14 DAY TRIAL // Subtly red steps lead me up to a glowing orb that I liberated from the clutches of a vaguely tech-looking trap before heading down the structure. I grabbed ledges, ran up the stairs, and jumped across gaps to get here. But going down is much harder with my arms filled with the orb. A well-placed trolley system allows me to get my burden down quickly and I follow. I finally use the orb to heal the part of the world I have explored, before jumping into the boat again, looking for new adventure.
Submerged: Hidden Depths is developed and will be published by Uppercut Games Pty Ltd. I played the game on the PC via Steam, and it will also be offered on both current and last-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
The game’s story is centered on Miku and Taku, siblings with a dark past. The girl had an encounter with the Mass, a force that has remade the world, and can now heal it. The brother is a good boat pilot. Together they will explore this world and will find out more about its past and their own traumas.
As its predecessor, Submerged: Hidden Depths is, mechanically, all about exploration and wonder. Gamers will not battle anyone. I doubt any of the siblings is trying to take down opponents. Violence is replaced by the ability to move through the sea and explore remnants of a lost city.
Movement and location discovery both feel good and fast. There are plenty of collectibles to make the exploration important. The game offers some impressive vistas. But I wonder whether this is enough to keep someone playing if the narrative does not grab them.
Submerged: Hidden Depths is a good-looking game and I often stopped to turn around and simply take in the world and its details. The remains of an older world, affected by time and neglect, stick out from the water and invite exploration. The invented-language voice work is decent while the soundtrack is pretty great, underlying the exploration and the emotional beats of the story.
Conclusion
I liked the couple of hours I spent with the game before launch. But, as much as I appreciate the lack of conflict concept, the game needs more to keep me engaged. It does not need violence, but the developers should find a way to make the world of Submerged: Hidden Depths draw the player in.
Preview code provided by the publisher.
