GSY Review
PS5
Xbox Series X
PC
You may not have heard, but this week, Still Wakes the Deep is getting a paid DLC entitled Siren's Rest. Set ten years after the events of the original game, this expansion lets you plunge into the depths of the North Sea to try and understand what happened to the oil rig on which Caz McLeary had to face the worst atrocities in the main game. Some of the gameplay mechanics (rather limited given the genre) of the main adventure are retained, but as you are also regularly underwater, new ones are introduced, such as the use of a blowtorch to force your way inside the different areas of the wreckage. With a lifespan of between two and three hours, this new content seems rather solid in terms of atmosphere, but we hope it will be more memorable from a narrative point of view. Siren's Rest is priced at €11.04 on Steam until July 2 (with a 50% discount on the main game until June 26), but the recommended retail price is €12.99.
Verdict
Still Wakes the Deep took us on a pretty atmospheric ride on an oil rig, but it struggled to involve us emotionally, despite excellent English voice acting. In terms of mechanics, The Chinese Room's game relied on an overly linear construction, an exaggerated nomber of pseudo-QTE-based interactions, immersive but rather basic hide-and-seek phases (we never understood why we were asked to hide in the lockers), a few clumsy platform sequences and, finally, rather effective passages where you had to run away from a screaming monster. It was an uneven package to say the least and a fairly short experience too (it required about four hours to complete), but it had its moments nonetheless. Siren's Rest takes place ten years after these terrible events, but we know nothing about the character we get to play, other than that she is committed to recovering the personal effects and remains of those who disappeared. The game's longevity is also (too) short, but we found the overall experience better realized, with far fewer loading times. Wandering around underwater adds a rather interesting dimension, and although progression remains highly guided, there is a bit more exploration. Some of the gameplay mechanics of the main adventure (the crowbar replaces the screwdriver for forcing doors open) are still present, but as you're also regularly underwater, some new ones are also featured, such as the use of a blowtorch to clear the way, or flares to avoid being in the dark. Nothing too surprising when you've already played Still Wakes the Deep, but it's not an uninteresting addition. It's a pity that the asking price is a little too high, as it might deter some players from being a bit curious about it.
- On the upside
- The underwater setting brings a nice change of scenery
- Very atmospheric
- Convincing visuals overall
- Excellent English voice-acting once again
- A little more exploration
- On the downside
- Too short, even for a DLC
- Frustrating escape sequence at the end
- Could have used an epilogue
- A little too expensive for its own good
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