Deep Ones is a 2D action platformer in which you must survive as you try and claw your way out of the dark and dangerous bottom of the sea. Learn more about it in our Deep Ones review!

 

Deep Ones instantly reminded me of the ZX Spectrum, a classic console known for the garish hues of pinks, blues, yellows, and greens – a look that has a unique charm to it! I felt as if I had been transported back to my childhood, playing the likes of Attic Attac on my very first games console – the beloved ZX Speccy! If you’re not a fan of the homage this one pays to games of an age past because of its look and feel, then my review probably isn’t going to win you over, but be sure to at least give it a chance since it’s a minimalist and fun release on the PlayStation family.

In this one, you play as a nameless scuba diver who is out looking for his submarine that a monster is holding hostage in its sea lair. The way the game is present, you will realize that the main character and the enemies you run into almost lack any animation. Some of you might feel it makes the main character lack a specific personality or character a bit dull, but that’s just the way it is.

At first, you will be running and jumping all over the place, which might make you think that’s all there is to do in the game, but then you’ll be given a weapon: a harpoon that can be fired in a single direction. You won’t be able to spam this attack as you please since it’s a very slow weapon that takes its time to do its thing, and you can’t fire it when jumping, so you definitely need to keep that in mind.

 

You’ll need to get used to how the game’s main character moves and jumps since you will need a specific timing and rhythm to avoid falling down the big bottomless pits you will encounter which are more than ready to kill you. As you run and jump you will find, for example, a weird plant that is a bright pink which will spit a harmful substance your way, but you can luckily barely jump over it to avoid it all together. Later levels are a bit less linear since you will travel in multiple directions looking for keys.

 

I will say that the boss battles are the highlight of Deep Ones. Boss battles are certainly very imaginative while almost being borderline frustrating at the best of times since you’ll need to take your time learning about their movement and attack patterns to memorize them to find a way to strike at the right time. Some bosses are easier than others, but they will all test your skills.

During my time with the game, I run into a single issue: a bug that causes enemies to become stuck in various objects. It’s not a game breaking bug, but it is something that might happen during your time with the game. Other than that, I didn’t notice any major bugs that would keep me from enjoying the game.

Something that trophy hunters are going to love is that the game has a Platinum trophy, which is definitely great for a game with a very affordable price! Most of the trophies are awarded for progressing in the game, and the ones that seem a bit grindy for defeating X number of enemies can actually be farmed by resetting the checkpoints so that you can defeat the same type over and over again. If you do things right, you’re looking at 2-3 hours to get a new Platinum trophy!

Deep Ones is a fun and short action platformer with a charming look that, for those of you who gamed on a ZX Spectrum way back when, will take you back to a moment in time when minimalist graphics and simple gameplay mechanics ruled the scene. The game is available on PS4 and PS Vita for only $4.99, so be sure to give it a try!

Disclaimer
This Deep Ones review is based on a PlayStation 4 copy provided by Sometimes You.