There’s a bit of an overarching mystery to deep sea diving, something magical about moving around an ocean bed, taking in things that few people have seen before. But nosing around in an alien environment means that danger could lurk around any corner, and you’ll always know that the life support you have on is a fragile thing.Â
However, the rewards are huge – go deep enough and you’ll discover wrecks, secrets, and treasure. Deep Beyond is a narrative adventure about finding treasure on a dive and the depths people go to keep that treasure. Let’s dive in.
The story on offer here is one that merges mystery, adventure, and a cute dog called Chester. You play the role of Lily, a young woman who has her own boat and lives on the coast of North America somewhere, maybe Alaska. She has her dog, Chester, and we find out her father was lost at sea, leaving her to be raised by his best friend, Howard.
They have both been looking for the last disc which holds the secret to where a pirate ship, and a great treasure, is buried. In the beginning Lily goes hunting for this, yet as she surfaces she finds her boat wrecked, before being knocked out by a gang of thugs. What is happening? Is Howard in danger?
The story in Deep Beyond is very bite-sized, meaning this adventure can be completed in a couple of hours. The developers cram a lot into this time and sometimes it feels a bit rushed, but there is a lot to like here as well. On a personal level I connected with the character of Lily – and her dog – as well as the adventure she is on. There is a heart here and hints of a larger story, something that plays out through multiple choice and various possibility endings. Again, that comes across as quite rushed, but it all works and I was happy with this short story’s outcome.
The gameplay is quite simple and requires you to use just one button, as well as some movement skills. You will be spending a lot of time on quite a linear path, moving through the different environments of the ship, underwater, Howard’s Lighthouse, and a big tanker.
It’s here where you get to walk around, unable to run, something which is a little frustrating at times. Come across certain elements that are highlighted and you can use them by pressing A. This could be a lever, door, a crane or vents. It’s a simple system but it works well, meaning Deep Beyond is nice and straightforward to play though.
Of course, there are puzzles too, and these are engaging and always fun to work out, all as you look to progress.
There are some stunning visuals that bring Deep Beyond together. It has a hand-drawn dynamic, using just a few colours of low poly brilliance as the story plays out. The characters look good and the whole visual feel that emits through Deep Beyond is delightful. The audio is good too, not only in the soundtrack but also via the fully voiced cast that excel, including the barking of Chester.
Deep Beyond is a great little gaming experience. It may be over in a couple of hours, running a very linear, guided experience, but for the price it feels like a good deal. That story is good too, but the narrative does feel rushed at times and things are very much over before it is able to make a proper impact. The puzzles and visuals are good though, whilst the characters are intriguing. and so taking into account the price, Deep Beyond is one that is well worth diving in to.
Deep Beyond on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch: Is it Worth the Dive?
https://www.thexboxhub.com/deep-beyond-on-xbox-playstation-and-switch-is-it-worth-the-dive/
Buy Deep Beyond on Xbox
https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/deep-beyond/9nf72lqdxbkf
