Under water, death lurks in all forms, with deadly graphics to boot. What kind of game is Death in the Water 2?
The Forest under water, wait, doesn’t that already exist? After all, Subnautica is one of the best survival games ever! Death in the Water 2 is aiming in a similar direction, albeit in a completely different way than you might have expected.
The game is the sequel to Death in the Water and is being developed by a two-person studio in the Unity engine. We present the unusual project to you.
This is what Death in the Water 2 is all about
The trailer shows you gameplay scenes that also show off the strong physics calculation and underwater animations:
Players in Death in the Water 2 must survive in dives that take place in an open underwater game world. Each so-called wave begins with a phase of exploration, where secrets can be uncovered and equipment (including weapons) recovered. Initially, creatures like sharks and moray eels are still largely passive as long as we don’t attack or provoke them.
An octopus leviathan called Death pursues us and at some point starts a kind of mind control over the creatures, and now the action really begins! Suddenly sharks attack us and try to kill us by any means necessary. Fantasy creatures like mermaids armed with harpoons are also out to get us. Through the tension-generating music and terrifying screams, the game creates an oppressive atmosphere that reinforces our sense of helplessness in the alien element.
For whom?
If you enjoy games with ever stronger waves of enemies or horde modes, Death in the Water 2 might be worth a look. Or if you love the ocean as a scenario, horror just always goes and you appreciate chic, realistic-looking graphics.
If you’re expecting a classic survival game in which you have to wrest every achievement from the sea and hunger and thirst are also serious opponents, you’re probably completely wrong with Death in the Water 2. It’s not a classic survival game like Subnautica, but primarily a horror action game where survival is the focus of your efforts. Survival horror would be an apt genre term.
What do we like so far, and what not?
We like that already:
- Deadly Ocean
- Scary enemy design
- Fluid animations
These questions remain unanswered:
- How is progress shaping up?
- Can a hordemode offer enough variety in the long term?
By the way, there’s a sequel to the underwater survival hit Subnautica, which we take a close look at in our review:
What else is important?
Death in the Water 2 is a single player only title. The game is scheduled for release in January 2023, so it won’t be long in coming. A (Steam page) already exists. The price has not yet been revealed.
You can read my personal opinion of the game on the next page.
Editorial conclusion
I love Subnautica, although I experience a very specific variant of thalassophobia when I swim in the real ocean (I dread encountering a submarine underwater, no kidding). The game just gives me the incredible feeling of being lost in an alien world where native creatures are superior to me in many ways.
This is exactly the side of me that Death in the Water 2 appeals to: The great animations and horror ambience definitely grab my attention. But now I’m wondering whether I’m not jumping into the tub with too high expectations because of Subnautica. After all, a survival adventure is something quite different from a horde shooter.
I’m afraid that after a few hours, when I’ve seen all the enemies, the initial magic might be lost. But I’d be happy to be proven wrong. After all, I don’t have to wait too much longer.
What do you think of Death in the Water 2? Will you be happy to go diving or is it just too scary for you? Feel free to write us in the comments!
