If you think that big games are constantly copying each other these days and that everything boils down to promoting service games and multiplayer systems, luckily this March leaves us with a little gem from the black depths. . I am of course referring to Dredge, the first game from the small independent studio Black Salt Games, made up of four people in New Zealand.
But these four people set the bar high and also thought outside the box. In Dredge you are the captain of your own fishing boat and must sail the small archipelago of The Marrows on business, and at the same time, like the rest of the inhabitants of the islands, you feel confused by the mysterious events that are happening in these waters. A dense fog settles over the islands each night, creating hallucinations that lead to dangerous madness, fish mutants, and mysterious figures worshiping ancient monuments.
The idea is that you pilot your little fishing boat, earn and spend money, and complete side quests for the various denizens of the archipelago, while a Cthulhu-like menace lurks in the black depths of the ocean. Is a kind of survival horror on the high seas
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However, it’s mostly the game’s structure and odd mix of narrative elements that creates entertainment, suspense, and engagement, as Dredge lacks an organized narrative. Of course, one of the missions is the centerpiece and leads to a real conclusion, but the steady beats that provide a sense of progress are conspicuous by their absence. That being said, Black Salt tries to slow down a bit so you visit new islands along the way. You’ll also discover new details about the threats threatening The Marrows as you upgrade your ship. It works pretty well in general, but the overall flow requires a little extra refinement.
The characters are quirky, wacky, enigmatic, and exciting in their due proportions. And while Dredge isn’t focused on developing her, he oozes all the Lovecraftian vibes that fans of this universe are sure to enjoy. Side quests usually consist of finding something or bringing special species of fish to a destination. Under normal circumstances this would be branded as repetitive, but here those secondary objectives are so organically part of the overall flow that they don’t worry you. You are a fisherman, “and a fisherman must fish”.
Since there is a day-night cycle here, Time management is key. You dock in the morning, making any necessary repairs, upgrades, and other general maintenance before heading out on the water. You’ll see the small boat from a third-person perspective, and if you’ve installed the right rods and tools that take up limited inventory space, you’ll catch fish to sell. At the same time, you dig up remains of the shipwreck that will help you improve the ship and other valuables. But if you haven’t planned your trip well, you could find yourself far from port when darkness falls and danger suddenly lurks in the mist. I don’t want to spoil too much, but not going out at night too much is part of the whole loop, and it’s very satisfying.
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All wrapped up in a sparse soundscape that fits the mood perfectly and a cartoonish visual design that really sells the game’s offbeat identity. Everything looks shiny, and Black Salt made a game made by four people look like it was made by 40.
There are little frustrations here and there. Dredge is around 8-9 hours long, and while it’s consistently entertaining, there are aspects that could have been revised a bit more. A major individualization of the ship is also missing. Yes, you decide what tools you take with you, but you don’t feel as attached to your ship as you might expect. In addition, monsters, nebulae, hallucinations and the uncanny in general become simple and unavoidable game elements that both you the player and the characters around you find trivial. Perhaps a little longer gameplay and a more gradual exposure to the threats you face would have been better in the long run.
But Dredge is a hit, and it’s an incredibly simple game that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys wacky little experiences that do more than meets the eye.