Submarine Survivor (PS5) | REVIEW | A Deeply Entrenched Survivor-like

Submarine Survivor, a new take on the well established survivor-like formula that was published by EastAsiaSoft and developed by The Bat Flight dares to take the genre to new depths. By implementing unique mechanics tied to multiple upgrade systems, and tiled maps with unique hazards Submarine Survivors sets itself apart from the competition. Though the story may be vague detailing unusual undersea activity, and a captain sent to explore it, it's roguelike features ramp up the replay value enough to warrant notice.

In Submarine Survivor you helm, as the unnamed captain, one of several distinctly different submarines each with their own base physical weapon, and core cooldown ability like dashes, increased currency gain, and health regen among other things. This includes the base level submarine, armored, harvester, ninja, demolisher, resistant, and one or two others. Each submarine type can be unlocked simply by killing a set quota of enemies, and can be further upgraded via collected blueprints to increase their damage output percentage beyond the in-game stat boosts, and permanent passive upgrades. 

With these underwater vehicles you must man missions through the expedition menu taking them out into the ocean depths via an interconnected map of hexagonal tiles which harbor hazard inclusive stages that each last five minutes total with the added exception of three endgame options that extend the run. These choices include the option to complete the current run, finish the current wave or take on additional challenges that increase the enemy damage and health for 50% each consecutive challenge. The challenges, themselves, reward you in kind with bonus blueprints for the added effort. 

As with other survivor-likes you will be collecting a specific currency to pad out your submarine with new weapons, and stat boosts upgrades on the go. Up to five for the two types. Some of which come with tacked on pros and cons. Each weapon obtained can also be leveled up via duplicates earned by continuing to collect the triangular crystal currency dropped by enemies, and can be synergized in a variety of different ways by damage type (electric, heat, poison, cold, physical) for maximum damage, be it critical or brutal. All weapons and stat upgrades MAX out at 10. 

In addition to the base weapon and stats upgrades the main menu research lab serves permanent passive upgrades for another currency dropped by the disturbed sea creatures. Each of the research passives can be upgraded up to 100 times greatly increasing their statistical performance in a run. Likewise each purchase of a passive increases the pricing though. Something similar applies to the submarine upgrades made available at the same research facility. These can be upgraded 50 times. In doing so base damage output is increased by 25% per submarine.

Outside of this the Hangar in tandem with mysterious boxes that appear floating at the main hub/dock will add up to three bonus perks or chipsets per submarine that can be modified or changed, and upgraded using gathered ingots of different rarities. The ingots must be refined first, and then applied using the collected currency. Doing so will add new buffs to the chipset's list. With modifications you can effectively add and randomly change bonus stat and elemental effects that will stack with research facility upgrades and the in-game random upgrades that you obtain. 

When it comes to builds you can equip your submarines however you like using whatever weapon upgrades, and stat boosts you desire. Survivability relies mostly upon passive research upgrades, submarine upgrades, and hangar chipset perks. The rest of it is up to RNG. For those of looking for challenge beyond the initial grind you will find hard, and extreme difficulty variants of mission maps as you complete the medium missions. The difference of the latter being the currency payouts, and enemy health/damage. Your goal in all of it is to survive and complete all tiles on an expedition until the boss appears, defeat the boss, and use the bounty on all the main upgrades. All progress per mission carries over to other expedition missions allowing for damage and stats to stack, exponentially. Even in death rewards obtained can be used to upgrade your submarines.

Also worth noting are blueprints that can be obtained by staying within a blueprint's circles until it is filled with green. Various seashells you collect can be put towards currency buffs via a trader merchant ship at the main hub as well. These currency earning buffs come in three tiers with several options, each increasingly more effective. Playing into the whole currency loop.

The Presentation ...

Submarine Survivor has a unique side-scrolling perspective, and a cartoonish art style (think "Yellow Submarine" from the Beatles album cover) with it's own creative take. The soundtrack is oddly different, and hard to classify with any known genre, but for what it's worth it is a nice fitting soundtrack. Mostly made of instrumentals, and reverb.

The Verdict ...

For a survivors-like Submarine Survivor achieves what most don't in setting itself apart from the competition. The stacked upgrades, and themed map missions with unique hazards keeps things fresh and exciting. Not only that, but it enhances the overall challenge. All in all Submarine Survivor extends upon core gameplay through it's many features and difficulty settings. It is a game worth at least completing for the trophies, if not worth playing beyond that achievement!!!