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Deep Fear (1998)

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Deep Fear (ディープフィアー, Dīpu Fiā) is a 1998 survival horror video game co-developed by System Sacom and Sega CS2, and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It was one of the last first-party titles released for Saturn, and never saw a North American release. Set on the underwater Big Table research facility, the player controls John Mayor as an unknown infection begins transforming the facility staff into hostile mutants. Gameplay has Mayor exploring the Big Table, gathering items and resources while fighting enemies.

The game was designed as a science fiction take on the Japanese "Mansion Mystery" genre, with the aim being to create fear from the environments and monsters. Notable staff included co-producer Rieko Kodama, composer Kenji Kawai, and artist Yasushi Nirasawa as monster designer. The game met with mixed reviews from critics; praise was given to its music and elements of its gameplay−which was often compared to Resident Evil−while reactions to its graphics were mixed and the voice acting was panned.

Deep Fear is a survival horror video game where players take on the role of John Mayor fighting mutants that are overrunning the Big Table underwater research base. Mayor and other characters and enemies are portrayed using 3D models, while the environments are pre-rendered and shown through fixed camera angles. Mayor is controlled through both traditional tank controls, or with full analogue control using the Saturn's 3D Pad gamepad. The player navigates the Big Table, completing missions by finding certain characters and mission-related items, managing ammunition and resources such as first aid kits, and fighting enemies scattered through the environment.

Combat relies on guns, with Mayor having limited movement while his weapon is drawn. New weapons can be found at lockers scattered through the Big Table, which also allow the player to restock ammunition. Mayor can also carry one powerful "Special" weapon at a time. A key mechanic in-game is that each area in the Big Table has limited air supply, which is depleted over time and decreases quicker with gunfire. The air supply must be recharged at Air System terminals, with different areas having different air level limits to manage. The player must also use a breathing mask with limited air to explore underwater areas. The Air System terminals also act as save points. The player meets a game over if Mayor's health is depleted by enemies, Mayor's breath runs out, or local air supply runs out.

Deep Fear was co-developed for the Sega Saturn by System Sacom and Sega CS2, later known as Overworks. It was the last game developed by the division under the Sega CS2 name, and one of the last games from System Sacom prior to withdrawing from software development in 1998. The CGI graphics was created by Highwaystar, while game studio ISCO was in charge of movie production. Rieko Kodama, who had worked on multiple Sega projects, was invited to assist on the project as co-producer by Noriyoshi Ohba. Deep Fear was her return to leading game development after a period in management, and she enjoyed the experience due to working with external developers and staff. System Sacom put together a team specially to design the game. Kodama described the game as a science fiction take on a "Mansion Mystery", a genre popular in Japan featuring mysteries set in a Western building. The goal was to evoke fear and horror from the environment as well as the monsters. Executive producer Youji Ishii stated the team's wish to emulate the gameplay of Resident Evil (1996), while co-director Kunihiro Shirahata cited John Carpenter's movie The Thing (1982) as inspiration for the narrative. The scenario was written by Yuzo Sugano.

『DEEP FEAR』（ディープフィアー）は、セガ・エンタープライゼスから1998年7月16日に発売されたセガサターン用ホラーアクションアドベンチャーゲームである。

主人公のジョンを操り、海底基地という閉鎖された空間を舞台に、クリーチャーと闘いながら次々発生するアクシデントに対処。最終的には基地から脱出するのが目的。基地内の探索・戦闘の合間に、CGムービーによるイベントシーンが挿入される形でゲームが進行する。

不意にモンスターへと変化する乗組員、リアルタイムに減り続ける酸素、水圧による基地の崩壊など、続けざまにおこる恐怖を追求している所が最大の特徴となる。

このゲームは日本とEUでのみの販売で、アメリカでは発売されなかった。因みにEUで発売された最後のセガサターン用ゲームソフトだった。

21世紀初めのある日、宇宙船のスペースポッド（打ち上げ脱出システム）が大気圏外から太平洋上へと落下、アメリカ海軍の原子力潜水艦・シーフォックスにより回収された。ポッドに生命反応が確認されたため、シーフォックスはグアム島沖の海底補給基地・ビッグテーブルにポッドを運び込むが、任務を終えてビッグテーブルを離れようとしたシーフォックスが突如暴走。基地内の移動型ネイビー（海軍施設）エリアに激突してしまう。ビッグテーブルの総指揮官であるクランシー・ドーキンスは、ERSのレスキュー隊員であるジョン・メイヤーに、ネイビーエリアに取り残された研究員、ジーナ・ワイズバーグの救出を要請する。 その後、ジョンはジーナを見つけ、一緒にネイビーエリアへ避難する。そこで彼女は事件の真相を語った後、クリーチャーへ変形。ジョンによって倒された後、最後は彼がセットした自爆装置によってネイビーエリアと運命を共にした。