The ocean has always been one of the most compelling settings for video games. Thanks to its innate mystery and countless wonders, the deep blue sea has inspired a veritable plethora of games; from seabound survival games to water themed slots.
Diluvion is such a game: a prime example of our perpetual interest in the ocean. It’s an underwater exploration game with RPG elements. As the player, you are given a submarine, a crew, and the freedom to dive the depths at your own pace.
Upon its first release back in 2017, Diluvion received relatively average review scores. However, for the developers over at Arachnid Games, it appears that a mediocre performance simply wasn’t good enough. They went back to the drawing board, battening down the proverbial hatches to work on the game’s most glaring faults.
Less than a year after Diluvion was released, Arachnid Games unveiled Diluvion: Resubmerged. Boasting multiple improvements over the original, Resubmerged aimed to undo many of the criticisms aimed at its predecessor.
Were Arachnid Games’ efforts worth it, or was all the extra work on Diluvion ultimately in vain? In order to reach a final verdict, let’s take a brief look at all of the important elements of the equation. Below you will find four main criteria we need to consider, namely; story, graphics, gameplay, and sound.
Story
Diluvion: Resubmerged takes place in an alternate history. Centuries ago, a ‘Great Flood’ forced humanity into the deep oceans. The flood encased the surface of the entire world in an impenetrable layer of ice, trapping all survivors of the calamity underwater.
Though their survival odds were incredibly low, the last remnants of society managed to overcome adversity, going as far as thriving in their new environment. Over hundreds of years, they rebuilt civilization and formed new kingdoms, cultures, and religions.
The player’s story begins in an age of exploration, taking on the role of an aspiring submarine captain. In an unforeseen twist of fate, your first captaincy leads you on a pioneering path to discover one of humanity’s greatest secrets.
In terms of the overall presentation, the storyline of Resubmerged is definitely a highlight. There’s an immersive overarching narrative to follow, along with multiple side quests and additional lore to find. Characters are as complex as they need to be, with each crew member’s personality reflected in their skills.
Graphics
Despite being a relatively small indie developer, Arachnid Games has managed to pull off 3D graphics that are remarkably close to a ‘AAA’ level of quality. Resubmerged also uses 2D art to its advantage, culminating in a rather unique graphics style.
Through the manipulation of lighting and atmospheric effects, the 3D sections where you pilot your sub are tense and exhilarating. During your exploration of towns and cities, you’ll be able to see the care that went into each hand-painted 2D graphic.
The hybrid art design of Diluvion’s world was well-received before the Resubmerged update. However, with enhanced visuals and a complete UI overhaul, Resubmerged makes more than enough changes to warrant the update’s necessity.
Gameplay
The world of Diluvion consists of three open sea zones. There are nine unique submarines to collect and upgrade, and you will need to select a crew to brave the ocean depths with you. As you upgrade your sub, you gain access to new areas and loot.
You can play as a gun-toting frontiersman or a stalking predator, a diplomatic adventurer, or a ruthless pirate. Of course, if you can find crew members who fall in line with your roleplaying, your sub will be all the better for it.
Resubmerged adds revamped navigation systems, new side quests, and additional artwork to Diluvion. There are now remappable keys, along with improved pathfinding and the ability to save anywhere. Salvaging mechanics have also been reworked and, ultimately, the numerous changes are clear improvements over the original game.
Sound
The soundtrack of Diluvion is melancholic yet uplifting. Even the most haunting tracks have hints of optimism, pulling the game away from horror and back to its roots of exploration and discovery.
Sound effects are generally of high quality, but there are a few oddities in the soundscape every now and then. Most effects are suitably muffled to fit an underwater atmosphere, but the aforementioned exceptions do tend to come up a little too often.
Compared to the original game, Resubmerged adds new sound effects and music. The audio additions are a welcome change, showing that the developers were working on more than just graphics tweaks and gameplay improvements.
Verdict
Aside from a few bugs that tend to crop up from time to time, Diluvion: Resubmerged is a worthy upgrade to the original game. What’s more, it’s a free upgrade for those who own the 2017 version. The changes Arachnid Games have made have put the game well above average in terms of graphics, gameplay, and story.
There are impressive details in the artwork, the comic-style illustrations are appealing for a modern audience, and the soundtrack is a treat for the ears. However, if you’re not into crew and resource management, you might want to give the game a miss. Other than that, Resubmerged is an engaging romp that’s well worth your time and money.
