I know I’ll be diving back in.Journey (2012) is like recalling a beautiful dream. But the beautiful execution and mystifying story should lure you back into the sea. A joy to hear, the soundtrack shines brilliantly and is probably my favorite part of my time as the Diver.ĪBZÛ is a short game – most will finish in a two to three hours (I clocked in right under two hours). Wintory employs an orchestra of strings, woodwinds, brass, and vocal choir and it shows, going above and beyond in enhancing the mystery, wonder, and beauty of ABZÛ. In a game as quiet as ABZÛ, void of spoken words and very few loud sound effects, the music becomes important to fill the dead silence and keep the audile senses alive. Last, but most definitely not least, is the absolutely gorgeous musical score composed by the award-winning Austin Wintory, another thatgamecompany alumni responsible for the music in Journey and Flow. When others would have fallen back to standard conventions like maps or HUD indicators, ABZÛ pulls it off skillfully without them and the reward is an uncompromising view of an elegant ocean world.
Another example is the first time I saw a giant metal chain, my curiosity caused me to follow it, leading me to the next puzzle I needed to solve. The route to the next objective may be subtly indicated with a clear water path surrounded by a light fog. Giant Squid employed a number of visual cues, some I did not immediately notice, to guide me and I never really got lost – a testament given how fairly frequently I do get lost in games. Therein lies another well-crafted aspect of ABZÛ’s visual design. "But, wait, how does the player explore yet stay on course without any kind of HUD or text?" you may be wondering. Even when I took a quick break to take a sip of water or bite of my bread, my eyes still were glued to the marine scenery before me. This is a dynamic world which feels remarkably alive despite the minimalist art style Matt Nava is famous for. Underwater plants sway with the current while fish interact with each other and the environment, and all this believable behavior is procedurally generated. Once the game begins, there is absolutely no spoken dialogue, text, map, or any heads-up display elements to clutter up the screen and it’s liberating, really bringing the ocean and its wildlife to the forefront. Immersion is a key component that games are always trying to push the envelope on and, like thatgamecompany, Giant Squid takes a less-is-more approach with ABZÛ. There are plenty of side activities like these to cater to completionists and add to the desire for repeat playthroughs. Specific meditation platforms you can sit on trigger creature-filled sequences. The breadth of underwater fauna includes some secret species to discover. The Diver is able to tag along and swim with the wildlife. While the above may make ABZÛ sound robotic and linear, there is plenty of opportunities for you to explore and uncover more information about the story and world.
Glowing water will fill up around the temple, indicating you have cleared the zone and set its sea animal free. Then you make your way through the zone, solving fairly easy puzzles along the way, until you discover a large portal, where you dive down into an otherworldly sea and activate a temple. First, you need to locate and touch a glowing portal to start off the animal’s liberation.
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The main objective in these standard sections is to free a specific sea creature. When you enter a new area, you will need to locate a downed drone and repair it so it can assist in clearing obstructions in your path. Several of the game’s segments follow a basic event sequence. These are not glorious control mechanics, but they work for the voyage on hand. Interacting with puzzles and objects rely on easy one-button presses. Tapping the X button provides a small swim sprint.
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At first, I found the inability to make sharper turns - you are swimming after all - to feel odd, but quickly figured out how to fluidly move through the water with ease. While the Diver’s adventure did not strongly hit any emotional beats for me, the game’s sense of wonder and cryptic storytelling begs for multiple playthroughs I gladly will partake in.Ĭontrolling the Diver is simple enough with the left analog stick handling movement and right analog stick controlling the camera. Without spoiling anything, I will say one core theme permeating throughout is a return to nature. With plot points that are not explicitly defined, much of ABZÛ is up to the player’s interpretation. The mystery of the Diver and the world she is from can be solved from small clues and hieroglyphic paintings the player comes across. You assume the role of a female protagonist simply known as the Diver and she seems to know as little about herself as you do.