4/10
Jan 21, 2018·✕ Not Recommended
Beat·Xbox One
The concept of a game free of violence, focused purely on exploration in service to a narrative, is a perfectly noble one. However, despite the evocative setting, Submerged doesn't quite hit the spot.
Our story here is very simple, as we follow a young girl explore a half-sunken city to find medicine for her sickly brother. The setting is the real charm, as crumbling skyscrapers poke out from the lapping waves, and strange creatures emerge from the depths. I always find watery post-apocalypses fascinating, and Submerged's world is no exception.
However, it falls apart when it comes to the gameplay. The sailing is perfunctory, and the platforming isn't much more involved either; you're mostly just jumping between handholds until you get that day's objective. It highlights the main problem here; it's challenge-free as well as combat-free. There aren't really any collectibles to find, so if you're not engaged by the narrative, there's little to keep one playing beyond the nice aesthetic.
Check out my full review! The Almighty Backlog, review #4:
https://thealmightybacklog.wordpress.com/2018/01/22/off-the-backlog-submerged/
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