Mark of the Deep

“Mark of the Deep is an action game with a lot of potential that sometimes gets lost in its own mechanics. It is certainly a good game, challenging even if sometimes unbalanced towards an artificial difficulty. Some design choices will certainly make those who don’t like trial and error turn up their noses. The mechanics, however simple and intuitive, struggle to entertain until the end, but the sense of discovery and satisfaction in overcoming a challenge is good. A game with many positive points and some negative ones, such as the choice of map, which do not allow it to reach the rating I would like to give it. However Mark of the Deep can captivate with its minimal but functional aesthetic and sometimes rough but satisfying gameplay.”

“Mark of the Deep offers a Metroidvania-style adventure with Souls-like combat, resulting in an experience that is both entertaining and enjoyable in equal measure. It is a title worth discovering, as it is one of the best of its kind. Its gameplay loop, which combines combat with Metroidvania-style exploration, is what kept me hooked for almost 30 hours, eager to return to this universe whenever I had the time.”

“Mark of the Deep stands out as an engaging and well-constructed experience, combining an intriguing narrative with refined exploration and combat mechanics. Despite some ups and downs in the voice acting, the game demonstrates great care in the construction of its setting and plot. With a very well-executed proposal, Mark of the Deep establishes itself as a remarkable title within the genre, providing an immersive and rewarding journey.”

“Mark of The Deep is beautiful and stays difficult throughout while masterfully sculpting a story.”

“The genre is overloaded with Hades, Curse of the Gods, and Hollow Knight knock-offs, and it’s difficult for games akin to the Greats to really stand on their own. That’s where Mark of the Deep comes in. It does enough to tick off what I want from a Soulsike-come-Metroidvania(ish) to deserve your attention while still doing its own thing; I just wish one of these fish guys had a map or two on hand.”

“As much as I wanted to like Mark of the Deep, I found it to be more annoying than enjoyable. Although the unexpectedly pleasant soundtrack and vibrant visuals indicate genuine creative effort, the graceless combat detracts from the overall experience. Combat becomes a tedious grind instead of an enjoyable challenge due to the weak dodges, unresponsive attacks, and enemies' excessive damage absorption.”

“It may not look overly original on the surface, but dive a little further and Mark of the Deep is an engaging, compelling little adventure.”

“I found the combat to be quite fun and, despite the low selection of equipment at the beginning, it managed to challenge and engage me in equal measure. I also found it fun to explore and find secrets, even if I did get a little lost at times or didn't really know where I came from or where I should go. These are small things, but they end up making a difference.”

“Mark of the Deep is a title that knows how to take advantage of the best of the metroidvania and soulslike genres to create an engaging and challenging adventure. With accessible mechanics and a friendly learning curve, the game manages to balance exploration, intense combat and captivating narrative, resulting in a memorable experience. The mysterious setting, combined with the well-developed mythology, makes Rookie's journey immersive and rewarding. Despite some inconsistencies, especially in the dubbing, the game stands out as an excellent example of the potential of the Brazilian industry and can already be considered one of the best games ever developed in Brazil.”

“All in all, Mark of the Deep is mixed. The idea of having elements from a variety of genres sounds good on paper, but if the execution isn’t fully there, it makes for a game that is bound to sink instead of swimming. And that’s the case for this one as it is at launch. With some much needed TLC, Mark of the Deep might make it to shore unscathed, but it’s a shame it’s at this point to begin with, considering the studio’s previous experience in successfully designing enjoyable alternatives to established gameplay styles.”