Sonar Shock

by Raphael Bossniak

The Developer Says...

Submarine’s haunted! Hunt and be hunted in this horror dungeon crawler inspired by the decay of the Soviet Union (and immersive RPGs from the 90s).

Players Like...

❤ Immersive Sim-Inspired Gameplay

The game features complex, maze-like level design that encourages thorough exploration. Players can approach objectives in multiple ways, utilizing a range of character abilities and equipment. For example, players can choose to invest in psi powers, weapons expertise, or hacking skills, allowing them to tackle challenges according to their preferred playstyle.

❤ Survival Horror Elements

Managing scarce resources is a constant concern. Players must carefully ration their ammunition and health items, as ammunition is limited and enemies pose a significant threat. The game's save system, which requires players to find and consume save items, heightens the stakes and forces cautious decision-making. Additionally, the player's sanity can degrade over time, leading to disorienting visual and auditory effects that amplify the game's sense of dread.

❤ Unconventional Controls

The game's control scheme is inspired by classic PC immersive sims, featuring WASD movement, A/D turning, and no strafing or jumping. Players use the mouse to aim their crosshair and interact with the detailed user interface, which includes manual weapon reloading mechanics. While initially challenging, many players praise this control scheme for adding to the game's sense of tension and immersion.

❤ Combat and Weapon Handling

Combat is a slow, tactical affair, as players must carefully aim and time their shots to conserve scarce ammunition. Weapons can jam or malfunction, requiring players to manually reload by dragging ammunition into the weapon's sprite and working the slide or action. Players can also utilize psi powers and melee attacks to supplement their ranged capabilities, diversifying the combat options.

❤ Environmental Storytelling

The game's levels are praised for their dense, atmospheric design, which promotes environmental storytelling. Players can uncover the history and events that led to the supernatural infestation aboard the Soviet submarine through exploration, reading documents and notes, and interacting with NPCs. This layered approach to worldbuilding and narrative delivery helps to fully immerse players in the game's eerie, Lovecraftian-inspired setting.

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