Mark of the Deep – Pirate Adventure That Doesn’t Fully Sail

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• DEVELOPER: Mad Mimic
• PUBLISHER: Mad Mimic
• PLATFORMS: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• GENRE: Metroidvania / Soulslike
• RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2025
• INITIAL PRICE: 28.99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

In Mark of the Deep, you take on the role of Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey, a pirate shipwrecked on a cursed island full of sea enemies and mysterious knowledge. This isometric action-adventure game combines Metroidvania exploration with Soulslike combat, promising a tale of pirates, mystery, and survival. Combat relies on Soulslike elements, dodging attacks by rolling, while opponents have distinct attack patterns. Rookie’s arsenal gradually evolves, from a basic hook to a pistol and grenades, which certainly helps as the game features 16 boss battles. These clashes, whether against a giant crab or a cultist, stand out as the highlights of the game because they demand precision.

However, the system is not without flaws. The timing of animations is sometimes inconsistent, and the invincibility frames (i-frames) for dodging are limited, especially since enemies track you too precisely, which punishes even the smallest mistake, making it all feel unfair rather than challenging. This, unfortunately, becomes apparent against the bosses. After spending two hours with the demo and perfecting some mechanics, the initial parts of the game felt more like a speedrun than enjoyable; that is, enemies did not pose a significant threat, and the early difficulty spikes made mini-bosses and main bosses more frustrating than rewarding.

Although the genre combination brings an ambitious blend of Metroidvania and Soulslike, the game lacks a clear focus: it’s neither a pure Metroidvania nor a complete Soulslike experience, leading to underdeveloped mechanics, such as backtracking. The simple inability to collect all chests and collectibles without specific weapons or movement abilities further diminishes the enjoyment of progression.

A Pirate Story with Depth

The story is one of the game’s strongest assets, following Rookie’s quest to save his crew, the Angry Mermaids. Multiple endings, linked to the decisions you make—whether to lift the curse, escape, or succumb to it—add great replay value, with a total playtime of 30-40 hours, including side quests. Environmental storytelling, woven through encounters with natives and clues scattered across the island, helps you easily absorb the narrative. However, the voice acting leaves mixed impressions; while some parts are excellently executed, others fail to meet expectations.

Visually, Mark of the Deep captivates with its stylized, hand-drawn art style. The island is alive with dark biomes, from swamps and icy caves to skeleton-filled ruins, featuring a dark, fairy-tale charm reminiscent of Hades or Death’s Door. Exploration is engaging, especially when tools like the grappling hook and flintlock pistol allow access to new areas. However, the absence of a map initially was a serious omission. Only a month after launch did the developers add a biome-level map, which now clearly marks your current location and region names.

Yet, navigation still remains confusing due to the large, interwoven routes and open spaces, making it difficult to track already explored areas. This often leads to frustrating moments when searching for an exit or revisiting the same locations unnecessarily. A mini-map or a marking system would significantly improve this issue, especially considering that the game combines two challenging and complex genres. It is astounding that such a feature was omitted in the first place.

If You Are Looking for Tough Boss Fights, You Will Definitely Find Them Here

Fortunately, the game rewards your effort. Death does not result in the loss of resources, which is a good thing because you will die often. If you put in a little effort, you can acquire solid upgrades. In addition to focusing on trinkets, which give you various extra perks (such as stronger attacks or more money after defeating enemies), you can also buy various things from the merchant. Generally, the items you can find in the game are divided into health and spirit point upgrades, trinkets, trinket slot upgrades, ranged weapons, relics, quest items, health potions, and weapon upgrade materials. Ranged weapons include four different firearms, which you usually acquire after boss fights.

As for the bosses, this was definitely the part where you felt the soulslike mentality of the game to its core. It’s fair to say that each of them had its own set of special attacks that kept things fresh. Regardless, these fights were brutal, but not as difficult as those in Lies of P or perhaps Elden Ring. So, if you are looking for true and tough boss fights, you will definitely find them here.

Regarding the environment, the mysterious island you will journey through is home to quite a few biomes, all the way up to numerous ancient ruins. Although there were a few truly visually distinct places to see, most of the areas you will move through are actually quite similar, especially in terms of map layout, but sometimes visually as well. This is particularly true for the aforementioned ruins, which did not have much differentiation among them.

Conclusion – A Treasure with Rusty Hinges

The pirate charm of Mark of the Deep, its striking visuals, and the boss fights are a treasure worth plundering, and the passion of the Mad Mimic studio is certainly palpable. However, the lack of a proper map system, inconsistent combat tuning, and genre indecision prevent it from becoming a high-quality title. It is a compelling adventure for Metroidvania and Soulslike enthusiasts who are willing to overlook the flaws, but casual players may find it more frustrating than fun.

Considering everything and the huge amount of content that awaits you in the game, you have nothing to lose. It is a solid game that certainly won’t suit everyone, but for those who like games that last a bit longer and enjoy exploration, Mark of the Deep could be the perfect catch.

Review copy provided by the publisher