Deep Beyond
- May 15, 2024
- Avix Games
"Deep Beyond" is an underwater adventure game that follows Lilly on her quest to explore ancient wrecks, solve puzzles, and uncover her past. With fully voiced characters and a captivating narrative, players will dive into a world of mystery and excitement. Accompanied by Chester, your loyal companion, prepare to test your wit and unravel the ocean's hidden secrets.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience.
- Voice acting is well-executed, particularly the main character, which adds depth to the narrative.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and not overly difficult, making for a relaxing gameplay experience.
- The story is short and somewhat cliché, lacking depth and emotional engagement with the characters.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to the slow pace and lack of a sprint option.
- Some technical issues, such as character animations and interactions, can detract from the immersion.
- story67 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Deep Beyond" follows Lilly, a sea explorer on a treasure hunt, and while it features a charming art style and engaging moments, it is often criticized for being cliché, short, and lacking depth. Many reviewers noted that the narrative feels rushed and abrupt, with some plot points and character motivations feeling underdeveloped or forced. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a cozy experience with enjoyable puzzles and multiple endings, making it suitable for those seeking a relaxed, interactive story.
“They certainly made each line feel much more convincing and set the tone for the story that would have otherwise suffered from both length and predictability.”
“While walking simulators are known to be rather slow-paced, Deep Beyond easily manages to keep you on your toes throughout the whole gameplay due to its excellent storytelling.”
“Without dropping spoilers, the story is simple but well executed, with impactful moments and voice acting for extra immersion.”
“Not the best voice acting (the lead woman is alright, the rest of the cast, not so much) and the story ends in a pretty abrupt way far too early; they could have done so much more with the story.”
“The story is mostly fine, but the resolution is indeed very abrupt and unconvincing, and the choices that we're given at the end are rather strange.”
“In the end, the story itself is just very dull, and the motivations were not very moving.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, often described as a blend of comic book aesthetics and whimsical visuals. Many reviewers highlight the simplicity and vibrancy of the graphics, which effectively enhance the storytelling and overall experience. While some found the visuals to be overwhelming or less appealing, the majority agree that the game's artistic presentation is a standout feature that contributes significantly to its charm and immersion.
“Where the game truly shines is in the art style; it's gorgeous in its simplicity, worth playing for that alone.”
“The game looks like an interactive film with one-of-a-kind graphics.”
“The art style with the limited stylized color palette does a fantastic job of expressing the mood as the story progresses.”
“The art style, while simple, is pretty and fits the vibe, but the overly saturated colors began to give me a headache.”
“As stated in the introduction, the visuals are undeniably abstract and unique; however, I did not find them attractive or appealing.”
“The art style reminds me of 'Obra Dinn', although a little bit inferior, and with more clipping/bugs.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator that emphasizes exploration and storytelling, featuring simple mechanics such as walking to points of interest, interacting with objects, and solving minor puzzles. While the artistic direction and voice acting are praised, some players find the gameplay tedious and linear, with limited choices and underwhelming puzzles. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience, though it may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic gameplay or complex challenges.
“While walking simulators are known to be rather slow-paced, deep beyond easily manages to keep you on your toes throughout the whole gameplay due to its excellent storytelling.”
“Finally, on the gameplay side, despite being a walking simulator, it includes some puzzles that, along with its short length, ensure it is not tedious or boring.”
“The gameplay is simple: walk to a point of interest, interact with objects, solve minor puzzles, and simply enjoy how the story unfolds as a result.”
“I know it's just a 'walking sim,' but the gameplay is kind of tedious, due mostly to the pace of it.”
“The gameplay is what you would expect from a walking simulator, but I was disappointed by the 'puzzles' which I expected to be a slight addition, when they're really just... not puzzles at all.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with reviewers highlighting its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience. The soundtrack is noted for its ability to complement both immersive cutscenes and tense gameplay moments, while sound effects are described as well-placed and impactful. Overall, the music, alongside the art style and environment design, contributes significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere.
“There's also praise to be given to the soundtrack and the puzzles considering that they weren't as mundane as expected them to be (while still being quite relaxing to solve).”
“Several immersive cutscenes make the game look more like an interactive movie than anything else, topped with a great music score and well-placed sound effects that further enhance the experience.”
“The music is played when we are involved in tense or important moments, such as puzzles or more tense situations related to the story.”
“The music is played during tense or important moments, such as puzzles or critical situations related to the story.”
“The music and sound effects were remarkable as well.”
“Overall, the art style, music, and some of the voice acting are all positives.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game is primarily a walking simulator, some players find the pacing tedious, which can lead to a grinding experience. However, the inclusion of puzzles and the game's short length help to mitigate this tedium, making each location feel unique and engaging rather than monotonous.
“I know it's just a 'walking sim,' but the gameplay is kind of tedious, due mostly to the pace of it.”
“This made each place much more unique and striking, instead of being played all the time throughout the game, making everything tedious.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes mixed emotional responses, with some players feeling a lack of attachment to the characters, while others appreciate its visually stunning presentation and narrative depth, likening it to an interactive comic that effectively engages with the story of Lilly.
“This game is visually beautiful and made me feel like I was playing an interactive comic, experiencing the story of a woman named Lilly.”
“The game simply puts you in the shoes of a character you have no emotional attachment to and then instantly pulls the 'my dad!' card on you.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for walking sims may alienate players who expect more challenging gameplay, potentially disappointing those drawn in by advertisements that misrepresent the game's difficulty level. This approach risks driving away both hardcore adventure gamers and casual players alike.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been noted for its low replayability value, indicating that players may not find sufficient incentive to revisit it after completing it once.
“The replayability value is non-existent.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying the game feel pointless.”