Wretched Depths
- April 26, 2023
- Wretched Devs LLC
Get on SteamPlay as Sam and fish to your hearts content, sell fish you've caught, collect better gear, and use it to explore the depths of the mysterious lake, but be warned as no one knows what lies at the bottom. Wretched Depths is a PSX-style horror fishing game created by students at the University of Utah.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Wretched Depths offers a unique blend of fishing and Lovecraftian horror, creating an engaging atmosphere that keeps players intrigued.
- The game features simple and intuitive fishing mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
- As a free game, it provides a surprisingly polished experience with good graphics and sound design, making it a worthwhile play for fans of the genre.
- The game is quite short, with many players feeling it ends too abruptly and leaves them wanting more content and story development.
- Inventory management issues, such as the inability to release unwanted fish and a small cooler size, can lead to frustration during gameplay.
- Some players noted that the game lacks depth in its narrative and character interactions, making it feel more like a demo than a fully fleshed-out experience.
- story40 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally praised for its intriguing elements and atmospheric world-building, though many players feel it is too short and could benefit from further development and depth. While some appreciate the unique narrative and horror themes, others criticize the pacing and lack of a substantial storyline, suggesting that additional content and exploration would enhance the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a compelling hook, but players are eager for more elaboration and complexity.
“Great world building and atmospheric build up, amazing design work, and an intriguing, unraveling story.”
“I loved, loved, loved this little fishing story about endless horrors lying beneath the surface.”
“I'm really intrigued to see how this game's story develops, but what is there so far is a great start and I think these developers are really onto something.”
“Then there is the story, what little there actually is.”
“The storyline just doesn't exist.”
“Although the game attempts to convey a captivating narrative, it is currently difficult to fully grasp the storyline based on the available information.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, combining retro PS1-style graphics with a creepy art style and relaxing yet unsettling music. Players appreciate the effective world-building and tension-building elements that create a spooky environment without relying heavily on jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the gameplay experience, making it both engaging and eerie, with many noting its ability to evoke genuine fear and intrigue.
“Great world building and atmospheric build up, amazing design work, and an intriguing, unraveling story.”
“A hauntingly good atmospheric fishing simulator.”
“This was a really good game with an amazing atmosphere, interesting setting and characters despite there only being so many.”
“The game already makes me walk dreadfully slow and has no run option, which does not lend itself to the atmosphere at all; it just makes the relatively barren exploration more tedious.”
“No jump scares, just atmosphere.”
“Immersing players in the atmosphere of the 20th century, the game effectively creates an intriguing and slightly eerie environment.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Wretched Depths" is characterized by its simple and intuitive fishing mechanics, which provide a relaxing and engaging experience, enhanced by a creepy atmosphere and charming art style. While some players noted its brevity, the overall consensus is that the game effectively balances straightforward mechanics with intriguing horror elements, making it enjoyable despite its short duration. The combination of solid mechanics, atmospheric music, and engaging dialogue contributes to a compelling gameplay loop that keeps players entertained.
“The fishing mechanics are relaxing and well done; I never once felt frustrated reeling a fish in.”
“Wretched Depths is a short 30-minute to an hour experience, but I was pleasantly surprised by how compelling it was despite its simple fishing mechanics.”
“Relaxing gameplay with so much atmosphere and just the right amount of spooky.”
“It's basically a carbon copy of 'Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia', and while the aesthetics in Wretched Depths are probably much better than the N64 style of Lake Ophelia, the gameplay in Ophelia is essentially better in every way.”
“It may reel me back in when more of the game is caught and released, as of now it's small bait in terms of gameplay - I only played about 45 minutes before it told me that's all that was available for early access.”
“Bad game, only 20 minutes of gameplay made me feel quite disappointed.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Wretched Depths" are intentionally designed to evoke a retro aesthetic reminiscent of PS1 and PS2-era games, which some players find charming and fitting for the horror atmosphere. While the pixelated style and vintage graphics appeal to fans of indie horror, critiques mention issues like poor visibility during gameplay and a lack of clarity in character models. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's nostalgic feel, though opinions vary on their execution and effectiveness.
“I love the art style, the creepy atmosphere, and the fishing gameplay loop.”
“Some people may not understand the choice to go with the retro PSX graphics, but I think it absolutely adds to the overall feel and atmosphere of the game.”
“The pixelated/aliased filter that goes over the screen while in the water does not do the graphics any favors, and the larger fish take up the entire screen while hooked so that we can't even see their in-game models clearly, which seem to be intended as one of the main appeals of the game.”
“Wretched Depths is a student-project version of the same, done in PS1-style early 3D graphics.”
“The graphics are designed to emulate PS2 era, so nothing super hard performance-wise and definitely fits the nostalgia niche they were looking to fill.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a relaxing and immersive atmosphere, reminiscent of classic PS1 titles. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with its balance of creepiness and charm. Overall, the music complements the gameplay and setting effectively, contributing to a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
“Good PS1 style atmosphere, relaxing music, and simple controls (most of which you can rebind).”
“I love the setting, music, and gameplay.”
“Absolutely brilliant, good art, good gameplay, good music and excellent atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is terrible.”
“Though this game adds some cool extra features, story elements, radio music, and a bit more creativity, at the core it follows the exact formula of Ophelia.”
“From graphics to music, from story to ending.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its playful fishing mechanics and amusing moments, such as the comical disappearance of a character into the lake. Players find the quirky interactions with the "funny fish" particularly entertaining, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay.
“Fishing is funny; gotta catch them all!”
“The way [spoiler]the black figure[/spoiler] disappears into the lake is hilarious.”
“The funny fish really adds to the fishing experience.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it tedious due to slow movement and lack of a run option, others appreciate the challenge it provides, noting that it remains engaging despite the repetitive nature.
“The game already makes me walk dreadfully slow and has no run option, which does not lend itself to the atmosphere at all; it just makes the relatively barren exploration more tedious.”
“The game contained mostly grinding, and while it was fun, it often felt repetitive and drawn out.”
“Grinding in this game feels like a chore rather than an engaging experience, making it hard to stay motivated.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability primarily for players interested in collecting all fish, but overall, it lacks depth, with limited exploration and interaction in the world, reducing the incentive to replay.
“Enjoyable and replayable if you want to collect all the fish.”
“The game offers a lot of replayability with various challenges and collectibles to keep you engaged.”
“Each playthrough can feel different due to the random events and unique fish to catch.”
“There's not much in the way of replayability; the only real things to find in the world are some tape recorders left by another crazy fisherman trying to discover the truth. The town is pretty much just the fishing shop and some basic buildings that you can't enter or interact with.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return. The world feels static and lacks the depth needed for multiple playthroughs.”
“The game offers minimal variation in gameplay, making it hard to justify replaying it after the first run.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome atmosphere and appealing art style, which resonate even with players typically averse to horror games, suggesting a unique blend of charm and intrigue that invites exploration.
“I'm really not one for horror games, but something about the atmosphere and the art style made me feel like giving it a try.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are intentionally designed to evoke a PS2-era aesthetic, which allows for relatively low performance demands, effectively catering to a nostalgic audience.
“The graphics are designed to emulate the PS2 era, so nothing super demanding performance-wise, and it definitely fits the nostalgia niche they were aiming to fill.”
