When The Chinese language Room first launched Nonetheless Wakes the Deep, it was hailed for its atmospheric horror and grounded storytelling. Now, with the discharge of the DLC Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation, the workforce pulls us again onto the creaking rig — to not proceed the story of Caz McLeary, however to dig deeper into the horror that began all of it. This enlargement isn’t about shifting ahead — it’s about seeing the nightmare from new angles.
Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation well avoids feeling like a easy add-on. It presents a recent, self-contained expertise that enriches the lore of the bottom recreation whereas giving gamers a special lens on the catastrophe that unfolded. As an alternative of taking part in as Caz, we now expertise the occasion by way of the eyes of a beforehand unseen crew member, whose perspective supplies new perception into the mysterious anomaly and its creeping terror. For those who’ve performed the principle recreation, you’ll discover this DLC eerie in a extra intimate manner — acquainted areas really feel extra cursed, and the story hits more durable whenever you already know the place all of it ends.
Clocking in at round 2 hours, Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation wastes no time. From the second you step again onto the oil rig, the stress returns with a vengeance. However reasonably than counting on retreading outdated scares, the DLC takes a psychological angle. You’re not simply hiding or operating anymore — you’re piecing collectively twisted fragments of reminiscence, hallucination, and haunting glimpses of what went improper. New voice logs, private diaries, and cryptic visions supply deeper narrative texture with out spoiling the thriller. It looks like peeling again the pores and skin of the unique story to see what was at all times pulsing beneath.
Some of the efficient additions is the shift in tone — Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation leans heavier into psychological dread. You’ll witness the earliest indicators of contamination, paranoia among the many crew, and the breakdown of communication. There’s much less fast menace within the early moments, however the unease is fixed. It’s extra about what you assume you’re listening to or seeing within the shadows than what truly chases you.
That mentioned, the DLC doesn’t maintain again when it must. The creature design is much more grotesque this time round, with new variations that mirror the theme of distortion — not simply of the physique, however of actuality itself. Audio design stays a standout, with each pipe groan, distant thump, or unidentifiable squelch including to the claustrophobic pressure.
Visually, the sport reuses a lot of the bottom recreation’s setting — which is smart, given the DLC is about concurrently with the unique occasions — however there are new areas to discover, together with sections of the rig that have been inaccessible earlier than. These recent areas aren’t simply filler; they ship a few of the enlargement’s finest scares and emotional moments. One sequence involving a submerged escape route lit solely by emergency crimson lighting is particularly haunting, showcasing The Chinese language Room’s talent in minimalistic however efficient horror design.
The largest success of Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation is the way it makes you are feeling. It’s not simply extra of the identical — it’s deeper. The themes of remorse, isolation, and helplessness are explored from a brand new voice, and it doesn’t really feel like DLC for DLC’s sake. If something, it provides emotional depth to the bottom recreation’s tragic story, reminding you that Caz wasn’t alone — he was only one story amongst many.
After all, it’s not with out its limitations. The shorter runtime will disappoint some, particularly given the gradual pacing within the first act. Some returning places, whereas emotionally loaded, can really feel overly acquainted. And when you didn’t vibe with the bottom recreation’s gameplay type — extra interactive narrative than motion — there’s nothing right here that may change your thoughts.
However for returning gamers hungry for extra perception into the rig’s fall — and for many who respect slow-burn horror that lingers in your ideas — Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation is a welcome return to hell.
Nonetheless Wakes the Deep Siren’s Relaxation Trailer
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I reviewed it, after which it was edited by my accomplice.
