Something mysterious has fallen from space and crashed into the Pacific, near the underwater military research facility the Big Table. As a member of the Emergency Rescue Service, you take control of John Mayor just as things start to fall apart. Strange monsters have started appearing and are threatening to take the Big Table down, and it’s up to you to unravel the mystery and save the day.
Developed jointly by SEGA and System Sacom, Deep Fear was one of many games “inspired by” Resident Evil to try and make a splash in the fairly new survival horror genre. The game features polygonal characters moving through pre-rendered “security camera angle” rooms. Expanding on the Resident Evil formula, John can move and fire at the same time. Further adding tension to the proceedings, the supply of air is limited — not only does John have a health meter, but an air meter as well. Move quickly or die.
A Saturn exclusive releasing in 1998 in Japan and Europe — a North American version was completed but never released — the game is well-paced and engaging. The musical score is composed by Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Ultraman Nexus) and the monsters designed by manga artist Yasushi Nirasawa (Enemy Zero, Shin Megami Tensei, Kamen Rider), giving the game a very polished look. The game is set across two CDs and is compatible with the 3D Control Pad, being one of the very few games that feature a control scheme where the d-pad and the 3D control pad are both active and fulfill different actions.
Deep Fear was well reviewed upon release, but coming so late in the Saturn’s commercial life, it didn’t reach the audience it perhaps deserved. It’s an excellent alternative to Resident Evil, and to this day remains a Saturn exclusive. Play it — it’s really good!
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