Sonar Shock has provided me with a gaming experience in a genre I seldom play but in a quality I seldom get. It shows a masterful guidance of dread-filled ambience with a stressful but fair combat system that provides enough rewards to handle the risks. I found myself second guessing every turn, jumping at every unexpected noise, but eating up every square foot of area this submarine and its angry, angry inhabitants provided me. I’ve already started my second run and will be getting another one done shortly after that one is done. Sonar Shock is a stomach-churning treat of a title and is worth facing the fears in front of you for a fascinatingly fun time.

The washed-out low poly aesthetic of the world does make for an enjoyable look of the city and its inhabitants, but the combat is weightless and unrewarding, the audio is flat with steadily obnoxious pulsating background music, and the storyline is about 30 minutes long if you’re generous with your step count. It’s a neat project that would’ve really done better if it leaned more into the storyline and the crime scene investigations, but with the weak combat taking up the majority of your time, the road traveled is not gonna be a super enjoyable one.