Facing the Shivers of the Unmapped Deep
There is something about the deepest, darkest depths of the oceans that gives me the shivers. What is truly down there? At present, over 80 per cent of the ocean is unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored. It’s incredibly difficult to send anything down there because of the massive pressure and inherent danger.
Game developers have used this fear of the sea to great effect recently, with games like Still Wakes the Deep: Sirens Rest. And of course, the mythos of Cthulhu has always had a strong connection to the sea, and with Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, we are taken on another sci-fi horror journey. Let’s dive in.
This game is unlike anything I’ve played in a long time, placing a deep focus on investigation and puzzle-solving rather than outright action. It introduces a whole host of new mechanics that you have to keep up with; sometimes these are great, and sometimes they feel a bit clunky. But first, let’s delve into the story.
From Occult Origins to Mining Station Mysteries
Set in the future, you play as an occult investigator named Noah. In the beginning, you are investigating a house where missing scientists were believed to be involved in some mysterious goings-on. Soon enough, things go wrong, Noah gets injured, and the narrative jumps forward in time. Now, Noah is descending deep into the ocean to investigate a mining station and discover why everyone there has disappeared. As you journey down into the depths, you quickly realise that things aren’t quite what they seem, and something terrifying is lurking in the dark…
In true deep sci-fi fashion, the story of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is well constructed, mixing creature horror, alternate dimensions, and the gradual loss of sanity. However, the visual storytelling sometimes overshadows the actual narrative. I never truly got a sense of who Noah was or what his personal objectives were. Still, there are some lovely sections to the tale, even if the world of Lovecraft feels a bit overused in gaming these days. Thankfully, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss does manage to tread a few new paths.
Linking Clues in the Deep
The gameplay takes place entirely in the first person, and it is all about gathering clues, analysing evidence, and solving puzzles. The closest comparison I can make is to the Sherlock Holmes games by Frogwares, where you link clues together to form hypotheses. To help Noah (and the player) along the way is an AI called Key. Inside Key is a virtual space known as “The Vault,” where all your clues are gathered so you can physically link them together to get results.
You also have a sonar ability via Key, which you can send out to search for specific items. For example, if you are looking for rocks, you input that into the search engine. When Key sends out the sonar pulse, the relevant rocks are highlighted for you to investigate. I really liked this mechanic and enjoyed how it developed throughout the journey.
Survival Mechanics
Performing these actions takes a toll on your energy, which you can replenish by injecting a sort of mushroom juice found scattered throughout the world. If I am being honest, I could have easily done without this particular survival mechanic. There isn’t an in-game map either, so you can feel a bit lost at times, and I frequently found myself unsure of what to do next.
I think some of this is very deliberate, like one specific section where you have to escape an underwater labyrinth, but at other times, I was just aimlessly wandering around trying to find a trigger. Overall, the mechanics can feel quite overwhelming and a bit clunky in the beginning, but they do get easier, eventually becoming second nature by the end. Action fans should be warned that this won’t be the game for you, as the pacing is very meditative and thoughtful for the vast majority of the runtime. Puzzle and detective lovers, however, will have a great time.
Visually, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is very impressive. It does a fantastic job with the internal UI for The Vault and the general menus. Furthermore, when you go underwater for the first time to find the mining station, it is epic, beautiful, and terrifying all at once. The interiors are impressive too, offering some great sci-fi arenas to explore. The cutscenes are well put together, suffering from only the occasional bit of lag. The voice-over work is highly impressive, and the soundtrack is excellent overall.
A Thoughtful Mystery for Detective Lovers
I enjoyed Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, particularly the striking visuals and high production values. The detective elements introduce some impressive new mechanics that make for a highly thoughtful gameplay experience. That being said, it does get too confusing at times, and I felt I spent far too much time wandering around trying to figure out my next move. The story is good, but the heavy Lovecraft presence felt a bit too familiar in places.
Still, if you want to experience deep-sea horror while solving a thoughtful mystery, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is exactly what you are looking for.
Important Links
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss Dives Deep Onto Xbox, PlayStation And PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/cthulhu-the-cosmic-abyss-dives-deep-onto-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/cthulhu-the-cosmic-abyss-rlyeh-edition/9P4Z616P38P3/0010
