Song of the Deep

By going against their own grain, Insomniac Games has crafted a true winner with Song of the Deep, which is one of 2016’s most hypnotic and charming games.

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"Song of the Deep" is a metroidvania-style underwater adventure game where you play as Merryn, a young Irish girl in search of her missing father. Explore the mysterious depths of the ocean, discovering ancient ruins and mythical creatures, while upgrading your submarine and solving puzzles to progress. With a focus on atmospheric exploration and discovery, the game immerses you in a beautifully realized underwater world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 325 reviews

story82 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Beautifully drawn graphics and immersive underwater environments.
Engaging story with a charming narrative and excellent voice acting.
Fun exploration and puzzle-solving mechanics that encourage backtracking.

Controls can be clunky and frustrating, especially with mouse and keyboard.
Combat feels repetitive and lacks variety in enemy types.
Some puzzles can be tedious and not well explained, leading to confusion.

story
190 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Song of the Deep" is often described as a charming, whimsical tale centered around a young girl's quest to find her missing father, presented in a storybook style with beautiful hand-drawn visuals and a soothing narration. While many players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and the emotional undertones, some criticize the plot for being predictable and simplistic, likening it to a children's story. Overall, the narrative is seen as a fitting complement to the game's exploration and gameplay, though opinions vary on its depth and impact.
- “The storytelling was great, and coupling it with the wonderful storybook artwork made it feel like a tale being told by a warm fire.”
- “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, make it quite the wondrous experience.”
- “The story was also super disappointing.”
- “The story is very cliche (daughter embarks on a journey to save her dad, experiences conflict, wants to give up, pushes forward, eventually saves the dad, and happy ever after), 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
149 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % 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 exploration and combat elements, creating a serene yet engaging experience. While some find the music memorable and enchanting, others note it can occasionally feel repetitive, but overall, it significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The music is wonderful, the art is fantastic, and the gameplay is fun and challenging enough to enjoy yourself but not get too frustrated.”
- “The atmosphere is established so masterfully by the story, the soundtrack, and the narrator.”
- “The music adds to the mystery and beauty of the world that you explore as you search for your father.”
- “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
117 mentions
39 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this underwater metroidvania is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, with players piloting a submarine through beautifully designed environments. While many reviewers appreciate the unique mechanics and the charm of the game, some criticize the clunky controls, slow pacing, and occasional lack of depth in gameplay elements. Overall, the experience is generally enjoyable, with a focus on exploration and upgrades, though it may not satisfy those seeking fast-paced action.
- “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 very smooth, the puzzles are interesting, and the difficulty is good.”
- “The gameplay is relaxing (like almost all water-based games) without being too slow or boring.”
- “I locked my own progression by doing one of the core mechanics of a metroidvania: exploring.”
- “The gameplay itself is a bit disappointing.”
- “You may think that the puzzles would help the gameplay... they don't; they worsen it.”
graphics
99 mentions
75 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the beautiful 2D art style, stunning visuals, and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. The combination of charming illustrations, vibrant underwater settings, and a cohesive aesthetic reminiscent of storybook art contributes to a captivating atmosphere. While some minor technical issues were noted, the overall presentation is considered a highlight, making it visually appealing and engaging for players.
- “The game's storytelling and cutscenes are in the style of a children's storybook, which combined with the narration and voice acting, and the game's visuals, make it quite the wondrous experience.”
- “The graphics are beautiful but simplistic; it really goes to show you don't need ultra 4K to make a game beautiful.”
- “The visuals for the game are excellent and quite calming to look at when twined with the brilliant music score that plays along in the background.”
- “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
24 mentions
79 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
13 % 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 underwater settings, which enhances the overall gameplay and emotional connection. However, some reviewers noted that certain gameplay elements, like combat, can disrupt this 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.”
- “Until they wrecked my sub and I started playing again... then a new area showed itself with a different atmosphere.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the story touching and heartwarming, others feel it falls flat due to a lack of impactful narration and character connection. The gameplay's backtracking can detract from the emotional experience, though the visual design and music are praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere. Ultimately, the emotional depth varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the journey and others feeling it lacks resonance.
- “A heart-warming deep sea adventure with tons of peril and metroidvania-styled gameplay.”
- “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.”
grinding
8 mentions
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, key challenges can feel overly drawn out and unengaging, compounded by an inconsistent checkpoint system that can result in lost progress. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment, making the game feel more like a chore than a rewarding adventure.
- “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.”
- “I feel like this game wasted my time; it's not awful, but it's mediocre at best and frustratingly tedious at worst.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including frequent bugs that hinder gameplay, such as getting stuck in certain areas, erratic grabbing mechanics, and visual glitches. Players have reported problems with audio inconsistencies and unresponsive elements, indicating a lack of thorough playtesting. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, detracting from the overall experience.
- “There are some smaller bugs; you can often get stuck when playing as the girl, which is inexcusable. I wish the grabbing mechanisms weren't broken—way too often it feels random and buggy, doing strange things, grabbing items 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 clearly hasn't been playtested well.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its low replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed quickly—often within 15 hours—leaving little incentive to revisit. While some enjoyed the experience, the lack of additional content, such as more bosses, detracts from its long-term value.
- “The game needed more bosses and perhaps a little more replayability, but overall it was enjoyable.”
- “No matter how much I enjoy a game, I think that with an 8-hour story and little replay value, it just doesn't quite warrant a $15 price tag.”
- “Not a bad ROI, in my opinion, but it has 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 there is little replayability.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light and cute, with entertaining puzzles that add a fun element, though some players feel it lacks depth and can become boring. Comparisons to earlier titles suggest that while there are moments of humor, they may not be enough to sustain interest throughout the gameplay.
- “Funny, he doesn’t look that intelligent.”
- “Cute, funny puzzles; even though they are not too hard, they are entertaining.”
- “I realized it might get better or at least something funny might happen.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players initially experienced stuttering issues, but found that adjusting settings in the options menu significantly improved performance. Overall, optimization appears to be manageable with some tweaks.
- “When I first started playing, there were stuttering issues, but a quick change in the options menu put a stop to that for the most part.”
- “The game suffers from severe frame rate drops, making it nearly unplayable during intense scenes.”
- “Despite the potential of the game, the optimization is lacking, leading to long loading times and frequent crashes.”