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Menace from the Deep is a Lovecraftian deck - building roguelike . Starting from Innsmouth , you take on elder gods in unmediated battle as you contend on procedurally generated way toward Cthulhu , collecting a powerful deck along the way .
What I directly feel interesting is that Menace from the Deep use its deck of cards - building identity even in its roguelike pathing . or else of a mathematical function with path like most roguelikes , you ’re give bill draws and must play 12 to arrive at the next boss . These card vary from passive encounter ( workshop , emplacement visit ) to battles with monsters and corrupted humankind . You draw more card after playing each , and you’re able to halt onto card for later when you might need the resources more . It ’s a somewhat interesting car-mechanic that leave the game more identity element .
The genuine turn - base combat feel less original . In armed combat , you meet cards to assault or oppose ( your role only ) against enemy . you’re able to use direct attack , card game that implement yellowish brown , or block that avoid damage via a decaying secondary health bar .
Combat quickly becomes somewhat predictable because you see enemy and ally actions for the next turn . Special encounters and singular enemy abilities can refine this , but combat broadly take after the same step : damage blocking enemies ; closure when enemies are about to damage you . This depend on your deck and run , but it by and large works out this style . Any health lose carries over and winning Lashkar-e-Tayyiba you unlock or upgrade cards .
If you read my limited review , this might fathom shockingly similar to Knock on the casket Lid . That ’s because it is . Both are inspired by ( and pretty derivative of ) Slay the Spire . Menace from the Deep does n’t do enough to separate itself automatically ; it feels like Slay the Spire with a Lovecraftian pelage of paint .
For many , that ’s a recipe for success , and I wo n’t pretend the game is n’t fun . It ’s a fun recipe , and the developers have create a very interesting setting . I just feel they could have done more mechanically and with the Lovecraftian theme .
Lovecraft does n’t just exhort Menace from the Deep ; it feels like a direct but surface - level adaptation . name , reference , and locations are used without much attending to item , and the composition never goes deep . Cthulhu , for good example , is incorrectly called an Elder God , and it feels uncanny overcome the big old one by throwing brick at it — even if price carries over between runs , which is a cool concept .
The piece of writing is slightly strangle by inapt localization , making the English dialogue stilted . However , its worst aspect is its brevity , never delving into the story or fiber motive . Characters rarely mouth more than a time in cutscenes .
Menace from the Deep offer a fun mix of deck - construction and roguelike mechanism in a Lovecraftian setting , but it does n’t in full capitalise on either . The pack of cards - base pathing is a fresh twist , providing a new fashion to navigate encounters and boss fight . However , the inwardness turn - based combat feel overly familiar , echoing Slay the Spire .
While the plot create an engaging , if predictable , experience , it falls short of volunteer something truly alone . The Lovecraftian theme is underutilized , with surface - level denotation conk out to enrich the narrative or characters . The writing , handicap by location and miss depth , does n’t capture Lovecraft ’s standard atmosphere .
Despite these defect , Menace from the Deep remains gratifying for lover of the musical genre ( I ’m tentatively calling it “ Spire - like ” ) . It ’s still fun for those search a roguelike with a twist . With some mechanically skillful tweak , it could become a standout , but currently , it sense like an unrealized opportunity .
The Final Word
Menace from the Deep is a Lovecraftian twisting on the Slay the Spire formula that , while playfulness , falls myopic of its potential .
Try Hard Guides received a PC review code for this game . Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on ourGame Reviewspage ! Menace from the Deep is available onSteam .
