Posted on: August 19, 2022

markbanks
Verified ownerGames: 73 Reviews: 6
What could have been
I don't mind the brevity, the lack of danger/puzzles/complexity etc. But this could have been an actual journey and enigmatic discovery of mystical past with just a little bit of storytelling. We find out at one point that the character isn't a human (or rather a "baseline" human), but some kind of machine or a transhuman perhaps, presumably borne of or previously in league with the antagonistic machine entities. Why is she now trying to undo them and help the marine life? Did something happen to make her change sides? Was she created by the machines? Did she create them? How did they end up underwater, and why? What are the underwater ruins? Were they built by the same people as the machines or their ancestors? Are the machines even native to the planet? How about the dreamworld accessed by the portals, what's that all about? So many questions that could have been used to grip the player's intellectual curiosity amidst all the visual feasting. I tried to look at some of the wall murals to get some clues, but didn't find much. A bit of a background story fleshed out could have been easily incorporated in them for instance. Now we get just a little tease which makes 2001 look like Captain Obvious. Perhaps I'm missing the point - yes it's just supposed to be a relaxing experience rather than a proper game. But why put all those elements there then. Oh, and about the "clunky controls" - if you've ever snorkeled or dived they feel quite right actually. Your movements underwater aren't frantic or precise; I'd love that kind of freedom in fact! It's a gorgeous couple of hours, although by the end I was ready to surface. It's a good length for it as it is.
Is this helpful to you?