Deep Down (video game)
Deep Down | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Capcom Online Games |
Publisher(s) | Capcom |
Producer(s) | Kazunori Sugiura Yoshinori Ono |
Engine | Panta Rhei |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 |
Release | Unreleased |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Deep Down (working title) is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Capcom. It was announced exclusively for PlayStation 4 in 2013, but entered development hell and, despite being near completion, was never released. It is currently vaporware, although not officially cancelled. A soulslike science fantasy game with cooperative multiplayer elements, it takes place in far-future New York City, and players are teleported back in time by touching magical artifacts.
Gameplay[]
Deep Down is a single-player or (up to four player) co-op multiplayer dungeon crawl. Gameplay has been described as similar to both Capcom's own Dragon's Dogma; as well as the Dark Souls series, though with a lesser difficulty.[1][2] The historical sections of the game take place in a medieval/fantasy setting in procedurally generated dungeons, with the player equipped with suits of armor, swords, pikes, shields etc. Creatures encountered are from the fantasy trope, including ogres, shapeshifters similar to mimics (D&D), and dragons.[1][2][3]
Plot[]
The player perspective for Deep Down begins in New York City in the year 2094. The story focuses on a member of a group known as the "Ravens" who has the ability to recover historical memories by touching ancient objects. This 'Raven' is brought into contact with excavated objects from a mysterious civilization in Bohemia (Czech Republic) dating from the 15th century and are asked to use their abilities to explore the city and discover its secrets.[1][2]
Development[]
At the February 20, 2013 PlayStation Meeting where Sony debuted the PlayStation 4, Capcom's Yoshinori Ono, best known for his work on the Street Fighter series,[4] revealed Deep Down alongside their new "Panta Rhei" game engine, designed specifically for the PlayStation 4.[5] Deep Down was the working title, and Panta Rhei was announced to replace MT Framework as Capcom's game engine of choice.[5] The reveal trailer showed an armored warrior battling a medieval fire-breathing dragon.[6] They chose to make a new brand for freedom to explore next-gen video game console architecture, and so as to avoid limitations from consumer expectations.[4] The game did not have a presence at the E3 2013.[6]
During Tokyo Game Show 2013, Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono announced that Deep Down was to be a free-to-play title; the initial expected release date was to be in 2014 after a public beta coincided with the Japanese release of the PS4.[7] In early 2015, Kazunori Sugiura stated in an interview with 4gamer that the vision for the game had expanded since its initial 2013 reveal, to better appeal in the long term to players, and so the development timescale had been extended.[8]
In June 2018, Capcom extended the trademark for the game.[9]
During an interview with Eurogamer in November 2019 (primarily focused on Street Fighter V), Ono responded to a mention of Deep Down, saying that despite its long absence, the game "[has] not been completely given up on".[10]
With Ono's departure from Capcom in 2020, the release status of Deep Down is publicly unknown.[11] In September 2021, former chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios Shawn Layden stated that he had "no idea" what happened to Deep Down but says that other team members of Yoshinori Ono might pick up the game further to develop.[12]
References[]
- ^ a b c Turi, Tim (20 September 2013). "Deep Down: Five Things We Learned Playing Capcom's Dungeon Crawler". Game Informer. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "PS4 Exclusive Deep Down Gets New Info: Greatswords, Memento Buffs; Online Corpse Looting and More", www.dualshockers.com, 29 Dec 2013
- ^ "Deep Down vs Dark Souls II Screenshot Comparison: Do They Really Look That Similar?", www.dualshockers.com, 12 Jan 2014
- ^ a b Dring, Christopher (1 March 2013). "Capcom: Resident Evil and Street Fighter would restrict us on PS4". MCV. Intent Media. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ a b Tach, Dave (20 February 2013). "Capcom reveals Deep Down, built in engine designed for PS4". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ a b Jackson, Mike (18 June 2013). "Deep Down 'nothing to do with Dragon's Dogma', clarifies Capcom". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Jackson, Mike (22 September 2013). "PS4 exclusive Deep Down is free-to-play". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ "今年,新タイトルを続々投入するカプコンのオンラインゲーム事業戦略とは? COGのキーパーソンである小野義徳氏と杉浦一徳氏にインタビュー". www.4gamer.net (in Japanese). 19 February 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ "Deep Down: Capcom Extends Trademark Yet Again". 2 June 2018.
- ^ "What does the future hold for Street Fighter 5?". Eurogamer. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Yoshinori Ono to leave Capcom - Play Diaries". 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Ex-PlayStation Boss Has No Idea What Happened to PS4 Exclusive Deep Down". Screen Rant. 4 September 2021.
External links[]
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Deep Down at IMDb
- Action role-playing video games
- Capcom games
- Cooperative video games
- Dark fantasy video games
- Free-to-play video games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- PlayStation 4 games
- PlayStation 4-only games
- Science fantasy video games
- Sony Interactive Entertainment games
- Video games developed in Japan
- Video games set in New York City
- Video games set in the 2090s
- Vaporware video games
- Video games about time travel
- Soulslike video games