DREDGE – Lovecraft and the Fear of the Depths

Recommended products

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Victor Hidalgo, who writes for Twitch’s Camarada Hidalgo channel and also on YouTube, introduces talassophobia, the intense fear of deep waters. The vastness of the open sea can trigger thoughts of unknown creatures dwelling in its depths. This apprehension about the uncharted—of unimaginable sights, strange angles, and what lurks in the darkness beneath the waves, humanity’s last unexplored frontier—inspired H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror myths, where dead Cthulhu dreams in Rlyeh. Lovecraft constructed a science fiction and fantasy world from his own biases and fears, evident throughout his works. Others expanded on his ideas to create even more compelling narratives. John Carpenter’s The Thing, a remake of a 1950s film, merges cosmic horror with Cold War paranoia, reflecting anxieties about communism and elevating Lovecraft’s core concepts. Hidalgo, a self-professed fan of Lovecraft’s work, acknowledges the author’s influence while also offering constructive criticism. Lovecraft’s fears of the unknown stemmed from ignorance, a parallel that could be drawn with J.K. Rowling’s stance on trans rights and its impact on the Harry Potter series. Putting that aside, Hidalgo turns to DREDGE, a fishing horror game inspired by Lovecraftian themes.

In DREDGE, your boat sinks when rocks tear through its hull, even with the lighthouse guiding the way. Fortunately, the fishing village of Medula Major needs a new fisherman. Your task is to supply the village with fresh fish, the fate of your predecessor notwithstanding. The mayor provides a new boat, which you must pay off by selling your catches to the local fishmonger. You start with a damaged boat, fishing in shallow waters and selling your catch quickly to prevent spoilage. Limited space on the boat requires strategic inventory management, reminiscent of Tetris or the briefcase in Resident Evil 4. Damaging your boat can lead to the loss of fish, resources, or treasures. Furthermore, engine failure far from a shipyard leaves you stranded. At the start of the game, manage time carefully, as your boat’s engine is not fuel-efficient.

Hidalgo recounts his own experience in the game: “I was out on the high seas. My boat’s light barely lit up the rocks ahead. Whispers in the dark filled my cabin with gibberish. Far off, I saw another fishing boat heading back to the village to sell its catch. Its lights caught my eye, so I steered towards it. As I got closer, I noticed something weird—the boat was moving all over the place, like no vessel should. Then I realized it wasn’t a boat at all, but some deep-sea creature using it as a hat. Too late, I wasn’t fast or strong enough. In a flash, my boat was at the bottom of the sea.” Before this, things seemed normal, aside from rumors of the Mayor of Lesser Mud’s disappearance. After this incident, Hidalgo decided to stay close to the shore until his boat was repaired, continuing to fish and using crab traps to increase profits. However, the damaged boat prevented him from collecting floating sea resources.

While exploring nearby islands, Hidalgo discovered an old, wrecked mansion and decided to investigate. Inside, he met a bearded man wearing glasses and holding a strange book. The man claimed to be searching for underwater artifacts and offered to install special gear on Hidalgo’s boat, calling it a dredge. The game’s title is quite apt: a dredge is a machine used to clean riverbeds and sea floors of deposits and debris. After retrieving the first artifact—a key found nearby—the man recited a passage from his book, granting Hidalgo speed boosts in the game. Each relic recovered unlocks new abilities. Beyond mere cleanup, DREDGE features a compelling narrative. You will encounter characters needing help, starting with a mission to deliver a mysterious package to a dockworker, who becomes pale and silent upon delivery. This is an indication of the forces at work in the game, which infect both people and sea creatures. Eventually, you’ll encounter disturbing sights, such as catching an albino ray only to find it’s a grotesque half-human, half-fish monster with a twisted, pained expression.

DREDGE’s Mutated Fishes and Archipelago Lore – Unearthed Secrets and Unspoken Ties

In DREDGE, every fish has a mutated variation. Initially, Hidalgo thought these variations might have a specific purpose, but after assisting the Fisherman, they became a way to earn more money and fill the encyclopedia. Despite the terrifying events at sea, Hidalgo felt the mutated fish could have been more integrated into the main story. Bottles containing notes offer insights into past events within the game’s world, culminating in a surprising twist at the end. Hidalgo concludes by stating he had fun exploring the archipelagos, upgrading his boat, and uncovering the game’s lore.

In Case You Missed It

In our previous posts, we’ve kept you up to speed with the latest trends and milestones in gaming. Did you know that you can expand your gaming library at no cost? Mark your calendars for this Sunday as Sophie Laurent highlights two fantastic titles – “Tomak: Save The Earth Regeneration” and “Clone Drone In The Danger Zone” – available for free on the Epic Games Store this week, in her piece “Critical: Don’t Miss This Sunday – Epic Games Store Gives Away Two Games for Free” Critical: Don’t Miss This Sunday – Epic Games Store Gives Away Tomak: Save The Earth Regeneration and Clone Drone In The Danger Zone for Free. But that’s not all! We also celebrated Sasha Grey’s 38th birthday and her incredible journey as a Twitch streaming sensation in Ahmed Hassan’s article “Sasha Grey Turns 38, Seven Years Devoted to Video Game Streaming” Sasha Grey Turns 38, Seven Years Devoted to Video Game Streaming. And if you’re looking for immersive gaming experiences, don’t miss Sophie Laurent’s latest article on the upcoming release of Starfield on PS5 Pro. In “The Power of PS5 Pro to Transform Starfield Experience” The Power of PS5 Pro to Transform Starfield Experience, she explores how this powerful console will revolutionize your gaming with visual and performance enhancements, adaptive triggers, and a free major update plus narrative-focused DLC ‘Terran Armada’!