Deep Fear

**Deep Fear**

Developer
System Sacom
Sega CS R&D 2

Publisher
SEGA Enterprises Ltd.

Release date
July 16, 1998 (Japan)
September 18, 1998 (Europe)

Platform
Sega Saturn

***Deep Fear*** (*ディープフィアー* *Dīpu Fiā*) is a 1998 survival horror video game developed by Sega AM7 and System Sacom for the Sega Saturn. The game offers unique gameplay features such as buttons that allow the player to use items in real-time, aiming while moving, and falling oxygen levels. The music was composed by Kenji Kawai, and the creatures were designed by manga artist Yasushi Nirasawa.

## Gameplay

The game takes place 300 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean in a naval fueling and research facility known as "Big Table" (SSB-01). Players assume the role of John Mayor, an ex-Navy SEAL who has joined forces with a civilian rescue organisation called Emergency Rescue Service (ERS). Players move John through the pre-rendered rooms of the Big Table which are shown from fixed camera angles using a permanent 3D control scheme, similar to other survival horror titles, particularly *Resident Evil*. Players can turn on or off certain on-screen indicators such as an oxygen counter, health meter and bullet count. Once armed, players can move using the D-pad and can run while aiming a firearm. The game fully utilizes the Saturn's six-button controller, allowing players to have instant access to a map screen as well as real-time use of grenades and health items, which may be used without resorting to the inventory screen.

The Big Table's oxygen supply is dwindling. Therefore, one necessity for survival is to refill low oxygenated areas and thus avoid asphyxiation. Overuse of firearms depletes the oxygen more quickly. In some areas, oxygen can be replenished (an unlimited number of times) by finding yellow oxygen boxes known as Air System (AS). When the player has a regulator, an AS allows him to refill it. If the player is not using the oxygen level indicator, a red emergency light will indicate a low oxygen level. Low oxygen level rooms will appear in red on the player's map. Oxygen grenades can be used to replenish low oxygen level rooms or hallways. If the player is not near an AS or lacks Air Grenades, they can use a regulator to breathe in low oxygen areas and in flooded areas. Each room entrance has two doors with a vacuum system between them; this ensures that a flooded room will not leak outside the room.

Much like the aforementioned *Resident Evil*, players must draw their weapon with one button and fire it with a different one. The player can move while armed and automatically lock on to enemies by depressing the aim button. There is an option for the player to switch manually between targets. The Big Table has a large supply of ammunition for a number of different weapons. The weapons and ammunition are located in the weapon storage rooms. However, security is maintained and so more weapons can only be accessed once player obtains the appropriate weapon pass-cards.

## Plot

### Disc 1

A mysterious space pod reenters Earth's atmosphere, parachuting down to the Pacific Ocean. Having tracked down the pod's last known coordinates, the United States Navy dispatches the nuclear-powered submarine, SEA FOX, to investigate it. After successfully retrieving the pod, the SEA FOX sets course for the underwater refueling facility SSB-01, nicknamed the "Big Table."

John Mayor, an ERS operative who had just been assigned to the Big Table, is called away by his partner, Mookie Carver, for an emergency at one of the E-Pool. The emergency turned out to be just an April Fool's prank plotted by both Mookie and civilian volunteer, Sharon State, much to John's dismay. Meanwhile, as the SEA FOX detaches itself from the Navy Area, the crew are attacked by unknown assailants, causing the submarine to crash into the base. John is called away by facility's commander, Clancy Dawkins, who orders him to rescue the Navy Area's personnel, their primary concern being head researcher, Dr. Gena Weisburg. Using the submersible, Little Shark, both John and Mookie enter the Navy Area to look for survivors. The two eventually found an injured survivor who pleads John to kill him. Confused by the man's pleads, they witness the survivor transform into a grotesque creature. Mookie runs off in fear, while John was forced to put down the creature. John regroups with Mookie and the two proceeded further into the Navy Area, running into more creatures. John eventually found Gena and her pet chimpanzee, Anthony, both alive and well. John and Mookie regain control of the Navy Area and had it docked to the Big Table.

John and the others enter the Docking Area where they are greeted by foreman, Danny Reynolds. Gena departs in haste, while John explains to Danny about the creatures and orders him to have the Navy Area be quarantined. John reports back to Commander Clancy and confronts him about the creatures, suspecting them to be biological weapons, though Clancy denies these claims. The two are suddenly contacted by the Control Deck, informing them that the downed SEA FOX is preparing to launch a torpedo. John and Clancy immediately head for the Control Deck and witness the torpedo hit the Air Unit Area, causing the base's oxygen supply to dwindle. The SEA FOX then prepares to launch it's entire arsenal of Poseidon Missiles at the damaged Air Unit Area. Suspecting it to be a terrorist attack, Commander Clancy orders John to intercept the SEA FOX in hopes of disabling it's missiles due to his past experience in the Navy SEALs. John and Mookie once again head out and successfully enter the SEA FOX. Upon entering, John rescues a lone survivor who he instructs to evacuate to Little Shark, while he proceeded further to stop the missiles. John eventually finds the SEA FOX's Captain Dallas Silver, who explains to John that a strange disease had overtaken the SEA FOX's crew, transforming them into mutants. Injured during the initial attack, Captain Dallas can only instruct John with the necessary steps to disable the missiles. After retrieving the missile's control key, John regroups with Captain Dallas, only to discover that he has been mutated as well and was forced to put him down. Using his and Dallas' control keys, John successfully deactivated the missiles. Unfortunately, a section of the SEA FOX had just exploded, causing the submarine to descend to the trench below. John manages to escape in time by launching himself out from the torpedo tube and was rescued by Mookie.

With their mission complete, the two head back to the CCD Area only to be informed that the E-Pool had already been occupied by the Navy SEALs, sent there as reinforcement and they are forced to dock at the Medical I. Area. Shortly after arriving, John exits Little Shark. However, the SEA FOX survivor they had rescued mutates into a creature and kills Mookie, causing Little Shark to descend into the ocean floor. Distraught by Mookie's death, John is contacted by Commander Clancy who orders him to return to the CCD Area as the creatures have now infested the Big Table. John eventually runs into Gena, who is trapped there as well due to the Air System being damaged and learns that a parasitic bacteria, dubbed the Parasite Cell, is responsible for mutating the Big Table's personnel. Suspecting that John might be infected as well, Gena draws some blood samples for tests, only to discover that John is in fact immune to the Parasite Cell due to the cold virus he had contracted. Gena also discovers that the Parasite Cell is susceptible to oxygen and proposes that the Big Table should be filled with enough air to eradicate it. After restoring the Air System, Gena opens the door that leads to the Apartment Area, allowing John to proceed further while Gena stays behind to gather her research.

As John enters the Apartment Area, he is attacked by new types of creatures. Fortunately, he is saved by, Anna Lawrenson, a civilian deep-sea diver. With the area lock broken, John asks Anna for assistance, but she is preoccupied looking for her pet bulldog, Rambo. John manages to locate Rambo and gains Anna's trust. John proposes that they should evacuate to the CCD Area, only for Anna to turn him down due to her distrust with the Navy and instead hands him her key, which grants him access to the D. Network Area. The two part ways and John continues on his journey, eventually running into Ken Fujiyama, a Japanese businessman in possession of the torch John requires to open the area lock. Fujiyama refuses to hand over the torch and proposes to John that in exchange for it, he would need to first gather data on the Big Jim diving suit. After gathering the data, John exchanges it for the torch and finally returns to the CCD Area.

Upon entering, John is held at gunpoint by a heavily armed man, who reveals himself to be a member of the Navy SEALs team. John eventually meets up with Commander Clancy and the SEALs team's leader who is revealed to be Colonel McCoy, John's former superior. John warns them to evacuate the Big Table before the situation escalates, but Clancy cuts him off from any further involvement. John is reunited with Sharon and Gena, who had just evacuated to the CCD Area. John confides to Gena that he is dismayed by Colonel McCoy's presence because he is the brother of his late fiancée, Stella, and that John confesses that he hold himself responsible for Stella's death. Unable to face McCoy, John choose to discharge himself from the SEALs and joined the ERS. Shortly after, John is called away by the Big Table's designer, DuBois Amalric, helping him to spy on Clancy's meeting with the SEALs. The two learn that McCoy and his team plan to lure the creatures to the Air Unit Area, using their weakness to oxygen as an advantage and stage an ambush. DuBois warns John that battling in the Air Unit Area will cause a pressure buildup that would result in the Big Table collapsing. John goes to warn Clancy, but it was already too late as the SEALs team had already departed and that they have lost contact with them. John heads for the Docking Area and boards the underwater gondola, Argonaut, to reach the Air Unit Area.

Upon arriving, John discovers that the SEALs team has been wiped out by the creatures, but found no signs of Colonel McCoy. John eventually faces off against a mutated mouse and after defeating it, notices a bomb already set to detonate. John manages to escape in time right before the Air Unit Area is destroyed in the explosion. The area's air supply leaks into the ocean and expands into giant air bubbles that reaches the surface, bursting right under the Naval ship, Eldridge, causing it to shake uncontrollably. A chain reaction followed suit when one of the Eldridge's docked Harriers plunged into the ocean depths. The Harrier sank and eventually crashed into the Energy Unit Area, causing a power outage. John returns to the Docking Area and learns from Danny that Colonel McCoy made it back as well, but left abruptly despite his injuries. John is suddenly contacted by Clancy, who orders him to return immediately.

### Disc 2

John reports back to Commander Clancy, who informs him that the Energy Unit Area is currently in danger of facing a meltdown and that their only option is to escape using the SEALs' DSRV. Clancy then orders him to gather all the Big Table's remaining survivors to the CCD Area. John goes to warn the survivors of the impending meltdown and have them evacuate, but each of them decline his offer for various reasons. Danny distrusts Clancy and reveals to John details regarding the commander's dark past. Sharon wants to set the dolphins in the Sea Farm Area free, but has difficulty in doing so due to the power outage and it would take some time. Gena refuses to leave until Anthony is found. Unable to convince any of the survivors, John chooses to try and stop the meltdown by going to assist DuBois in the Energy Unit Area.

After assisting Danny to reopen the D. Network Area's area lock, John goes to find Anna to ask for her help to reach the Energy Unit Area as it requires the Big Jim diving suit, which Anna has access to. John finds Anna, who is apparently sick from a cold, and the two head for the boarding room. They found that all of the Big Jim suits have been taken, except for one spare suit, which is missing it's oxygen tank. With the Big Jim parts room flooded due to a crack in the wall, John once again returns to the Navy Area to retrieve the Gum-gun in order to seal the crack. John succeeds and goes back to regroup with Anna, only to discover that she has been mutated by the Parasite Cell. Shocked by her transformation, John is forced to put her down and continued his way to enter the Connection Park Area with the Big Jim. Unbeknownst to John, the mutated Anna had survived their battle and escaped to the air ducts.

While traversing through the Connection Park, John discovers Fujiyama's corpse, still inside a Big Jim suit. John reaches the Energy Unit Area and meets up with DuBois, who explains to him that the reactor core's coolant water is trapped due to the damage caused by the sunken Harrier and requires them to release it. With the valve stuck in resin, their only option is to destroy the coolant tank. John enters the nearby storage room to collect the C4 explosive, but to his surprise also found Colonel McCoy there who is halfway mutated by the Parasite Cell. Still retaining his consciousness, McCoy confides with John regarding his frustration over Stella's death and the two reconcile, finally earning McCoy's forgiveness. Now half-way transformed into a creature, McCoy warns John to escape as he is about to set off his own explosives before he fully transforms into a creature. While escaping, John's Big Jim suit is caught in the blast, but he was able to reach the Energy Unit Area in time before the suit was finally rendered inoperable. With the C4 explosive in place, DuBois sets it off, flooding the reactor core with coolant water. As the area begins to flood, DuBois opens the Sea Bed Tunnel Area's gate as their escape path, but chooses to stay behind, revealing to John that he has been infected with the Parasite Cell and fears that he would eventually mutate into a creature as well. Unable to convince DuBois, John is forced to leave him behind as the Energy Unit Area floods. DuBois' sacrifice was in vain, however, as he transforms into an amphibious creature and pursues John through the tunnel. John manages to defeat the mutated DuBois and reaches the Sea Farm Area where he regroups with Sharon. As Sharon prepares to set the dolphins free, she is mortally wounded by a mutant cattle. Sharon embraces John until finally succumbing to her injuries, dying in his arms. Honoring Sharon's last wish, John sets the dolphins free from captivity.

Though the meltdown was averted, the Big Table still faces imminent destruction due to the pressure buildup. John regroups with Gena and Danny in the Docking Area, disappointed in himself for not being able to save the others. Gena encourages John for his efforts and the three discuss their means of escaping. Danny plans on using the Navy Area to escape, while John and Gena would rendezvous with Clancy and escape together using the DSRV. The three part ways, but things go awry when Clancy goes AWOL and commandeers the DSRV for himself, leaving John and Gena to die. Unbeknownst to Clancy, a creature had sneaked aboard the DSRV and it proceeded to beat Clancy to death, causing the DSRV to descend to the ocean floor. With no other options left, John and Gena return to the Docking Area to escape with Danny. As Danny finalizes their preparation to escape, he is attacked by the mutated Anna. John tries to save him, but Danny chooses to remain there and operate the docking lift while they escape. John and Gena, along with Rambo and Anthony manage to escape, but Danny is killed by the mutated Anna. Upon reaching the Navy Area, John and Gena proceeded to commandeer it and distance themselves from the Big Table as it collapses. Though they managed to evade the Big Table's destruction, they were hit by the aftershocks, causing the Navy Area to be blown away from it's railings and rollover to the ocean floor. Now in need of rescue, John gathers the necessary components to repair the communicator and re-establishes connection with the Eldridge, but the communicator short circuits before John could get any confirmation.

John eventually comes across a peculiar room storing a single space pod and reads a file, detailing the true nature of the facility. John confronts Gena, demanding her to tell the truth behind everything. Gena reveals to John that Anthony was in fact a test subject for NASA's Mercury Project from 40 years ago, in which he was to be sent into space via pod; the same one seen in the intro. Upon being delivered to the Big Table, they discovered that Anthony's body is capable of slowing's down it's metabolism using suspended animation, allowing the primate to be perfectly preserved. Fascinated by Anthony's longevity, Clancy seeks to cultivate it and develop a cold sleep apparatus in hopes of that it would lead to his reinstatement. Gena herself was handpicked by Clancy to oversee the project. Gena also reveals that the Parasite Cell had originated from Anthony's body and eventually got out of control, it was implied that Anthony had intentionally caused the outbreak. Enraged by this revelation, John holds Anthony accountable for all the deaths at the Big Table and deems him too dangerous to be kept alive. As John attempts to kill Anthony, he is stopped by Gena who firmly believes that further research on Anthony could benefit mankind, but John refuses to listen to Gena's reasoning. Gena suddenly mutates into a large blob-like creature and proceeds to attack John. After defeating it, the blob melts away and reveals Gena, now transformed into a fairy-like creature and once again battles John.

     After their final battle, Gena although mortally wounded, manage to regain her senses and now realizing that the Parasite Cell is a danger to humanity, hands John the key that would activate the Navy Area's self-destruct system. With the base minutes away from it's destruction, John bids farewell to Gena and proceeds to enter the space pod. Anthony suddenly reappears, intent on reaching the surface, but Gena restrains him until they are both drowned when the base submerges. The Navy Area explodes, but the pod manages to ascend to the surface. Finally relieved that he was safe, John discovers Rambo who had stowed away aboard the pod as well, happy that at least he didn't survive alone. The pod reaches the surface and John is rescued by the Navy.

## Trivia

* *Deep Fear* became the last Sega Saturn game to be released in Europe at a point where Nintendo 64 had already replaced Sega's 32 bit as the direct rival of PlayStation, Sega started focusing on the Japanese market.
* There exist a prototype build that was intended for the United States version of *Deep Fear*. However, due to marketing reasons and Sega shifting focus on the Sega Dreamcast it was never released. The unreleased US build has been circulating on the internet.
	+ Contain within the data of the US prototype, the game's internal date is July 15th, 1998, two days after the PAL version, which is July 13th, 1998.
	+ The NTSC-U version of *Deep Fear* is optimized to 60Hz rather than the PAL version's 50Hz.
* The Parasite Cell creatures were designed by the late manga artist, Yasushi Nirasawa, known for his work on various tokusatsu/metal heroes shows, particularly the *Kamen Rider* series.
	+ Ironically, *Deep Fear* was featured in one of the commercials of Sega Saturn's advertising mascot, Segata Sanshiro, who is portrayed by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, known for his portrayal as Takeshi Hongo, the first Kamen Rider.
* Though the summary of *Deep Fear* implies that the game started immediately after the opening intro, it actually took place four months after the intro. As mentioned in several files found in the game, Anthony's pod was retrieved on January 5th and Dr. Weisberg studied the Parasite Cell from February to March. By the time the player(s) took control of John, Mookie stated that it was already April Fools' Day, which is commemorated on April 1st.
* The plot and setting of *Deep Fear* shares commonalities to underwater monster movies released during the late 1980s, which includes *DeepStar Six*, *Leviathan*, *Lords of the Deep,* The Abyss, and *The Rift*. The plot of these movies involve a crew of an underwater facility/submarine battling against hostile creatures.