huge list of improvements but they couldn´t fix the crappy gameplay.

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PumpkinPie said:

LOL still no changed voiceovers? I actually complained about it on their Facebook page and the director sent me a reply stating that it would have cost too much money to sort them out, but why didn't they good good actors in the first place? I real scotsman costs no more to hire than a fake one.

Apart from that I really liked the game, I don't mean to give the wrong impression.

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* 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

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Withnail said:

I thought these items imply that there some new voiceovers:

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schick85 said:

I feel cheated. This ought to be an update for those who bought it on the XBLA.

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Trunchisholm said:

In understand the appeal of MLAA, but the love it gets as of late is absolutely ridiculous. Why people would only bold that as a major improvement, when the gameplay was the major disappointment with the original is beyond me.

MLAA is a good AA solution, but not the end-all-be-all of AA solutions. It still has major drawbacks such as being unable to cope with subpixel geometry, something SSAA and MSAA do a far better job at. It is a nice compromise in terms of performance, and the IQ is quite good considering that, but I don't see it becoming the standard for AA come next generation unless it is used along with other forms of AA.

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Withnail said:

I thought these items imply that there some new voiceovers:

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statham said:

bought it when it was $5 bucks, played it for an hour or two. The game wants to feel like a big budget game, goes through all the steps for it but just isn't much fun. its heavily scripted. I haven't given it enough time to see if it opens up from the scripted parts. for five bucks I shouldn't complain tho. Its worth it for that price.

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