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The module itself can be considered in four parts. The first discusses a synopsis of the previous two adventures, repeats the slight information about Saltmarsh town, and outlines the mission. This is supposed to be a reconnaissance action, to probe the defenses of the sahuagin fortress whilst a human, lizardman, locathath and mermen army is assembled. Due warning is given that playtesting indicates this is a difficult mission; and they're not kidding.
The second is the journey and upper level to the sahaugin fortress. There is some chance are the PCs ship will be spotted and attacked by sahaugin whilst they are at the fortress. The journey to the fortress itself requires marching through unpleasant swampland. The fortress is an island with but a single, defensible above-water entrance accessible only by a causeway. Fortunately, the upper level only has the slightest number of guards, and with one extremely important NPC plot device.
The second level is where the module finally gives serious credit to the title of the series; an underwater lair of the sahaugin. Unless the PCs have been incompetent they should have sufficient magic items in their possession to allow them movement and action in such an environs. Of course, the location also betrays the fact that the level is significantly guarded and the sahaugin forces and significant. The authors also raised one of the moral quandaries of AD&D's alignment (or rather the implementation of it) with a description of one room: "There are 37 adult sahaugin females and 15 hatchlings. If it were not for the fact that these creatures were evil, this would be quite a pleasant domestic scene". Ahh, well. Kill them all, God will know his own. Just as well there's particularly nasty temple to confirm the religious orientations and a throne room to confirm the political.
This said, if the PCs do engage in frontal conflicts, a DM playing the sahaugin sensible will make very short work of them. The number of females may given a vague hint of the number of male combatants on the level, and the 85+ HD of sahaugin should could life quite difficult for 8-12 PCs of levels 3-5, especially if the sample PCs are used. This is not to mention the possibility of alerting the even greater number of foes assembled in the bottom level who are preparing for the assault. Again the emphasis is placed on this being a reconnaissance mission; an attempt to defeat the inhabitants in direct combat will certainly be met with failure and the reward system concluding the module explicitly states reconnaissance conditions.
The Final Enemy is a solid product in the standard TSR style. Whilst the dungeon itself doesn't offer anything particularly exciting and the internal narrative is nothing special (indeed, the real climax is after the adventure is finished), the underwater and reconnaissance aspects make it sufficiently different to be interesting. Overall, it is a challenging and satisfactory experience and as such can be recommended.
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