Deep Beyond review

In a world full of sporting and massive open-world games, I like it when a simple but captivating title flourishes. Deep Beyond has done just that with its short but fascinating play time. This action-adventure experience incorporates intricate puzzles and vibrant landscapes to great effect. Avix Games has done a nice job with each element of their project, and I enjoyed every moment.

The action follows Lily, a hardy adventurer who loves to explore the world’s biggest oceans. As a child, she was told that her father had passed away. Yet, his memory inspired her to seek treasure and explore the seas. Deep Beyond revolves around the danger of treasure hunting and how mankind’s greed can change the lives of everything and everyone it touches.

The story takes many twists and turns, and I will not ruin it for you. Astute gamers will guess the major twist, and it dawned on me pretty quickly what the conclusion was likely to be. This didn’t ruin the rest of the game, but I wish the developer had been a little more clever with their plot writing skills.

A dog is man’s best friend.

Exploring each small area was simple. The developer has highlighted every key point with a vibrant red hue, and your faithful dog, Chester, leads the way. This makes it nigh on impossible to get lost. This handholding wasn’t necessary, but it makes it accessible to less able gamers. Moreover, some of the puzzles could be confusing, and the guidance prevented frustration from kicking in.

Violence and danger run through every aspect of the game. However, there is no combat, and many of the key moments are shown through clean and enjoyable cinematic techniques. These cutscenes look great, thanks to the pop art   visuals. The developer has overcome any complaints by blending contrasting colours to great effect. Sadly, though, the animation is a little robotic, and this is a shame.

I enjoyed the incredible audio, though. Deep Beyond is atmospheric, and each piece of ambient sound and the amazing acting builds a world that is alive and full of energy. Additionally, the flashbacks are beautifully acted, and I enjoyed the connection between the younger and older protagonists.

Deep Beyond is a joy to play.

Though the aforementioned hand-holding was unnecessary, the controls are great! Each action scene and puzzle requires you to push and pull items or weave past fallen obstacles. Furthermore, you’ll have to turn images and hunt for items in each of the small areas. None of these tasks were challenging, but the well-laid-out controller makes this a joy to play.

My only complaint is the short playtime. I finished the game and unlocked every achievement in under 2 hours. I didn’t rush, and I explored every corner of every chapter. This will disappoint people, and I was left wanting. However, under £10, it still provides great value, and I recommend buying your copy from the Xbox Store.