Summary
- Variable State unveiled the first bit of uninterrupted gameplay footage from its upcoming retro-futuristic horror game Deepest Fear.
- The video shows a mixture of exploration, puzzle-solving, inventory management, combat, and a whole lot of running.
- Deepest Fear promises to combine elements of survival horror, metroidvanias, and immersive sims.
British developer Variable State shared some new gameplay footage from Deepest Fear, its upcoming sci-fi horror game that promises to deliver a mix of various genre mechanics. This sneak peek at Deepest Fear‘s gameplay arrives only a week following the PC game’s original announcement.
Founded in 2014, Variable State currently has two games to its name: first-person thriller Virginia and third-person adventure Last Stop, released in 2016 and 2021, respectively. After making those two narrative-driven adventures, the company tackled a sci-fi co-op shooter called Polaris, which is still without a release date. In the meantime, Variable State has recently announced its fourth project in the form of the retro-futuristic horror game Deepest Fear, unveiled during the 2024 edition of the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted.
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A week following the game’s December 5 announcement, Variable State shared the first glimpse of raw, uninterrupted gameplay footage from Deepest Fear. The seven-minute video shows some exploration, a few examples of inventory management, a bit of puzzle-solving, and a whole lot of running. The running part starts when Deepest Fear‘s water monsters show up in droves, forcing the protagonist—Dr. Danni Carrol—to navigate the claustrophobic corridors of the underwater research facility she’s trapped in with increased urgency while selectively engaging in combat. The promo concludes with brief sneak peeks at several cutscenes, offering tantalizing hints about the game’s story.
Deepest Fear Draws Inspiration From Retro-Future Cinema Cult Classics
The retro-futuristic setting of Deepest Fear was broadly inspired by the works of John Carpenter, Paul Verhoven, David Cronenberg, and James Cameron. Variable State specifically cites Cronenberg’s The Fly, Cameron’s The Abyss, Carpenter’s The Thing, and Verhoeven’s Total Recall as some of the direct influences on the upcoming game. The studio also revealed that Deepest Fear draws from other works of these acclaimed directors as well.
Like Polaris, Deepest Fear is another upcoming Variable State title that’s still waiting for a concrete release date. The game has so far only been confirmed for PC, though that’s not to say it won’t eventually make its way to more platforms. Variable State’s first two games launched on both PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well as PC, with Last Stop even landing on the Nintendo Switch.
Overall, Deepest Fear looks like it has the potential to deliver a memorable sci-fi experience with retro-futuristic themes. Between that and its blend of immersive sim, metroidvania, and survival horror elements, the game could potentially appeal to fans of everything from System Shock and BioShock to Prey and SOMA.
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