Review of Creatures of the Deep, an extremely relaxing fishing game

The avid fisherman is aware that the idea of ​​fishing as a calm and relaxing pastime is some kind of historical fallacy, but for a video game this is an acceptable compromise and could be perfect for a portable solution, as we’ve seen here. Creatures of deep scrutiny. The game Infinite Dreams was proposed as a kind of fishing adventure in different seas in search of larger and rarer creatures, but without even belittling the more classic fishing that can help the hero progress and become the strongest in the world.

Disturbing reports have come from around the world: unknown creatures seem to be emerging from the depths of the sea, and panic is spreading in coastal towns. These monsters of the abyss represent threats, but they are also great opportunities for all fishermen worthy of the name, so the hero decides to take his boat and sail towards the sights of mysterious creatures, but the only way to go is to reach the fisherman. The big game is definitely long.

And it really is, considering that the progress in Creatures of the Deep isn’t exactly fast as we’ll see, but this is the classic case where the experience is essentially given by the water to travel and get under the hull. We really have too many summaries, maybe too many. Beyond the narrative premise that is somewhat concise but, truth be told, pretty useless at this point, the game immediately puts us in a small boat swarming with fish and mysterious wrecks to catch with fishing line.

a life to fish

In Creatures of the Deep we sail with a small boat (even helicopter if necessary) looking for the ideal places to fish and try to catch something interesting, with a wide view from above. basic mechanism of Gameplay it is exactly the gameplay of the Animal Crossing fishing minigame: shooting near the shadows appearing on the surface or its ripples signaling underwater movement and positioning the bait so that it can be seen by the fish. . Then we have to observe the float and choose the right moment to start shooting with one touch, but make sure that the hook is well placed, otherwise the fish will escape. So the game is mainly focused on choosing the best locations, seeing creatures and correct timing during launch and above all during rescue, and a few additional elements to create a certain progression.

In principle, it is a minigame that has been expanded to be a game in itself, but there are still some characteristic elements that make up the experience. The hero has a progressive level that increases by completing certain tasks entrusted to us by various expert fishermen, which take us around the maps in search of certain fish. These can be handed over to NPCs to further the “story”, but can also be resold in the market to get useful money to reach new fishing grounds and expand the marina you started with other structures. Beyond online leaderboards, progress Therefore, it mainly consists of new possibilities that open up when you save enough money: different maps that lead to new fish species and encounters with larger creatures, as well as the possibility of acquiring more advanced equipment and larger boats. to expand the area to catch.

This last point is particularly frustrating: the only 5 slots available for transporting fish and objects are always too few, and the cost of moving to the base for the sale of fish makes everything very cumbersome. Here microtransactions: Creatures of the Deep is a free-to-play game that offers the possibility to expand various aspects of “QoL”, such as suitable areas for fish and objects, by paying with gems that are rarely found in the game. It can be purchased for real money.

Creatures of the Deep is a very small production and this is reflected in the technical aspect, but the choice to adopt low poly stylization works very well to create the right atmosphere. Great care has been taken in the creation of the sea, and the transparency effects that allow the seafloor to be seen, the ripples on the surface and the movement of fish especially manage to convey the idea of ​​a living world. Obviously, details are scarce and the distance from which the scene is framed makes everything much simpler and sketchier, but graphic it is perfectly functional to stage a quiet maritime adventure. Also interesting is the fact that you can actively see various other online players directly on the map, although it is not clear whether there is a true online synchronicity.