The Soulslike genre might still be predominantly associated with title outputs from its progenitor in FromSoftware. Still, a flurry of new developers are flocking to the space to give the giant some competition, birthing intriguing spins on the concept like the Pinocchio-inspired Lies of P. In the spirit of more blends with the morbid theme synonymous with the genre, Mark of the Deep is bursting onto the scene in January as one of the earliest releases of the 2025 gaming calendar. The developer, Mad Mimic, is presenting a unique blend of pirate-themed narratives with the dark elements of Soulslike games – a marriage that could interest fans of the category and the popular One Piece anime.
Building an intriguing narrative can be problematic for even the best pirate games. Traveling across a largely empty sea isn’t the most captivating movement-wise, and the main objective of picking up loot can get tedious quickly. Mark of the Deep attempts to sidestep these common problems with its Soulslike Metroidvania focus, narrowing the project’s scope to a more manageable setting. Despite the smaller scale, Mad Mimic aims to pack enough entertainment into a fast-paced action title – almost akin to Supergiant’s Hades 2 in terms of aesthetics and movement.
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Mark of the Deep’s Narrative and Gameplay Puts a Metroid Sheen on Pirate Tropes
One Piece is easily one of the most popular pieces of pirate media, and one of the reasons behind its success narrative-wise is the journey Luffy undergoes to gather his crew under the Straw Hat umbrella. That extended to the One Piece Odyssey release, where the game began with a shipwreck that left the Straw Hats separated on an island inhabited by quirky baboons. Mark of the Deep incorporates these gimmicks in its storyline, with the Angry Mermaids wrecked on a cursed island. Players will step into the protagonist’s shoes, Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey, as he searches every nook and cranny of the eerie location to reunite his lost crew members.
That’s as tough a challenge as it sounds: the island has been cursed for centuries. The leader of the island’s native inhabitants (called the Old Folks) imprisoned the mythical Leviathan in search of immortality, drawing the ire of the abyss. As such, numerous powerful characters stand in the way of Marcus’ rescue mission and discovery of the Old Folks’ secrets.
Curses Take Center Stage of Mark of the Deep’s Events
There are over 80 enemies and 16 bosses to overcome, consisting of abyssal enemies, cursed apparitions, and undead monsters trapped on the island like Marcus himself. This mix of challengers in a ghoulish setting taps into the spirit of the best games in the Soulslike genre – a setting that fans of the Hades franchise know all too well.
The cursed island setting is a well-explored trope in pirate depictions, and Mark of the Deep doesn’t diverge from this proven formula. For instance, One Piece‘s Florian Triangle arc where the Straw Hats meet Brook after the skeleton wandered for 44 years lines up with the reunion theme Mad Mimic is presenting. Pirate lore and curse mythology go pretty much hand-in-hand, and that’s what Mark of the Deep tries to capture with its Old Folks narrative, and uncovering the secrets of the island’s centuries-old jinx will likely form the meat of the game’s storyline.
To further the spirit of degeneracy in the title, NPCs are fully voiced with the edgy tone of pirate lingo, and players can also see their allies “walking the plank” as is customary in the niche. Speaking of combat mechanics, it seems Mark of the Deep will employ a gradual skill-unlocking process, with abilities like dashing, throwing grappling hooks, and ground-pounding shown in the trailer. Each of these should come in handy at some point given the variety of enemy types spotted in the teaser. Ahead of its January release, Mark of the Deep‘s demo is currently available on Steam for gamers to try before it goes mainstream.
Mark of the Deep
Mark of the Deep is an epic pirate adventure with a strong narrative and a thrilling mix of elements from acclaimed Metroidvania and Souls-Like games. Embark on this journey as the pirate Rookie, explore the mysteries of a cursed island and find your missing pirate crew!
EMBARK ON THIS EPIC PIRATE ADVENTURE! A pirate ship wrecked on a mystic island, till then known only by myths n’ tales. Play as Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey and explore the eerie areas of this island surrounded by a mysterious curse in search of your missing crew: the Angry Mermaids!
DEFEAT CURSED CREATURES TO SURVIVE! In this diversely hostile environment, you need to face a wide variety of dangers to find your lost crewmates, including abyssal monsters, undead creatures and menacing cultists. Fight against over 80 enemies and 16 bosses in challenging battles inspired by souls-like games!
UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR MARKS! As a newfound Mark Keeper, Rookie can unlock new abilities that change how you fight enemies and explore the environments! Discover new skills, weapons and trinkets to upgrade your combat abilities and make your way through new areas of the island.