Sub Culture

Sub Culture (1997)

by Criterion Games
Genres:Simulator
Game modes:Single player
Story:Sub Culture is a Simulation game, developed by Criterion Games and published by Ubisoft, which was released in 1997.
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Stories about this game (17)
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user avatar@derek42user avatar@derek42
January 29, 2025
For me, this is one of the greatest games of the late nineties. It's got beautiful 3D underwater graphics and an inventive alternate-world atmosphere with these thumbelinae on the bottom of the ocean (well, likely more a tide pool), foraging for cigarette buds and bottle caps. The open world feels rather large for the time and the prospecting and trading reminds me of earlier titles like WC: Privateer. The controls feel suitably floaty and have this technicality to it, with your propellers being able to tilt up or down and all those gadgets you can buy and mount on your sub. The soundtrack really nails this ambiance-feel that games like DKC or SM64 have in their underwater stages. I'd be so stoked if this game came back in a readily playable state that doesn't require you to hack in some Voodoo-wrapper only to play with weird timing issues. In an alternate history where this game is a success, we could have gotten Sub Culture: Dangerous or something like it (and I still won't give up hope completely cough Nightdive cough), but I'd settle for a convenient way to play the first one. 5/5 starfish.
user avatar@pwonikuser avatar@pwonik
January 29, 2025
Loved it from the first time I saw it as a teenager, back in the days. The gameplay was astonishing, and the idea of being a small little, yet technologicaly advanced, being with personal submarine gave youur imagination a mind blow. A true masterpiece back from the days
user avatar@ion00user avatar@ion00
January 30, 2025
Sub Culture is like Privateer but underwater. It's a unique gem that is often overlooked. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes this type of genre. Could probably use a remaster too probably. Please bring this game here GOG!
user avatar@KingKonorkuser avatar@KingKonork
January 30, 2025
I played this when I was very young and have a fond memory of it despite all the problems I had back in the day to play it because was too complicated for my young self. Hope I can buy it a version compatible with modern systems to give it another chance.
user avatar@260169610user avatar@260169610
January 31, 2025
This game remains my white whale when it comes to old video games I want to see re-released. I'd probably would buy it even in it's unmodified form. Surely some game developer out there remembers this game fondly enough to try and buy the rights to and re-release?
user avatar@michiyluser avatar@michiyl
February 02, 2025
One of my first games, and an amazing experience as a child - having to use the lights when daytime switched to nighttime (and when diving to darker depths, collecting "waste" (resources), trading, and all at a miniature scale! Also, the CGI cutscenes and renderings when entering harbors put you neatly into the game world, and the music in this game - very fitting for exploration in this underwater setting, and I still listen to it sometimes to relax :) I really hope this little gem of a game can be brought back, despite being very niche - maybe even with the somewhat-spiritual successor "Deep Fighter" some day?
user avatar@Oshcurouser avatar@Oshcuro
February 01, 2025
Many teenage memories with this one. Still remember the Procha and Bohine, carrying bottle caps and cigarettes across the sea floor. More people need to play this forgotten classic.
I love this game, the sense of exploration under the sea was amazing, also zapping fishes with your miniature submarine is always funny. This game came with an issue of Billiken compu in my country, that was a PC and gaming magazine for kids at the time.
user avatar@Zelesuser avatar@Zeles
March 25, 2025
This was my simulator game on PC and my doorway to the X games. Having a ecosystem that was for its time groundbreaking, enhancing your ship, Pirates, interesting missions. I love this game so much. Please GOG bring it back. It really is a GOOD OLD GAME
One of My best PC games. Great story and beautiful design (good vibes when I played that game). The music is great too. Please GOG, add that gems. I'll buy!!!!
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