I've been playing this a lot recently in an attempt to whittle down my PS1 pile o' shame. It's an underwater exploration/combat game. Damn, what a job Black Ops did on this one. It's hard to believe the same developer is responsible for the pile o' poop that is the Terminator 3 movie game.
Anyway, I've always been interested in underwater exploration and sea life, so this game is right up my alley. Black Ops really nailed that underwater environment- random schools of fish are everywhere, kelp, seaweed drifting, sharks (including Great Whites and Hammerheads), dolphins, crabs, a giant octopus, you name it. Even the limited draw distance associated with most PS1 3D games works in Treasures' favor, as it accurately re-creates the murky low-visibility you get when deep underwater. Even the physics of swimming/piloting a sub seem spot on. For a PS1 game, the graphics still hold up today, IMO.
You're presented with a series of missions, ranging from salvage to rescue to exploration. You earn money from each mission (there's many bonuses, like rescuing dolphins or finding hidden crates of gold) which you can use to purchase better weapons, equipment and subs. The missions have a great variety to them and each one is unique. Along the way you'll find yourself fighting hostile underwater creatures (don't shoot friendly ones, you'll be fined!) as well as pirate subs and scuba divers. You have weapons such as a rapid-fire speargun, torpedos, mines, missles, and nets at your disposal. You can even get out and scuba dive into areas too small for your sub to fit.
Even the sound effects are perfect, including the sound of the respirator of your breathing gear and dolphin calls. The music is very professional sounding, ranging from calypso-sounding stuff to dramatic orchestral arrangements.
Overall, Treasures of the Deep is a great game. Too bad Black Ops hasn't made a game since that's lived up to it. You should be able to find it dirt cheap by now, and if you do, get it. Now.
