Sharks and Shots: An Underwater Duel of Terror
A dive into the fathoms of Shark Attack Deathmatch 2's oceanic mayhem
last updated Dec 10, 2023
It may not be the shiniest pearl in the depths, but among friends, it harpoons its way to being an outright blast.
Testing the Waters
Dipping into Shark Attack Deathmatch 2 felt like a blend of nostalgic amusement and genuinely fresh chills. There's a certain elegance to the panic-driven gameplay where fellow divers aren't the only things causing your heart rate to spike — watch out for the pearly whites! The slow pace magnifies tension, transforming every move into a high-stakes gamble of life or limb; a delightful recipe seasoned with just enough paranoia from knowing that a fine-toothed predator is mere seconds away from turning you into chum.
Echoes of the Abyss
Don't get me wrong, the game's sound design doesn't turn the oceanic depths into a haunted car stereo, but it does have its own sinister charm. The sound of your staggered breathing in the encasing helmet, the muffled underwater distortion, and the blood-curdling silence just before a shark snaps you up all add to the suffocating atmosphere. When you nail a harpoon shot, the satisfaction resonates well with the sound of impending doom often caught by the thrashing and growling of the Great Whites, the real stars of this aquatic horror show.
A Sea of Pixels
Let's be real, if you're diving into Shark Attack Deathmatch 2 for a visual feast à la National Geographic, maybe steer clear. But if you appreciate a game with a murky charm and gritty textures that scream indie, this will tickle your gills just right. Sporting a dark and claustrophobic underwater world that effectively imparts a sense of dread and vulnerability, the game captures the menacing ambiance despite the occasional clunky animation. Plus, it's a smooth sail on the performance front; because let's be honest, nothing quite kills the vibe like a lag spike just as a shark's about to go for the bite.
An Ocean of Empty Echoes
Now, let's address the hulking sea creature in the room: the evidently inactive servers. It's lonelier down here than the Mariana Trench on a Friday night. Exploring the single-player is fine for a short dip, but the real fun is meant to be in multiplayer where you can go fin-to-face with living opponents; only, it seems like everyone's at Atlantis' equivalent of a land pub. And, if by Poseidon's luck you do find a match, it's as stable as the Titanic's final hour. But hey, if you have a bunch of friends willing to plunge in, then you've got yourself an underwater party.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Lighthouse Games Studio
Release Date
July 26, 2019
The Verdict
Shark Attack Deathmatch 2 is not without its quirks, but beneath the surface lies a game that thrives on tension and delivers pulse-pounding rounds of submerged cat-and-mouse games. It may not be the shiniest pearl in the depths, with its barren lobbies and occasional performance fluke, but among friends, it harpoons its way to being an outright blast. Just remember, it's better down where it's wetter, only if your friends are there with you.