Unfortunately, the supposed freedom she brings invites her downfall. A research company called Nano Cell that produces nanobots that purify water incites the wrath of fanatics called Neo-Malthusians. A year into its lifespan the ship comes under attack and Kate is thrust into the role of the reluctant heroine. Plunged down to the bottom deck where a hole’s been blown through the hull, Kate has to use her body and her brains to survive the sinking ship, help others and get rid of the terrorists. And she ain’t too handy with guns. Oh, and - here’s the twist - she’s terrified of water.

But while its unique setting and survival-action-puzzle-fear approach instantly sets it apart from the blockbuster shooters that dominate on 360, it’s the water itself that is truly revolutionary here. Previously water, like fire, has been a cosmetic benchmark, mere eye candy. Titles like Bioshock and Dark Sector are now beginning to apply some real-world properties to their H20, like the ability to conduct electricity, but Hydrophobia makes all that look primitive. Here water works like water. It is water - a truly 3D liquid, which reacts dynamically to its environment. It flows from source, it bubbles, it gets surfaces wet, it has a current and it’s persistent. These properties make the water an intrinsic game mechanic; something we’ve never seen before, and in motion looks stunning.