Beneath Surfaces on Consoles: But is it More Than Just a Deep Dive?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN South Africa dropped a trailer for *Beneath*, an aquatic roguelike coming to consoles, and I'm cautiously optimistic – the premise is intriguing, but roguelikes need more than just a cool setting to truly shine. I'm keen to see if it's more than just a deep dive into familiar territory.
Right, so IGN South Africa just dropped a trailer announcing *Beneath* is splashing its way onto consoles. Now, I’ll be honest, I hadn't heard of this one before, so I dove in (pun absolutely intended). It's a roguelike aquatic adventure where you're scavenging for scraps in a post-apocalyptic ocean. Think *Subnautica* meets *Rogue Legacy*, but with, shall we say, a slightly grimmer aesthetic.
The trailer showcases the claustrophobic environments, the monstrous sea creatures (bloody hell, some of them are terrifying!), and the resource management gameplay. You’re basically trying to survive by the skin of your teeth (or, perhaps, the barnacles on your submarine?). You'll be crafting, upgrading, and exploring procedurally generated levels, which, let's face it, can be a blessing or a curse depending on the implementation. We've all been burned by procedurally generated content that feels…well, procedural.
What intrigues me most is the survival aspect. It's not just about shooting the biggest fish; you're managing your oxygen, your hull integrity, and your sanity. The description throws around terms like 'psychological horror,' which, if done well, could be genuinely unsettling. I reckon the deep sea is prime real estate for psychological terror. Imagine your oxygen running low, the hull groaning under the pressure, and some bioluminescent monstrosity peering in through the porthole. Chilling, right?
But here’s the thing: roguelikes are ten a penny these days. What makes *Beneath* stand out from the crowd? Is it just another 'die, upgrade, repeat' cycle, or does it offer something genuinely unique? The aquatic setting is a good start, but it needs to be more than just a reskin of a familiar formula. Fair dinkum, the game needs to have a compelling narrative and addictive gameplay loop, otherwise it'll just sink without a trace.
IGN South Africa didn't specify release dates or platforms (beyond 'consoles'), so we're still in the dark on those details. Keep your eyes peeled – this one could be a hidden gem, or it could be another case of style over substance. Only time (and a playthrough or two) will tell. For now, I'll remain cautiously optimistic. Hopefully, *Beneath* brings something innovative to the roguelike genre, and isn't just another *depth*-charge of disappointment. (Okay, I'll stop with the water puns now... probably.)
Tags: roguelike, survival horror, indie games, aquatic adventure, console games
Original article: IGN South Africa