- Ryan: I hope nothing's in the tranches...
Debris is a 2018 open-world exploration / survival game, one which is set entirely underwater.
Set several years after a meteorite hits the Arctic, a new artificial power source called the "Debris" has been discovered in the depths of the Arctic Sea, absorbed by the local aquatic fauna allowing them to grow to massive sizes. A MegaCorp called ATLA now spearheads the harvesting of Debris for resources, which proves to be a clean, highly-effective alternative to fossil fuel.
You play as Ryan, the photographer and freelance videographer working for ATLA tasked with filming the collection of Debris. In what was supposed to be a routine filming procedure Ryan was accidentally seaparated with his guide, Chris, stranded under the Arctic waters with an ATLA-produced AI called Sonya as his sole companion, and the waters turns out to be infested by hordes of hostile aquatic creatures. But thanks to Sonya and an ATLA-produced drone called the Squid, Ryan managed to obtain a firearm.
The game often draws comparison with Subnautica, a similar underwater-themed game.
Unrelated to the TV series. Or a similar-sounding horror game that isn't set underwater.
Ryan: "I knew I shouldn't have taken this job..."
- Almost Out of Oxygen: Getting attacked by aquatic monsters results in Ryan's oxygen level dropping, though if he escapes the meter refills itself. If he runs out of air, he drowns - time to reload from the last save.
- Ambiguous Ending: The game ends with Ryan still stranded in the Arctic seas, having lose his mind after being stuck below the surface. Moments before he passes out, his AI Sonya appears to transmit a message to rescue services on the surface, and then the screen goes white without showing if Ryan's rescued or not.
- Attack of the Monster Appendage: One section in a cavern sees Ryan attacked by what appears to be massive Bobbitt worms from underground, who repeatedly chews away at his health until he finds an escape. Because of the darkness the most he can see of the monsters are their heads sticking from beneath the surface.
- Awesome Underwater World: Gigantic aquatic monsters trying to rip Ryan to shreds aside, the underwater graphics are amazing.
- Badass Bookworm: For a freelance journalist who spends most of his life operating an underwater camera, Ryan is quite a good shot when getting an underwater rifle in fending off aquatic monsters. Because otherwise the game would've been really short.
- Bioluminescence Is Cool: Many sections of the underwater cavern Ryan spends the game exploring, and plenty of aquatic creatures, are visibly glowing in various bioluminescent colours, courtesy of absorbing energy from the asteroid debris.
- Blackout Basement: Several sections are set entirely in darkness, with Squid's natural lighting being Ryan's only source of illumination.
- Fantastic Light Source: The cave where the Debris comes from, which is Point Zero where the meteorite hits years ago, with said meteorite emitting it's own natural glowing energy that lights up the whole cavern. It's by far the only section of the game that isn't completely pitch-black.
- Flare Gun: One of the upgrades Sonya grants Ryan, which allows his weapon to fire underwater flares and illuminate a short distance ahead of him.
- Giant Squid: Absolutely humungous squids inhabits the depths, the first one which actually made Sonya exclaim, "It's some fucking worm thing..." they appear to be prehistoric giant cephalopods too, with shells over their heads.
- Minimalist Cast: There's Ryan, his partner Chris who isn't really in the game much (owing to separating from Ryan rather early in the game), and the AI Sonya. That's pretty much all the characters in-game.
- Noodle Incident: Ryan appears to be quite reluctant to proceed with filming ATLA's documentary because of losing his friend Carter in the past, a seemingly major event that the opening levels alludes to.
- One-Word Title
- Robot Buddy: Squid, the ATLA drone that leads Ryan along to find an exit. And maybe Sonya, if an AI counts.
- Sea Monster: All the larger aquatic beasts, like the giant worms, squid, and the like which are the size of ships.
- Threatening Shark: Sharks empowered by the debris attacks Ryan on sight, though they flee after being shot at.
- The Voice: Sonya serves this role to Ryan as his sole guide to navigate the underwater caverns.
