Dead in the Water for PlayStation 1

I had heard some good things about Dead in the Water, so I was delighted to see that it was available for a very low price almost one year ago. I was even more delighted when I finally got the chance to play the game. I believe it is just as good as any other vehicular combat game, with the possible exception of Vigilante 8: Second Offense. Dead in the Water offers an interesting array of special weapons, a diverse selection of boats, and some excellent level designs. In addition, the particular way in which the designers animated the water gives the game something special to put it the same league as the original V8, Rogue Trip, and the submarine combat game Critical Depth. For two weeks after I acquired this game, I played it extensively every night, and I have revisited it repeatedly since then.

One of the finer features of Dead in the Water is the blend of racing and combat. Though it is possible to play a game of pure combat, the racing mode is an excellent feature sadly lacking from many other high quality vehicular combat games. Another nice touch in this game is the upgrade system. Success in races or battles results in cash prizes which can be spent, improving the performance characteristics of a particular boat or even preloading it with a particular set of special weapons and power ups. This feature enriches the quality of circuit games (where the goal is to complete every level in succession) and it also makes a series of two player games more interesting.

While game play is excellent, it does not really stand out as superior to other good vehicular combat games. The assortment of special weapons is colorful and interesting, although there is only one weapon (the Reality Bomb) which really qualifies as a combo like the many exotic attacks in the V8 series. What makes Dead in the Water truly special is the water itself. Explosions cause ripples or even powerful surges. Good piloting involves staying on smooth surfaces or skimming the peaks of waves in choppy water. The right kind of wave can be used to catch some air, perhaps even to travel over an otherwise nasty obstacle. The wrong kind of wave can slap the nose of a boat, reducing momentum and thus creating a setback for racers and making any boat a little easier to target.

Another excellent aspect of the game is the level designs. All but one of the arenas double as wonderful race courses. Also, many of them have interesting special features, like a passenger liner in the process of sinking or small wooden docks jutting out into a narrow stream. I was particularly impressed by the Scottish level, which features a purple Loch Ness Monster meandering around in the middle of the course. Both the obstacles on the course and the scenery in the background are well-rendered. While the graphics are clearly not of the same quality of Gran Turismo 2, they are better than most games and rarely the source of any confusion.

To be honest, it is hard to come up with specific flaws in this game. I could complain that the most difficult skill level is still too easy, but that problem can be solved simply by switching to an unfamiliar boat (and it definitely took a great many games before I could routinely complete a circuit game on the most difficult setting.) There are some minor quirks in the physics which can get irritating, but they are encountered very infrequently and almost all of them involve collisions with solid objects, so it is difficult to label them as serious problems instead of cosmetic flaws. It might be far to say that the load times are longer than most games, but there is no pause for loading during the action, so this is also more superficial than substantive. Perhaps the only major problem I've had with it is that the game can be disorienting to new users, and I've had experiences with others who simply couldn't learn to deal with the four-way intersection at the center of the first track.

Fans of vehicular combat games should definitely check this one out. It is not my favorite entry into the genre, but it is thoroughly entertaining and also radically different from the many car combat games on the market. It might not be my first choice for introducing others to vehicular combat, but it would definitely be a great selection for anyone seeking to expand their collection of this type of game. It is clearly something fans of Critical Depth would enjoy, and I believe the people behind the game also worked on that project as well as Rogue Trip. This is an all-around excellent game that will provide action fans with dozens upon dozens of hours of simple fun.