Análisis Submerged: Hidden Depths – Xbox Zone

When you are offered a review of a virtually unknown game, you always tend to play it with no expectations, or at worst, expecting the worst. Compared to Submerged: hidden depths, the latter happened to me. Although its visual section caught my eye, I had my doubts as to whether the playable proposition would be satisfying enough. Once again, I had a more than pleasant surprise. After a temporary exclusivity in Stadia, the game of Uppercut Games is finally making the leap to PC and consoles.

And fortunately, it is one of those proposals that, as I have already mentioned, are worth it. Throughout my game, I saw a multitude of elements that strongly caught my attention, since I had already seen them before. In effect, Submerged: hidden depths is a video game whose inspiration is based on the use of great ideas from many others, call them RHYME, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakeror the recent Dirtto name a few.

In summary, Submerged he does not invent the wheel, but he manages to take full advantage of some of the virtues that we already know from other adventures. Whether or not you’re drawn to the new Uppercut Games, I urge you to stick with this review and at least give it a chance. Dark!

Nature and the sea as protagonists

Since Uppercut Games they have been able to make a project with its own personality. Regardless of its playable proposition, it overwhelms at all times for its artistic section. Yes OK Submerged: hidden depths andIt’s a game of contained dimensions, the Australian studio has done a commendable job of giving us one of the most beautiful titles that, at least me, I can remember for a long time. It’s beautiful no matter where you look at it.

In this world, of a “post-apocalyptic” nature one might say, water has been given paramount importance. And it is that the ruins of an old modern world are the only thing that outweighs the relentless force of the sea. A sea through which we will travel by boat at all times to achieve our goals. And in that sense, his demeanor and appearance are truly successful. The sea is alive, and it is also due to the fact that there are creatures that roam its waves next to our boat, which reacts to the said bad weather. Others wander among the little that remains of what is now this sort of new Atlantis.

The cartoon style of our protagonists, Taku and Miku, in turn contrasts with a precious environment, with some ruined structures inviting to be explored. On the contrary, its aesthetic seeks to give a realistic air, and this is something that is also achieved thanks to the way in which the light falls on the vegetation, in each corner. All this with a day and night cycle. Undoubtedly, the artistic deployment of Uppercut gives us overwhelming impressions. Photo mode is implemented for a reason, and more than one will benefit from it.

start where you want

At Submerged: hidden depths There’s one of those situations that players tend to like so much in open worlds. Now that we’re in the heat of the moment Ring of Eldenor how revolutionary it was breath of the wildit should be noted that the game Uppercut also allows that of “go where you want” Exploration is one of the keys to the game, which although it has a smaller dimension than the aforementioned titles, it does it in its own way.

Taku and Miku’s boat will be the only means of transport to unravel the mysteries and discover what is hidden in the sea. And the best thing is that the game never tells us where to gor, or what is our mission. Using our telescope, we must investigate in the distance, and thus markers will appear on objects and other elements hidden by the cartography. Ok, it’s not perfect, and it’s something that makes our work easier, but being able to go to the ruins you want is already a detail to take into account. If you prefer, you can choose not to and go blind of course.

Another function that speeds up exploration, are the improvements we can make to the boat. They will be scattered in the sea, randomly, although they can also be observed with the spyglass to mark them. All of this will appear on our map, which will be displayed as we discover it with our progress. In this sense, everything is well represented, and there will be no loss with the legend or the points of interest.

looking for a house

Among other things, Submerged It is a title that is also distinguished by the way in which it is told to us. There’s hardly any dialogue during the adventure, nor is there a voice-over that constantly narrates what’s happening on screen. Looking for a new home, our protagonist Miku will have to enter the ruins of the old world in an attempt to alleviate the ravages of the “mass”. This black mass is the culprit that we find ourselves in front of this panorama so gloomy and attractive at the same time.

Civilization has disappeared, and today Miku and Taku are looking for a home alone, but we don’t know why. Submerged play with this mystery at any time, and the remains of the humans who once inhabited these lands will invite us to investigate further. Our main objective will be to collect the 10 seeds that are scattered in the cartography. Only then will we return what little splendor remains to a world already in ruins and forgotten.

The power acquired by Miku after touching the mass, will help her and her brother to fight this plague. This branch coming out of her arm will help her on her way, at the same time as it will condemn her forever. But seeds won’t be the only thing we can find. A few books scattered around these ruins will tell us, as I said, in a visual way the fabric of the events that unfolded. We will find out why these brothers got there, the reason for the mass, and what civilization is the one that exists today.

How is your playable section?

The very description of Submerged: hidden depths, indicates that we are facing a “relaxploration” video game. And it is no coincidence that Uppercut Games chose this particular definition. This is an exploration game, yes, but it also avoids any possible challenge. In fact, there isn’t even a difficulty mode. It’s about marveling at the surroundings, and relaxing while discovering the secrets of these forgotten ruins. As in TLOZ: the awakening of the windinvites us to move constantly with our boat.

Throughout the map we will find several collectibles, to which we must add the improvements for our boat. And it is that once we reach these buildings we will find a fantastic level design, in which, based on puzzles, we will have to find these seeds to restore the natural balance of these environments. While we do too we will find other areas to discover these collectiblesas well as books that will give us “fragments” of history.

In the main puzzles we will play with Miku, while in other smaller ones we will play with Taku. All this through a fairly simple but quite satisfying grip. Although I knowe lacks more interaction with the environment, the puzzles are brilliantly solved. There’s enough variety, with solutions that repeat, but at no point did they become cumbersome or boring.

Controls are solely based on using the left analog to move around, so Miku grabs onto ledges, jumps, and performs other actions automatically. There is a noticeable lack of depth in this regard, and except for the A button, with which we can select objects on the map, the player will not have much to do.

the melody of the sea

Throughout my adventure in SubmergedI had that familiar feeling of loneliness right from the start that I found in previous video games. Taku accompanies us when we get on the boat, but we quickly realize that they are only two kids lost in the immensity of an infinite sea. And as we ride the waves, like those semi-present piano notes in breath of the wild, a light melody camouflages the breaking of the water with our boat. The immersion in his universe is total.

To this must be added the sound effects. I quickly realized that those seeds Miku has to collect aren’t just glittering spheres. Their echo, the echo of nature resounds within them, as they bring life to life wherever we move with them. This echo and music increases as we get closer to the original seed container. But along the way, even among what were once flesh-and-blood people, they seem like remnants trying to escape their own curse, the one the Black Mass once sheathed them.

Undoubtedly, sound is another element treated brilliantly by Uppercut Games, from a calm sea, to breaking waves or rain. Our footsteps also echo inside the ruins, only interrupted by the mechanics of certain puzzles, or the appearance of certain creatures.

Is it worth trying?

You see, I’m not going to say that this game is a console seller, nor a game-changer within the indie universe. What I can tell you is that if you’re a fan of visually appealing proposals like these and want a relaxing exploration adventure, you’ll have a great time. personally I enjoyed it very much RHYME at the time, and Tequila’s is a title that partly reminds me of what. To make a comparison, they are two puzzle games, with a certain level of exploration, where there are practically no enemies (in Submerged none), and which have an exquisite sound and visual section.

Although its playable section is overly simple and shallow, I think in turn the puzzles and exploration are quite enjoyable. There are ideas from here and elsewhere which, when united, make Submerged to be a well-crafted hodgepodge. There are enough objects to collect and a plot that invites you to continue discovering the universe that surrounds these brothers. All this with a dreamy artistic section, where the sea and the ruins are the protagonists. If these are the indie games of the future, I think we’re in for a treat.