![]() The collectibles, like pigeons and messages-in-bottles, are poor motivations and don’t award much other than a trophy on the PS4. It’s this open-endedness, and by extension replayability, that Sea of Solitude lacks once you’ve cleared it for the first time. Granted, the latter’s story isn’t exceptionally long, but the vast challenge and myriad ways players reach its end makes it worth investing hour after hour in. ![]() Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fantastic counter-example. When a puzzle or a boss is too simple, players would naturally lack the drive to replay it. Simplicity isn’t perfectįor all the praise I shower on Sea of Solitude for its simplicity, from an objective standpoint it’s also the game’s biggest flaw. That being said, the inherent strengths of the game are also where it tends to falter. Honestly, it’s a game I’m perfectly willing to shell out the S$26.90 ( EA Origin) for. ![]() All you need is a little timing and knowing how to put two and two together.Īs the cherry on top, it’s not going to blow a hole in your pocket, either. Puzzles are relatively easy, there’s no respawn penalty, there are plenty of checkpoints and, fortunately, no Dark Souls-esque sequences. Long story short, you don’t need a lot of technical skill to complete the game. Running, climbing, solving puzzles and, most of all, experiencing the immensely symbolic tidal wave of emotions.Īs far as the levels go the game is rather lenient, since it’s generally more about the “feel” rather than the challenge. However, she’ll have to do most of the other legwork herself. Kay’s main tool in Sea of Solitude is her trusty flare, which can dispel apparitions, highlight objectives and much more. Poignantly, the messages that come through can continue to haunt you long after you put down the controller.įair enough. That is where the “horror” of Sea of Solitude sets in, by showing how real these problems actually are. Self-doubt, her young brother being subjected to bullying, her parents’ dysfunctional marriage, her boyfriend’s depression the various chapters of the game all represent actual social problems, and often, their associated stigma as well. But not in the ways you’d expect.įor lack of a better explanation, the game is a projection of Kay’s psychological landscape, which mirrors her reality. Since we’re on the topic of psychology, I’m also going to throw in this little tidbit: Sea of Solitude is frightening. Pleasant sunny beaches can give way to foreboding, lifeless shores in a heartbeat, while tranquil rhythms can also warp into imposing, eerie tunes.Īs far as I’m concerned, Sea of Solitude‘s environment, both audio and visual, has been done to a T. Nearly everything about the environment changes as her psychological state changes. The overworld is based on Kay’s own tormented psyche, and the various monsters and apparitions roaming about - giant sea monsters, crustacean-like behemoths and even a gigantic crow - represent people she knows and Kay herself too. ![]() Those first few minutes pretty much sum up all the mechanics a player needs, too. The game doesn’t waste any time, opening with several lines that very quickly and subtly set up the context of the story. So, without further ado, let’s see what Kay’s odyssey has in store. Although that’s a common blueprint for a lot of games nowadays, I have no qualms saying this is probably one of, if not the most, well-executed games in that regard. It puts you in the shoes of a young woman named Kay, who awakens in a world filled with water and abandoned cities, possessing nothing more than a boat, a flare and a knapsack.Īs developer Cornelia Geppert shared, Sea of Solitude is largely based on personal experience. Well, not literally, but where Sea of Solitude really gets you is in the feels.ĭeveloped by Berlin-based studio Jo-Mei and published by Electronic Arts, Sea of Solitude explores the complexities behind a presumably fundamental concept: being human. I’d never thought I’d be impressed by a game that hits way below the belt.
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