AquaNox Demo

Every now and again, a game comes along that manages to set some kind of standards, which are then used as comparison for future titles. Whether it’s gameplay, story, or graphics, any major component of a game can achieve this status, as long as it is truly revolutionary. The graphics are probably the best example to give, seeing as this standard changes quite rapidly and it is by far the most striking element in a video game.

AquaNox may not look like a lot nowadays, but it did give everyone something pretty to look at back when it was originally released. Reflections, light shafts, and clever illumination techniques worked together to create a marvelous depiction of an underwater paradise, interrupted only by explosions, plasma guns, and fleets of submarine fighters engaging in violent dogfights.

Story-wise, you are offered the role of a mercenary by the name of ‘Dead Eye’ Flint, who’s part of a guns-for-hire group on the lookout for big payouts from the corporations controlling the underwater society. Speaking of which, the events take place in a distant, post-apocalyptic future, one in which humans had to retreat to the bottom of the ocean in order to escape the negative effects of the environment.

The game is in no way a simulator, because the submarines barely take any kind of inspiration from the real world when it comes to movement. The gameplay is about as arcade as it can get and, if it weren’t for the water, you could have just as easily been in space. There are some problems with the controls, however, because the aiming is rather annoying until you get used to it, not to mention the tricky ship handling.

As previously mentioned, the graphics are what the game is remembered for, because they managed to impress everyone at the time of the release. You can now pinpoint the fact that the landscapes are quite barren and lifeless, but considering the technical limitations of the time, it does look incredible. Not the same thing can be said about the voice acting behind the characters, however, because they can seriously harm the atmosphere.

When it’s all said and done, it’s hard not to recommend AquaNox, especially since the underlying idea is so original and rather well executed. The rest of the game is nowhere near as good as it could have been, if only the developers tried harder to make the experience memorable and enjoyable.