Murky Divers Review

 There’s something inherently terrifying about the ocean. The idea that we never really know what might be hiding in the gloom and that you can be attacked from anywhere is horrifying. That is the basis for developer Ember’s latest game, Murky Divers. The question is if this is an ocean that you want to swim in, or if you should keep to the shadows. 

Murky Divers is another in a long line of titles inspired by the popular game Lethal Company. I’ve seen these kinds of games being called loot-n-scooters, which seems pretty fitting, to be honest. Like other games in this genre, you and a group of companions will need to enter dangerous areas to find a select number of items that will help you gather money and eventually, improve your equipment.  However, Murky Divers works slightly differently than some other titles. 

Getting to locations is a little more complicated than in most other loot-n-scooters games. You start the game in your submarine and will need to find locations that you have to scavenge. This is done by using the sonar in conjunction with a set of different known sounds. There’s more to this underwater hell than the odd lab you need to explore: there are monsters in the deep and you need to know what it is you are looking for. You also have to actually pilot the ship, but make sure you don’t go too fast, or the police will catch you. 

The police are one of the different mechanics in Murky Divers, and they’re here because what you’re doing for the company is, technically, somewhat illegal. Instead of needing to find items to pay off an unpayable debt, you need to minimise the amount of noise you make and keep the police alert level low. This is done by keeping your engine running silently and ensuring you get away from a site before the timer runs out. Trust me, seeing that massive police ship come out of the murky depths is horrifying. 

Overall, the mechanics work well enough, and having a high police level isn’t an instant game over. However, keeping an eye on all the sub’s systems does mean that you need to talk to each other, and there’s no real room for solo play. This is only half the gameplay though, as you still need to explore the stages to find items to help build up a profit. 

Now, if you’ve played one of these games then you will know what to expect: you have a set amount of time to explore a large area and find as many of the required items as you can. In Murky Divers this takes the form of assorted body parts and data, and basically anything that makes the company look bad (hence why the police are after you.) Of course, the police aren’t the only thing coming for you, there are a lot of monsters waiting in the depths. 

There are more than a few types of enemies, ranging from small annoying creatures that steal items to robots that shoot you, and mutant monstrosities. They’re all fast and dangerous, and there’s enough variety to the levels and the enemies that it never gets dull. What helps separate Murky Divers is the fact you’re underwater, giving you far more freedom of movement. However, that also means that the enemies can come from all directions as well. It can be a bit tricky to get the movement down, and navigating tight corridors can make the character and camera jitter a lot. 

The biggest issue with Murky Divers is that, compared to other games, there’s really no easy way to play it solo. The constant moving around the sub to find out where you are going makes it a nightmare. While it is true that all of these genres of games are more entertaining with friends, at least they are somewhat doable solo. 

There’s also a bit of an issue with progression, namely that it can take a while before it happens. See, you have to earn enough money to upgrade your equipment and the sub, which will allow you to go deeper into the ocean and find better treasure. However, it takes a long time to earn enough money, and Murky Divers isn’t great at telling you precisely how to upgrade things. Also, the leviathan and giant squid taking your cash when you hit them is just unfair. 

Visually, Murky Divers isn’t anything hugely special; like many loot-n-scooters, the graphics are relatively low-grade with an odd filter that makes everything look grainy. However, the enemy and character designs are interesting, especially the monsters. There’s something about the creatures of the ocean that just lend themselves to horror. The mix of teeth, eyes, and tentacles all help to create a nightmarish blend of monstrosities.

Overall, Murky Divers is everything you would want from a loot-n-scooter. It’s fun, tense, and exciting all at once. While it might be a bit hard to pick up on occasion, because it takes a long time before you start making noticeable progress, it does everything else well and introduces enough to separate itself from the pack.