Song of the Deep

Song of the Deep is enjoyable but flawed, with some unrealised potential around the narrative meaning it was a missed opportunity.

84%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

84% User Score Based on 650 reviews

Platforms

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About Song of the Deep

Song of the Deep is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Insomniac Games and was released on July 11, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

A metroidvania-style action-adventure game following a young girl’s quest into the unknown to find her missing father.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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Reviews

84%Audience ScoreBased on 650 reviews

story171 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

Beautifully drawn graphics and immersive underwater environments.
Engaging story with charming narration and a heartfelt theme.
Fun exploration and puzzle-solving mechanics that encourage backtracking.

Controls can be clunky and frustrating, especially with combat mechanics.
Repetitive enemy types and lackluster boss fights diminish combat excitement.
Some puzzles can be tedious and lack clear instructions, leading to confusion.

story
394 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The story of "Song of the Deep" is a whimsical yet straightforward tale centered around a young girl named Merryn searching for her missing father in an underwater world, presented through charming storybook-style narration and visuals. While many players appreciate the beautiful art and soothing soundtrack that enhance the narrative experience, some criticize the story for being clichéd and predictable, with a lack of emotional depth. Overall, the storytelling is engaging for those who enjoy a light, fairy-tale-like adventure, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The story is whimsical, but mature, and it's told by a narrator with a lovely voice that makes it all just feel complete.”
- “The game's storytelling and cutscenes are in the style of a children's storybook, which combined with the narration and voice acting by Siobhán Hewlett, make it quite the wondrous experience.”
- “With a touching story, great narration, inventive and challenging puzzles, gorgeous visual design, and a good soundtrack, Song of the Deep is a true gem of a game.”
- “The story was also super disappointing.”
- “The story is very cliche, the themes are ham-fisted, and the foreshadowing is ridiculously obvious.”
- “The story left me completely uninvested; the characters failed to make me sympathize or care at all about them, and the overall plot just felt weak.”
music
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions
The music in "Song of the Deep" is widely praised for its beautiful and calming qualities, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the serene underwater exploration and the game's narrative, with many considering it a standout feature alongside the visuals. While some found the music less memorable over time, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The music, story, and art are all balanced wonderfully into an artistic masterpiece of a game.”
- “Not only does it do an excellent job in giving a sense of calmness and serenity while exploring a beautiful kelp forest, or make you feel a great sense of urgency while traveling through a treacherous cavern while being chased by deadly foes, but it's also just simply, a fantastic collection of music.”
- “The atmosphere is established so masterfully by the story, the soundtrack, and the narrator.”
- “The music is very, um, watery - which got a touch dull after a while.”
- “The music is passable, but not particularly memorable, and some of the sound effects randomly play much too loudly.”
- “Pacing was boring, ship controls aren't quite as solid as you'd like, music is forgettable, story and characters are bland, way too much unnecessary narration, same old boss mechanics and mob enemy sequences, barely satisfying ending.”
gameplay
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique underwater mechanics and exploration elements typical of the metroidvania genre, offering a mix of puzzles, ship upgrades, and combat. While many players appreciate the beautiful environments and engaging story, some find the gameplay to be clunky, with frustrating controls and tedious puzzles that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but may not fully satisfy those seeking fast-paced action or deep gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, and I found it quite easy to control with a mouse and keyboard; however, I am primarily a PC gamer and that is what my hands are used to.”
- “Gameplay is really fun and there are plenty of rewarding upgrades along the way, making one want to explore every corner of the ocean world.”
- “A truly great underwater game, rich with atmosphere and fluid gameplay, a lot to explore and unlock, very nice narrative, a simple but still charming story that serves its purpose.”
- “The gameplay itself is a bit disappointing.”
- “At no point did I go out exploring and find something cool and new or special; if it isn't the way the game is making you go at the time, you can't go there, which ruins the gameplay entirely.”
- “You may think that the puzzles would help the gameplay...they don't, they worsen it.”
graphics
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75% positive mentions, 24% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the beautiful 2D art style, stunning visuals, and well-designed environments that enhance the overall atmosphere. The combination of charming storybook aesthetics and vibrant underwater settings creates a captivating experience, often compared to titles like "Ori and the Blind Forest." While some users noted minor issues with character rendering and camera angles, the overall presentation is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game's visuals look simply stunning.”
- “Beautiful graphics and relaxing sounds... I love it!”
- “The presentation is solid, graphics are pleasing to the eye, each area is different and unique; somebody put their heart into the visuals.”
- “I was running the game at 2560x1080 on ultrawide and never had a problem...except...graphical options are abysmal (I had to change the launch options to get ultrawide).”
- “For reference, this is all on the lowest resolution (which is the only option, as specific graphic settings do not exist), on a computer that can quite comfortably handle a heavily modded Skyrim on high settings.”
- “The final issue is that at certain points it maxes out my graphics card even at 60fps.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79% positive mentions, 15% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive soundtracks, and coherent storytelling, creating a soulful and engaging experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric depth, particularly in the underwater settings, which enhance the overall gameplay with a sense of wonder and exploration. However, some reviewers noted that combat frustrations can detract from the otherwise captivating atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is established so masterfully by the story, the soundtrack, and the narrator.”
- “This game is gorgeous, smooth, and creates a perfect atmosphere.”
- “Very atmospheric and full of wonder, Song of the Deep is another Insomniac classic.”
- “But I can't help but feel so frustrated by the combat that it completely breaks this atmosphere for me.”
- “This game is not that one, but the story runs strong and the atmosphere is thick.”
- “Love the tone and atmosphere of this game.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game "Song of the Deep" receives mixed reviews; while many praise its touching story, beautiful art, and heartfelt narration, others feel it falls short in delivering a strong emotional impact, often citing issues like a lack of voice acting and a rushed ending. The game is described as a charming underwater adventure with a captivating world and inventive puzzles, but some players find the emotional depth lacking, particularly in character connection. Overall, it is seen as a visually appealing experience with a heartwarming narrative, despite some gameplay frustrations.
- “With a touching story, great narration, inventive and challenging puzzles, gorgeous visual design, and a good OST, Song of the Deep is a true gem of a game.”
- “A beautiful and touching underwater adventure with a sprawling world that I love.”
- “Song of the Deep's story is touching, its art is beautiful, and its soundtrack is lovely, all of which come together to make a visual treat.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and repetitive puzzles and combat, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some puzzles are optional, certain key challenges can feel overly burdensome, particularly due to poor visibility and slow-paced mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as mediocre, with an inconsistent checkpoint system exacerbating the grind.
- “It's basically just a long string of increasingly frustrating and tedious puzzles.”
- “Combat is tedious and gets repetitive with little enemy variety, and there are lots of rooms locking you in until you beat them all.”
- “However, it's so extremely slow-paced and the puzzles are more tedious than anything; I couldn't bring myself to finish the game.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, such as getting stuck, erratic grabbing mechanics, and visual anomalies. Players have reported audio problems, including sudden loud sounds, and some secrets are reportedly impossible to access. Despite the developers recommending specific controllers, compatibility issues persist, indicating a lack of thorough playtesting.
- “There are some smaller bugs; you can often get stuck when you play as the girl, which is inexcusable. I wish the grabbing mechanisms weren't broken - too often it feels random and buggy, doing strange things, grabbing stuff I didn't want to, even if I'm aiming and highlighting something else!”
- “Off the top of my head, I recall coins in the environment that swam through and couldn't be picked up, visual glitches where objects weren't frozen in appearance when they should have been, light beams that never appeared on screen but still damaged me, and the camera not properly panning with the sub.”
- “Oh, and the game has a lot of glitches and bugs - it has not been playtested well.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20% positive mentions, 20% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in a short time frame (around 15 hours) and lacks additional content such as bosses to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some found it enjoyable, the consensus is that the limited replay value diminishes its long-term appeal, especially considering its price point.
- “Not a bad ROI, in my opinion, but it's got basically no replay value.”
- “The only con for me is the lack of replay value.”
- “Rather short; I got all achievements and 100% everything in about 15 hours, and little replayability.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as cute and entertaining, particularly through its light-hearted puzzles, though some players found the overall experience lacking and felt it didn't deliver enough comedic moments to maintain interest. While there are funny elements, such as amusing character observations, the game may not consistently engage players seeking a more robust comedic experience.
- “Funny, he doesn’t look that intelligent.”
- “- Cute funny puzzles, even though they are not too hard, they are entertaining.”
- “I initially got about an hour in before getting utterly bored and moved on, but I realized it might get better or at least something funny might happen.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 57% neutral mentions, 43% negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with players experiencing initial stuttering and performance hiccups that can be mitigated through settings adjustments. While some technical issues and frustrating physics-related puzzles detract from the experience, they are generally considered minor compared to the game's strengths.
- “Poor handling and physics, stuttered visual performance.”
- “Camera issues, performance hiccups.”
- “Song of the Deep has a welcoming setting and the foundations of a good game, but poor controls and performance issues leave it occasionally gasping for air.”