Traveling to new ports captures the wonder of visiting a foreign land, but also the alienation. One port is gripped in a conflict between intelligent rats and aristocratic guinea pigs nevertheless, men die and terror increases. In turns (and simultaneously), stories are fearsome, darkly comic, and earnestly whimsical. "Turns out it's man." The open world is jagged with plot hooks to snag desperate captains. "Here be monsters," cry the blank spaces of the map. The ports communicate their personalities through architecture and static graphics, providing just enough imagery for the imagination to grab on and start filling in the blanks. There's always something out there hiding, but that doesn't take away from what is visible. In addition to darkness, smoke, fog, and bats mask the horizon. The dark, harrowing score supports this eerie mood, fading in when necessary before slipping beneath the waves. Keeping the ship lit appeases the superstitious crew and limits the accumulation of terror it also burns precious fuel and paints a glowing target on the ship's back and kidneys. Even lighting the ship's lanterns enters into the system of choices that govern survival. Existence is only assured in the shadows, skirting the margins and ducking from temporary safety to temporary safety. Light is the great savior, but it also brings death. It's difficult to overstate the appeal of Sunless Sea's atmosphere. Ports are also places to resupply, hire crew, unload trade goods, and purchase upgrades. Navigating the story menus provides opportunities for trade, exploration, political intrigue, and madness. Perhaps a secretive order of postal workers could use a new assistant or an isolationist city-state is entertaining visitors. Spending time at sea triggers the "something awaits you in port" flag, which unlocks unique stories at each port. In spite of their contusions and snarl, pirates and beasties aren't the true gems of the Underzee that honor goes to its distant ports. Sifting through a foe's self-chummed grave provides treasure and valuable supplies. Maintaining a favorable ship position and managing cooldowns are the key to victory. Sometimes it's worth making a frenzied, poorly aimed shot other times, only a slow-but-steady guaranteed hit will be worth the trouble. The longer an opponent remains within a cannon's firing arc, the easier it is to hit. When opponents approach, whether they be giant crabs or luminous sun-ships, combat begins. Apart from a few set locations, islands shift location between games to keep exploration fresh. Most of Sunless Sea is spent on the open waves. In pursuit of these goals, other end conditions reveal themselves. Glory - as well as the end of the game - are attained in several ways: laying a dead family member to rest, writing the definitive epic of the Underzee, or amassing wealth beyond belief. As the new captain of a rusted tramp steamer, glory calls. To the east rests the broad Underzee, which is home to monsters, islands, and above all, opportunities for glory and death. The game starts in Victorian London, far beneath the earth's surface. Among the market-driven Hallmark Futurists of the Steam wishlist world, Sunless Sea is a louche Romantic: charming and possessing of meteoric wit and staggering humanity, but unsteady on her feet and slightly crazed. Other, more gamey elements such as pacing and economic balance aren't as finely honed. The atmosphere and writing are top-notch. Although sculpted from the same narrative clay as its flagship, Fallen London, Sunless Sea takes on the additional tasks of real-time naval combat, ship management, and exploration. Failbetter Games' first foray outside of browser-based stories is ambitious.
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