Death in the Water 2
- January 26, 2023
- Lighthouse Games Studio
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Death in the Water 2" is a horror survival game set in an underwater world, where you must fight off a terrifying ancient Kraken named Death. The game features challenging missions in Campaign mode, endless waves of enemies in Survival mode, and peaceful exploration in Free Roam mode. New Game + offers increased difficulty. Investigate ruins, wrecks, and reefs while battling marine life, with the threat of Death always looming.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Incredible graphics and sound design that create a terrifying atmosphere.
- Engaging gameplay that keeps players on edge with intense encounters.
- Impressive for a game developed by only two people, showcasing great attention to detail.
- Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious after a few dives.
- Limited enemy variety and lack of significant story progression.
- Some technical issues, such as crashes and bugs, that detract from the overall experience.
- story214 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak and underdeveloped, often described as linear and repetitive, with many players feeling it serves merely as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the potential for deeper storytelling, most reviews highlight a lack of engaging plot progression and character development, leading to a sense of monotony across missions. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a meaningful story experience.
“Death in the Water 2 is a massive step up from the original, including a detailed story surrounding a silent protagonist.”
“The environment is amazing; there are depths of the ocean's dark abyss, night missions, and day missions, all involving new horrors with every new mission you go on.”
“The game has a total of 14 missions plus a boss fight right now, which is enough to feel complete for the price of the game.”
“Not personal to the devs, but the 'story' is not even a story; the anticlimactic ending occurs because the final boss doesn't even die; the game just decides to end. Why should anyone play this game?”
“The story is rudimentary and feels tacked on.”
“The game is super repetitive with no point to the story whatsoever.”
- graphics174 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and immersive underwater environments, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive detail in creature animations and atmospheric effects. Players have noted that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience, contributing to a sense of tension and horror, while also praising the game's sound design. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay repetitiveness, the graphical fidelity is consistently described as top-notch, especially considering the game's development by a small team.
“The underwater graphics and creature animations are first rate!”
“The graphics are beautiful, the enemies are varied, and the feeling that something is out there is very real.”
“The graphics, animations, and models are all unbelievably good.”
“The graphical flaws and bad textures are mostly covered by smearing effects, but if you look closer you will see and understand why a lot of the underwater world looks so weirdly low quality.”
“While the graphics look very realistic, the gameplay abandons most opportunities for realism.”
“The atmosphere, graphics, graphical effects, and music are excellent, but the gameplay is just not interesting; every mission has you go to an area to find three treasure chests before waiting on a timer to end the mission.”
- gameplay159 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a repetitive loop that involves treasure hunting and combat against waves of enemies, primarily sharks. While the atmosphere, graphics, and sound design are praised for their immersive qualities, many players find the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony as missions progress. Despite its engaging mechanics and unique premise, the overall experience is often described as simple and somewhat unfinished, with room for improvement in mission objectives and enemy diversity.
“The movement and fighting mechanics are a perfect match to the horrifying and detailed environment of the game.”
“Amazing, spooky atmosphere and super fun gameplay!”
“The gameplay loop is tight and focuses on being fun above all else, and it works.”
“The gameplay loop gets boring fast and there is little change as you progress.”
“The gameplay is a little bare-bones; you shoot waves of sharks (ok, occasionally other things) while hunting for treasure chests.”
“Unfortunately, like many other reviews say, the gameplay loop gets very stale very quickly.”
- atmosphere125 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a palpable sense of dread, effectively capturing the eerie essence of underwater exploration. Many players find the combination of dark, murky environments and realistic animations of sea creatures to be both terrifying and engaging, although some note that the repetitive gameplay can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements are considered its strongest feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of horror and underwater themes.
“Absolutely stunning atmosphere!”
“The atmosphere devs created is phenomenal.”
“The underwater atmosphere is terrifying but I love it.”
“Some parts are genuinely terrifying and the atmosphere is well done, but the gameplay grows dull quickly.”
“The atmosphere is impeccable, making me feel like there is always something behind me no matter where I go.”
“While the things you do are indeed repetitive, the atmosphere and just the right amount of tension it provides make me come back to this game.”
- music62 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, effectively complementing the underwater setting and heightening tension during gameplay. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's emotional depth and its contribution to the horror experience, some express concerns about its intensity and occasional misalignment with in-game events. Overall, the sound design, including ambient noises and music, is considered a standout feature that significantly enriches the gaming experience.
“The music perfectly complements the vast enormity of the ocean as well as the high stakes tension of getting swarmed.”
“The soundtrack itself is also a standout example of something that doesn't ask for attention but enhances the atmosphere tenfold.”
“The music was amazing and it made the game feel tense with emotional energy when the action got intense.”
“My only complaint is sometimes you get this really intense 'scary moment!!!' music sting, but I don't know what I'm supposed to be scared of because I was either looking the wrong way or there isn't actually a real trigger for it and it just happens.”
“On a personal note, by dive 5 I had to turn my soundbar off as the music and sound were too much for my blood pressure and heart rate, even though I use WeMod and could not die, run out of oxygen, or ammo.”
“There are slight shifts in color temperature, water color, and the 'inception-esque' soundtrack is rather plain, but the sound cues do a good job of keeping me on edge.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, with many players noting its short length and repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the addition of new modes and potential future updates, the current lack of depth and variety leaves much to be desired. Players express hope for improvements, but as it stands, replay value largely depends on individual preferences and the upcoming content from developers.
“I mean it's far more playable than the Ark remaster, so 10/10.”
“The new modes add a good portion for replayability, but even new modes can't cover up the lack of gameplay depth.”
“The game is short but there is definitely replay value; this game deserves tons of praise for being made by just two people!”
“The game will clearly not last much as replayability is limited.”
“At the moment there is no real replayability.”
“Only 15 missions, so aside from leaderboards and beating your own personal score, I'm not sure how much replay value it will have moving forward.”
- stability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a smooth experience with no crashes or significant performance issues, others encounter occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Notably, the game's impressive graphics and performance on platforms like the Steam Deck are highlighted, especially considering it was developed by a small team. Despite some predictable AI behavior and minor physics problems, most players find the game enjoyable and stable enough for a satisfying experience.
“This is a great game: amazing graphics, realistic (yet manageable) controls, perfect audio, and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“For a small team (two-man, the game says, wow), this game destroys many bigger titles in looks and bug-free day one playability.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck too, although mouse and keyboard is the way to go.”
“The graphics are really good and also the gameplay, but it's super buggy. Like one time I swam backwards and the siren just stabbed me 20 times, which was an insta-death.”
“Extremely predictable yet buggy AI getting hit by sharks that should not be hitting me is annoying.”
“Before going to the pros and cons, I feel like it's worth mentioning that this game is sometimes really buggy, although understandable since it's made by only one coder.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance, impressive graphics, and well-functioning controls, with no significant bugs or performance issues reported. While some users note that further optimization could enhance the experience, the current state is considered strong, especially compared to its predecessor. The engaging atmosphere and animations contribute to a positive reception regarding optimization.
“The controls are fine and it all runs smoothly.”
“I'm giving it a positive score because everything that is present works well, looks amazing, and has no bugs or performance issues that I've encountered.”
“Very smooth in performance and great animations on everything.”
“It is much stronger than the first generation, but it still needs to be further optimized.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. Players express disappointment with the lack of engaging content and the presence of idle time, which diminishes the intended atmosphere and excitement.
“It really depends on how much you enjoy grinding.”
“Grinding can be a rewarding experience if you find joy in the process.”
“For some players, grinding is a satisfying way to progress and unlock new content.”
“The atmosphere is quite good, but the scariness dissolves when the gameplay becomes tedious.”
“It is tedious, not scary, and I was hoping for way more.”
“I wanted to like it, but there's just nothing to do. The rounds are tedious and all the same, with lots of idle time and bad AI.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's emotional impact, noting that the exceptional music and sound effects create a tense and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. The heartfelt development story of the creators adds a layer of warmth, suggesting that their passion and dedication resonate throughout the game.
“The music was amazing and it made the game feel tense with emotional energy when the action got intense.”
“Sound effects 11/10 super immersive, it genuinely made me feel a bit terrified at the beginning of the game.”
“Keeping in mind the quote, 'this game has been in development for years by 2 friends,' it supports the statement that 'they put their soul and heart into this,' which is wholesome.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally absurd physics, particularly regarding the animations of dead bodies, which users find hilariously unrealistic. Additionally, players highlight funny moments that contribute to the overall comedic experience.
“The physics of dead bodies are just hilariously bad and unsound.”
“There are plenty of funny moments that keep the gameplay entertaining.”
