Abyss

**!Spoiler Warning!**: **Plot and/or crucial story details follow.**

## Appearance

Since this level takes place in a chasm below the Haqua Sea, the area is very dimly lit. Only the gloomy blue glow emitting from Deep Eels patrolling the area and deep sea plants glowing a faint yellow are responsible for illuminating the area. The geometry is made entirely of a deep igneous stone, compressed by the overwhelming pressure exerted from these depths. In the distance, Deep Sea Fish can be seen migrating from the left to the right, following some kind of underwater current. Deep, groaning sounds can also be heard from time to time.

## Solution

With the introduction of the newly-discovered Squid Goo, the player must navigate through a shoal of deadly Deep Eels mindlessly swimming around fixed points. The Squid Goos are used to direct a 4x4 Sand Goo structure towards the top, where sleeping Goo Product, Sponge Goo, and other Squid Goo blissfully hang over the deadly combination of Snail Spines and Deep Eels below. Bubble Goos can also be used to negate the gravity factor of the 4x4 Sand Goo structure for a short amount of time, as harsher sea currents pull Bubble Goo down more than any other level. Once the sleeping goo colony has awoken, the player must utilize Sponge Goos to carefully navigate towards the pipe on the right side. The Filter Pipe requires only 2 Goo Product to be collected.

## OCD Solution

To achieve OCD for Abyss, the player must complete the level in 10 moves or less. This OCD will require a decent amount of Goo Thwacking. Instead of attaching the Squid Goo to the Sand structure, the player must instead use the Squids to thwack the structure up and over to the left where the sleeping Sponges and Goo Product are, all while avoiding the Deep Eels. This can be somewhat tricky, but with a little bit of practice the player can make it all the way up. Once the Sponges are awake, the player must use only Sponge Goo to build over to the pipe, which can be done in 10 moves. They may have to time their moves, as the eels can quickly spawn a retry. But if done correctly, OCD will be achieved.

## Story

The hidden signpost in this level gives insight regarding the expedition crews that once explored this place, suggesting that their technology hasn't evolved much past other modern human societies. The message also hints towards an eel-like creature lurking these depths, different from the common Deep Eels swarming these waters. They also suggest that the creature doesn't seem to originate from this area.

## Dialogue

* The Journalist
	+ *Good job, somehow we managed to go even deeper into this abyss. How do we even get out? There is a mysterious current pulling us downwards, meaning that bubbles might not be as effective. That, and I am a bit worried about these glowing eel things littered about... I don't want to find out what pain those spines will inflict. -The concerned Journalist*
	+ *Hey, look at these squids! You can actually pick them up and use them, just like other goo balls. Handle these with care, you don't want to hurt their feelings. They are... "Special", you know? ... What? They are special in that they swim in the direction you place them! Oh, you thought I meant that other kind of "Special"? Well, let it be known that I would never sink that low for a joke! Haha get it? Because we are in the deep ocean? ... Now, just think of them like squishy little rockets... with gross tentacles coming out of them... Hah! I'm sure those appendages will come in quite "handy"... ...In that they can latch onto our goo structures, of course. ... Wow, you sure have a dirty mind. -The Journalist*
* Unnamed Haqua Sea Expedition Crew
	+ *If someone manages to find this, we did not make it. We are stuck at around 900 meters deep underwater, with no more supplies or power to survive down here. Not only that, but there's this grotesque eel thing trying to eat its way in! It's not one of those blueish-purple ones either. This one... it's different. It doesn't seem like it belongs here. It just... has too many faces. To anyone who comes across this, please be cautious. Learn from our mistake of coming down here. Learn from our mistake of coming to this planet in the first place. If you divulge yourself into this place for too long, it will consume you. I hope you're happy, Professor Smith, you poor excuse of a research coordinator.*

## Secrets

* A silhouette of a signpost can be seen in the background near the top of the level, containing the final message of a deep sea expedition that went horribly wrong.

## Trivia

* The soundtrack used in this level is an original track called 'Thalassophobia', composed by StrixToxis.
	+ Thalassophobia is the intense fear of deep water.
* The Journalist's humor in this level uses plenty of mature wordplay.
	+ "Special", in this context, is an ableist slur.
	+ Her description of the Squid Gooballs is similar to some types of adult sex toys, hence gaslighting The Player into having a "dirty mind". No, this will not have a citation.
* The message from the unnamed expedition crew confirms that they were coordinated by Professor Smith, however, he is not directly present in the expedition.
* The random groaning sounds, named 'water#' (12-16), are sounds that come from The Snapper.

1. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/toxic-goo-382684673/thalassophobia-world-of-goo-the-unknown-world-ost?in=toxic-goo-382684673/sets/world-of-goo-the-unknown-world
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassophobia