The Deep Longplay (Arcade) [4K]

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AL82 Retrogaming Longplays

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108,000

Published on May 25, 2022 7:57:15 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV0nDmhdCyI

Game:

Double Dragon II (1988)

Duration: 1:13:15

7,849 views

175

Game Info
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Developer: Wood Place Inc.
Publisher: Wood Place Inc.
Year of Release: 1987

Game Review & Impressions
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Released in 1987, The Deep is an intriguing shoot 'em up from Wood Place Inc. The arcade version was released exclusively in Japan, although somewhat surprisingly, it did receive conversions to some of the home computers of the time, including the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.

The game features 15 levels, all of which involve sailing across an ocean fraught with danger. Waves of enemies will appear from the left and right of the screen and try to scuttle your boat, with your only means of defence a limited supply of depth charges. Pressing the left and right attack buttons launches a depth charge to corresponding side of your vessel, which then begin to sink toward the bottom of the screen. Pressing down on the joystick increases the speed at which the charges descend, giving the player some level of influence over whether the charges strike an enemy or not. You'll need to develop a good sense of timing if you hope to hit anything, and you'll need to keep a watchful eye not only on the radar (sonar?) to see what's coming your way, but also on the number of depth charges remaining. Although depth charges replenish themselves over time, the fact they're limited means you can't afford to waste them, particularly in later levels when you'll be assaulted by fleets of submarines, jellyfish and all other manner of nautical troublemakers.

Fortunately, it is possible to replenish ammunition and earn power-ups by collecting capsules released by defeated enemies, which float up to the surface. Keep an eye out for the 'A' capsules, which bestow your ship with 'uber charges'. These can destroy multiple craft on their descent, making life significantly easier for the short duration which the effect lasts.

Should you make it to the end of a level, you'll need to blow up the emplacements and missile silos on an underwater base. Not only will you have to deal with the mines and nukes fired by the base itself, you'll have to deal with a continual onslaught of regular enemies to boot. In many cases, you simply won't have enough depth charges to deal with everything coming at you, which makes for a particularly frustrating experience.

For the time of its release, The Deep is certainly a different take on the shooter genre. The requirement for precision timing and control over the depth charges whilst also rationing their use adds a dimension to the gameplay which similar titles lack. What drew me to this particular game in the first place was the visual style. The vibrant colour palette and maritime theming still looks really good, and I have to wonder whether Irem was inspired in some part by this game when it created 'In the Hunt'. There's a surprising level of detail in some of the background artwork, particularly in the arctic stages where shipwrecks and prehistoric mammoths go sailing past, encased in gigantic ice-flows.

Whatever its faults, The Deep is a cool game that's worth checking out. Where most shoot 'em ups focus on space or air-based combat, the subaquatic setting helps set the game apart in an already crowded genre.

Information & Trivia
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- Converted to C64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga and Atari ST computers

Video Notes
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