Depth: An Underwater Battle of Wits and Willpower
A dive into the dark aquatic world of Depth, where survival is just a shark bite away.
last updated Dec 10, 2023
The nail-biting suspense of evading agile predators captures an intense, enjoyable experience.
Biting Into the Gameplay
Buckle up, folks, because 'Depth' is the multiplayer extravaganza you didn’t know you needed. The asymmetrical PvP setup lets you fight tooth and fin as either a treasure-hunting diver or a fearsome shark with a taste for humans. While the gameplay is slicker than a wet seal, it's the 'easy to learn, hard to master' philosophy that keeps you coming back for more. Variety is the spice of life here with cleverly crafted maps that keep matches fresh, even if finding a game is like searching for a needle in an underwater haystack. And let’s be honest, the thrill of outsmarting a player-controlled shark with your buddies is unmatched—even if the shark ends up turning you into shark bait.
Echoes in the Abyss
Now, don't get me started on the audio. The soundtrack is like the siren's call—luring you in with its eerie tunes, setting the perfect ambiance for your underwater escapades. But the real MVP here is the sound design. Every heartbeat, every distant thrash of a tail fin… it’s all there to fuel your nightmares. The tension is cranked to eleven when you're a diver hearing a shark approaching, and it’s this kind of detail that transforms a good game into a great one. A little flattery to the audio team, because they've nailed it harder than a diver's harpoon.
A Feast for the Eyes
Graphically, 'Depth' is like that one kind of older movie that still looks good thanks to the cinematography. Sure, it's not pushing any high-fidelity boundaries by today's standards, but it doesn't need to. The watery world is immersive and detailed enough to keep your peepers pleased, with an atmosphere thicker than chum soup. On the performance front, it's smoother than a dolphin’s belly, maintaining a solid framerate as you dodge and weave through the briny depths. If only modern blockbuster titles could learn a thing or two about optimization from these indie champs, we’d probably all have fewer gray hairs.
A Eulogy for the Online Community
If there's a barnacle on this otherwise sleek hull, it's the online community—or the lack of it. Despite the game's clear qualities, it has seemingly sunk to the depths when it comes to player count. Matchmaking can feel like waiting for a star whale to breach—a rare and time-consuming event. It's a dead sea out there, which is an injustice to the gameplay on offer. While there's fun to be had with friends and AI can fill the void, the echoes in the server lobby can be deafening. If the developers ever grace us with a much-needed sequel or reboot, let’s hope they inject some serious CPR to the game’s online lifeline.
A Shark’s Potential Unfulfilled
There's a twinge of melancholy when recognizing the potential left floating in the wake of 'Depth.' The underwater arena is ripe with creativity and mechanically the game feels like a treasure chest half-buried in the sand. Not to mention, the ability to channel your inner sea monster and chew on some diver delicacies is macabrely satisfying. Yet, the void of updates and tweaks from the devs is palpable as if the game has fallen off their sonar completely. The quest system feels like a sunken ship—lost to the abyss with little hope for recovery. If the devs ever resurface, here's hoping they bring their A-game and some scuba gear to fix the leaks.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Digital Confectioners
Release Date
November 03, 2014
The Verdict
Despite ‘Depth’ floundering in deserted servers, it remains an aquatic gem that glimmers brightly under the right conditions. The nail-biting suspense of evading agile predators, combined with the strategic play required to bag all your loot intact, captures an intense, enjoyable experience. At twenty bucks, it's a steal—if you can scrounge up some fellow sea dogs to join your crew. If you hear the ocean’s call and have a few buddies in tow to dive deep, there’s a trove of memories waiting to be unearthed here. In short, 'Depth' makes you want to echo the call: Abandon not this ship, ye devs of yore, for there is fun yet to be plundered!
