Deep and Blue

Get to Know About Deep and Blue

Deep Blue is a horizontal scrolling shooter developed by Pack-In-Video and released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. Players control a submersible fighter shaped like a freshwater angelfish navigating through underwater environments filled with mutated marine life. The goal is to fend off these creatures using various power-ups and weapons while avoiding damage that could reduce the effectiveness of the submarine’s arsenal. The unique design allows the submersible to take multiple hits before being destroyed, and it regenerates over time when not firing​.

The storyline involves a hostile alien presence infecting Earth’s waters, leading to mutated sea creatures attacking the shores. Players must use the ANGEL Fish Attack Sub to counter this underwater threat. The game features four stages, each ending with a boss fight, and upon completion, the game restarts with increased difficulty. The weapons in Deep Blue include bubble bullets, foam bullets, and flash bullets, each with upgradable levels. However, taking damage resets these upgrades, making the gameplay challenging​.

Despite its creative concept, Deep Blue received mixed reviews from critics. Many found the game too difficult, with enemies overwhelming the player due to their sheer numbers and the game’s mechanics punishing the player harshly for any damage taken. The reception ranged from lukewarm to critical, with particular notes on the game’s challenging nature and the need for improvements to balance and gameplay mechanic.;