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The other day, I was thrilled to receive my first review code, and just a day later, I got another one! With this said, I’m delighted to be here today with my Deep Beyond review for the Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch.
Deep Beyond is a narrative-driven game that was recently released for consoles. I’ve known about Deep Beyond for a while, and it feels great to have the opportunity to review it, thanks to Avix Games. I hope I can do this game justice with my review.
So, without further ado, let’s find out if Deep Beyond is worth it:
The Setting
You play as a girl named Lilly, whose goal is to find the lost treasure of Captain Espinosa with the help of her friend/foster father, Howard, and her loyal companion dog, Chester. While diving, she finally discovers a clue that will lead her to the promised treasure, but as soon as she surfaces, she’s attacked, and Howard goes missing. It’s now up to her to discover who did it and why.
The premise was enough to get me hooked. And, while the events unraveled naturally, I felt the climax came too early, leaving not enough time for the mystery to settle, which made the final twist a bit underwhelming.
Still, the ending hit me hard as a father, any path I chose left me feeling bittersweet. While the story could have been longer, it ended in a very real and down-to-earth way.
All I wanted was for the game to be a bit longer and to keep exploring Lilly’s character, as I became attached to her. The writing was solid, and the voice actors did a great job reprising their roles.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very simple, and this is where I’d like to see a bit more depth. Every interaction, from opening a door to solving a puzzle, requires just the press of the A button. This isn’t inherently bad, as it reminds me of old Point and Click games.
Sometimes simplicity is key, but more actions would create variety in puzzle-solving. However, this simplicity makes the game accessible to anyone. Since this is a narrative-driven game, the straightforward gameplay helps keep the focus on the story.
The Visual Appeal of Deep Beyond
Even before I knew much about the gameplay, I was drawn to Deep Beyond purely for the visuals. It’s as if I’m reading a comic book in motion, and it works incredibly well, especially when they emphasize this by showing different camera angles in comic-book-style panels.
Then there’s the color palette in each scene, which consolidates the game’s identity. It uses a limited palette of contrasting dark tones and lighter hues like orange, yellow, and red. I especially loved how each area I entered changed its palette to match the atmosphere, enhancing immersion.
The Soundtrack
The soundtrack was excellent. Just like the color palette, it changed to reflect the mood of each scene. The opening song was the real highlight, setting the tone and assuring me that I was about to experience something special.
Conclusion
Deep Beyond is a well-polished, narrative-driven game that deserves to be played for its compelling story and unique art style. However, the short gameplay time limits the story’s climax, as there isn’t enough time for the mystery to fully settle.
Still, it’s a game I’d recommend to anyone looking for a short but heartfelt story. To me, this is the beginning of something great for Avix Games, and I hope they build on this amazing foundation in the future.