I can't understate this - if I hadn't played this game, I would have never gotten so deeply involved in the world of video games. I would never have started developing my own games. I wouldn't have the same love for storytelling and RPG systems. Breath of Fire IV is a triumph, and absolutely deserves your attention as a masterful execution of the JRPG genre.
Even the Ocean is a platforming puzzle game with a heavy focus on narrative. The core mechanic of the game is fresh and innovative, changing the health bar into an energy balancing system that changes how the player moves through the game (which makes speed-running very interesting). This offers a risk-reward style of playing, that allows players to manipulate the difficulty of the game naturally, rather than using an "easy", "medium", or "hard" configuration. Though, honestly one of the best things about Even the Ocean is its world. Diversity is portrayed in just about every faucet in the game's world, and it never calls attention to itself. Diversity isn't a "feature" of the game, instead it's embedded into the narrative and the characters, never feeling forced, but instead building a better and believable world. On top of that, there is an astonishing array of configurations that players can make to change how the game plays to be more accessible to people with handicaps or just prefer different play styles. Even the Ocean is a shining example of how we should be treating diversity and accessibility in games And I mean that, honestly. Best of all - the game is actually fun too. I recommend this game for players that enjoy interesting stories and worlds, but also like a bit of challenge and exploration. Review by: AffinityChris
