“The Deep: True Horror Edition” Video + Review

The Deep: True Horror Version is an indie horror that I had seen floating around before, but only recently picked up a free copy so that I could see what it was all about. The game is a 3D pixel survival horror and exploration game made by Alexander Collins and released back in March of this year. Like the other games I have covered here to date, it is available completely free online.

In The Deep, the player wakes up in a room deep within some dark underground labyrinth with no knowledge of how they got there, why they were taken here, or what is actually going on. Equipped with absolutely nothing except what seems like a limited-range light-source, they are faced with little choice but to leave the seemingly-safe confines of their room and explore the chambers beyond in the hopes of finding a way out and back to the surface.

The game is an experience that seems to be able to be completed in an hour or less if you go at an average pace, yet all in all it provides a good journey that builds up slowly but knows how to throw in the scares while building up a suspenseful atmosphere. The areas you explore also have their share of small puzzles to solve, and this is a welcomed change of pace. At times, the game seems as if it lacks some polish, putting you in areas you might get stuck in and need to load your progress, but most of the time this is a very minor annoyance. The soundtrack is very well done and really adds to the atmosphere, and in the end, the only thing I found lacking about the game was the narrative and how strange the “Well of Souls” portion was. I suppose I was looking for more of a sinister plot, and yet found the lack of it to be a little disappointing.

In the end, though, the game reminds me of a horror-based Minecraft, but ultimately that isn’t a bad thing at all. I really think the developer did an admirable job with this one, all things considered.

FINAL SCORE: B-

SCARE FACTOR: Atmospherically creepy with a few good jump scares

Jessica Brown

Retro Games and Technology Editor. She'll beat pretty much every Mega Man game without breaking a sweat.