HIDDEN DEEP PREVIEW: DEEP CAVES AND HIGH POTENTIAL
Hidden Deep’s Early Access reveals that the game is much more than its parts. With some fine-tuning before launch, it could be an incredible game from a small development team. This 2D sci-fi horror/thriller is an excellent example of how to wear your inspirations on your sleeve. Action and exploration are the main components.
Hidden Deep has early access with ten levels already released and several challenge modes available. It’s a solid release, with great mechanics and a satisfyingly intense setting. We have about 6 to 7 hours of gameplay and a pretty good idea of what we can expect from the game. Lukasz Kaluski, Cogwheel Software and the sole developer behind this project, said that it was “the largest project of my life in which I put all of my heart and sweat.” It shows. This is also evident in his horror influences from the 80s and 90s, such as “Alien” and “The Thing”. Are the limitations of this game too significant for it to reach its full potential? Will it join the ranks of small-team games like Braid?
THE STORY — A SUBOCEANIC MYSTERY
Although the story is interesting, it is not available in Hidden Deep early accessibility. You are a member of a rescue team heading to the bottom of the ocean. They were looking for mysterious anomalies, and they also collected a blue mineral used for unknown purposes. The facility is a mile below the ocean floor, and you will need to deal with monsters as well as technical issues.
It’s a classic but powerful starting point for the story. The game promises an “immersive dark science-fiction story” which pays homage to the 80s and 90s films and games. However, the level is mainly superficial from what I have seen—many monsters in the facility and even a few dead bodies scattered about. You can also find some environmental storytelling. This is only applicable to your primary mission. You get very little information or plot details.
Although terminals can send brief emails to co-workers, these are limited tto’somethingbad”and ”e locked the doors” These terminals provide a great place to get some background information on the story while also keeping it in the realms of show ddon’ttell. You wwon’tget many levels beyond the radio calls, which tell you what your immediate goals are and some dialogue from the character at the end.
Is it INTENTIONALLY KEEP IN THE DARK?
Despite all this, you ddon’thave to be kept in the dark. Hidden Deep has an oppressive feeling. The preview shows you as many workers being sent to their death. Your boss will tell you what you need, which is appropriate. It ends with a death count, which I find makes you feel less important and expendable. This feeling of horror/thrillers from Eastern Europe can often be quite effective and powerful when done right.
Is it enough to fill this space with blank characters and minimal exposition? No. To draw gamers, too, there must be more mystery. Although I hope that the story is hidden deep within the game, it lacks. I hope to see the story in the ggame’s10 levels after 7 hours of playing.
THE GAMEPLAY: SHOOTING and SPELUNKING
The Hidden Deep early-access shines in the gameplay. It is what keeps the game together, despite its limitations. It’s a 2D action/exploration-platformer. Engineers and Scouts can control and operate machinery, while scouts can use a grappling hook for exploration. Sometimes you may need to switch between several characters. You can explore the mines, fight monsters, and solve puzzles through them. Depending on how difficult the task is, you will receive 20, 7, or 1 extra life. Due to the hostile tunnels spelunking catastrophes, I was exposed to, these extra lives were necessary.
