Menace from the Deep
- November 11, 2024
- flatcoon
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Menace from the Deep" is an upcoming game where players can choose from three unique heroes, each with their own deck of battle cards and fighting style. The game features a variety of inventory items, events, and locations, as well as a system for constructing upgrades for easier journeys. With a focus on collecting and upgrading cards, uncovering secrets, and finding allies, the game promises a grim and tragic story, set to release in October 2024.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating Lovecraftian atmosphere with stunning artwork and engaging sound design.
- The deck-building mechanics are innovative, allowing for card upgrades through usage and offering multiple paths for character progression.
- The game provides a unique travel system that adds strategic depth to encounters, making each run feel fresh and exciting.
- The difficulty spikes significantly between acts, particularly from Act 1 to Act 2, which can lead to frustrating experiences for players.
- There is a lack of card removal options, leading to deck bloat and making it challenging to maintain an effective strategy.
- Some mechanics, such as the fuel system, can feel punishing and may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay131 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Menace from the Deep" is characterized by its engaging mechanics, reminiscent of popular deckbuilders like "Slay the Spire," while introducing unique elements such as a travel deck and card experience system. Players appreciate the strategic depth offered by various mechanics, including poison and bleeding effects, although some find the fuel mechanic cumbersome. Overall, the game provides a satisfying core loop with a Lovecraftian atmosphere, though it may present a steep learning curve and some balancing issues.
“Gameplay-wise, it's harder to cull cards from your deck, but cards improve as you use them, which is fun to play with.”
“The adventure system and the ability to choose your next step add a strategic element to the gameplay.”
“The gameplay, story, design, and soundtrack are all on point.”
“The gameplay feels anticlimactic.”
“A lot of the difficulty is artificial, and it seems many of the novel mechanics to this game do not offer much other than an annoying obstacle that involves grinding over strategy to overcome.”
“There is no card removal mechanic and you can only skip 5 card rewards, you're going to get about 20 or so card rewards so your deck is going to be heavily bloated with often non-synergy cards.”
- story98 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of engaging Lovecraftian themes and philosophical backstory, though opinions vary on its execution; some find it fun and immersive, while others criticize the writing and pacing as ponderous or forgettable. Players appreciate the atmospheric art and voice acting, but many feel the narrative lacks depth and can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the story adds a layer of intrigue, it is often seen as secondary to the gameplay mechanics and deck-building elements.
“The story mode was really fun, and replayability is great.”
“Superb story, amazing visuals, the ambiance is so good.”
“The plot is simple yet engaging, and you don’t feel like skipping it.”
“The writing and voice acting are rather ponderous and overwrought—not in a fun Lovecraftian way, but in a 'never imply when you can give a philosophical backstory' way.”
“The story is your classic Lovecraftian nightmare, though I think that finishing the campaign story before learning the lore of each character diminishes the impact of certain events.”
“The story just awful; I would rather they just got straight to it instead of tagging you along with some nonsense that really doesn't interest you.”
- graphics64 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful artwork and atmospheric design, effectively capturing Lovecraftian themes. Players appreciate the detailed visuals of characters, monsters, and environments, which enhance the overall experience and immersion. While some comparisons to other titles like "Slay the Spire" and "Darkest Dungeon" highlight a familiar aesthetic, the unique art style and sound design stand out as significant strengths of the game.
“The artwork is wonderful, and if you're into the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, you'll most likely enjoy this very much.”
“The graphics are top notch, and the developer is very present and tuned in to what the player base has to say.”
“The presentation is phenomenal, and the art style is amazing.”
“Good deck building, okay sound and music, little too simple graphics sometimes, and even a decent plot.”
“The graphics and artwork are fine.”
“After playing *menace from the deep*, I checked out *slay the spire*, but I didn't enjoy its visuals.”
- music43 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly in relation to its Lovecraftian themes. Some players find the soundtrack engaging and memorable, while others feel it can be repetitive or mismatched during combat. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's immersive experience, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
“The artwork and music are well done, and the game has a definite theme that fits with the Lovecraft vibes.”
“The overall atmosphere is pretty good, and the soundtrack has some real bangers.”
“Music is great, art style rocks, the three classes and their different decks are interesting to try out, and the overall atmosphere is very well done, too.”
“The dialogue is not great (although there is voice acting), and the music is lackluster.”
“The sound is awful, the music I turned off after an hour, very droney, clear no one played it while listening to it for a long time.”
“The only thing I don't like about it is the battle music (feels off in this Lovecraft setting), but that's not a big deal since I can just listen to something else.”
- atmosphere36 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, particularly its strong Lovecraftian influence, which enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the exceptional artwork, engaging voice-overs, and emotional intensity that contribute to a sense of dread and urgency. While some note a faster pace that may detract from the storyline, the game's aesthetic and atmospheric depth are consistently regarded as standout features.
“The atmosphere and aesthetic is my favorite thing; the artwork is great, even the backgrounds.”
“This is one of the best strategy games I've ever played, and it is absolutely incredible that the devs have been able to capture the atmosphere of Lovecraft in such an outstanding way.”
“I prefer MFTD for its immersive atmosphere and emotional tension, which resonate with my love for games that evoke dread and urgency.”
“It seems to have too quick of a pace for the storyline/atmosphere and isn't 'creepy' enough.”
“- the atmosphere”
“Those who adore the eerie atmosphere of Lovecraftian fiction and the games I just mentioned, as well as roguelike deckbuilders with innovative mechanics and frantic gameplay, are likely to fall in love with Menace from the Deep, just as I have.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers strong replayability through its unlockable content, diverse decks, and engaging story mode, providing players with at least 100 hours of gameplay. While the absence of an ascension system and new challenges may limit long-term replay value, the dual-layered strategy and card-based combat keep the experience fresh and addictive. Players appreciate the potential for customization and the variety of gameplay options, making it highly replayable.
“All of the unlocks in the game add to the replayability, not just more unlocks that don't change gameplay at all.”
“You get at least 100 hours of great fun to finish it, and it still has some replayability value with all those decks you can get (you can even create your own!).”
“The main point of the game is replayability, and it is quite addictive.”
“The lack of an ascension system hurts the long-term replay value of this game.”
“I just wish that new challenges might be added in the future (like making a certain final boss re-fightable) or something akin to ascension to add replayability.”
“Would love to see more playable characters, relics, and acts/enemy types.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early stages where progress feels artificially inflated by the need to unlock cards and upgrades. While some enjoy the challenge of grinding, many criticize it as poor design that detracts from strategic gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience that can hinder overall enjoyment. Suggestions for improvement include reducing resource costs and allowing for more meaningful progression to alleviate the grind.
“But it's difficult because it locks your player power behind grinding, which is an absurd decision for a roguelike deckbuilder.”
“A lot of the difficulty is artificial, and it seems many of the novel mechanics in this game do not offer much other than an annoying obstacle that involves grinding over strategy to overcome.”
“The game is punishing at the start, and everyone is going to tell you to tough it out and get the upgrades. However, it still bloats the RNG pool of cards, relics, and items, making the game harder to plan for and more tedious.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected and amusing surprises, particularly during act changes, which enhance the overall experience. Players find comedic moments in character mishaps, such as multiple deaths from the same creature, and quirky sound effects, like the nutcracker's lightbulb explosion. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch reminiscent of classic board games while maintaining its unique charm.
“Some very funny and frustrating surprises throughout the completion of the entirety of the game.”
“Nutcracker having the lightbulb exploding sound will never not be funny though.”
“I hilariously had three different characters all die during a run-in with the same creature (that damn shoggoth) and their pets too, so now my friends tease me for being a bad pet owner. If you enjoy board games like Touch of Evil or Arkham Horror, this game has that sort of feel, while being very much its own thing.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight that "mftd" excels in creating an immersive atmosphere filled with emotional tension, evoking feelings of dread and urgency, which enhances the significance of player decisions. In contrast, while "sts" is noted for its balanced gameplay and strategic depth, it lacks the same level of emotional engagement found in "mftd."
“I prefer MFTD for its immersive atmosphere and emotional tension, which resonate with my love for games that evoke dread and urgency.”
“While STS is better balanced and offers refined strategic depth, MFTD draws me in with its deeper emotional engagement and atmospheric intensity, making each decision feel significant.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization system primarily revolves around enhancing gameplay through upgrades, such as increased health for characters, additional starting relics, improved combo counters, and more energy per turn. Players can also access easier card upgrades and unlock more powerful options in specific locations, which can significantly impact their performance in the game.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to keep up with the basic gameplay mechanics.”
“It seems like every aspect of the game is designed to encourage microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra cash.”
“Unlocking new features and upgrades often requires spending real money, which can be frustrating for players who want to experience the game fully without additional costs.”
