Search
Platform Selection
Iron Man vs. Speed Racer: Reloaded.
Endless Ocean
Platform: Wii
It’s not quite endless, unfortunately, but it will require hours upon hours of exploration to see everything.
Review by Leonhart
I love the ocean. I love its sheer vastness and the sense of unknown… I love the tranquility of its waves on a calm night... I love its unique creatures….
There’s only one problem: I live in the dead center of the continent. The closest ocean to me is over one-thousand miles away. What am I to do when I just want to visit the ocean whenever I want?
Luckily Akira, in partnership with Nintendo, wants to help those of us who don’t have the pleasure of seeing the ocean on a daily basis. Heck, I can’t even afford a yearly basis.
Endless Ocean is an ocean diving and exploring simulator set in Manoa Lai, a fictional section of the ocean off the shore of Africa. Manoa Lai includes everything you’d expect from an ocean: coral reefs, bays, caves, open ocean, the abyss, and even shipwrecks.
The advantage of featuring a fictional location is that it can include any species of animal without being scientifically incorrect, so penguins and other typically cold-water animals are just as comfortable there as any other creature. The in-game script even cracks a few jokes about the improbability of so many species in one single warm-climate area.
The area available to explore is huge. It’s not quite endless, unfortunately, but it will require hours upon hours of exploration to see everything. I am going on 60 hours and there is still a large chunk of the ocean I have yet to explore.
The animal life is abundant and diverse, including not only hundreds of fish species but also whales, crabs, seals, squid, octopi, jellyfish, slugs, and more. If you have a particular species of animal you are fond of, chances are Endless Ocean includes it, or at the very least a close relative.
The basic premise of Endless Ocean is to dive at your heart’s content, but there is a short story for those of you who require a bit more substance in your games. Outside of the story, you will be asked to give diving tours to tourists or snap photographs of creatures for magazines. The treasure-hunters among us will also be pleased to know that there is plenty treasure to hunt.
To get to know the wildlife, you must be a very touchy-feely person. By petting fish (which is done by waving the Wiimote) you will learn the animal’s name and basic facts about the animal. This may sound stupid, but it quickly becomes second nature. And besides, if you don’t think that petting a dolphin’s head is just adorable then you have no soul.
The undersea graphics are stunning for a Wii game. It would be unfair to expect 360- or PS3-quality graphics from the Wii, but unless you are completely spoiled by those systems I find it hard to believe that anybody will be disappointed by the underwater graphics. The divers move fluidly, the creatures look and swim realistically, rays of sunlight beam through the water, and the topography is nicely varied. Night dives are pleasantly illuminated by a headlight, and diving in the abyss is expectedly dark.
Being a diving simulator, Akira obviously made it their goal to ensure the dives are as convincing and dazzling as possible, and they achieved that goal marvelously.
Above-water, however, takes a noticeable step down in the graphics department, where the textures and shadows have horrible aliasing and the character movements are very stiff. But I am inclined to say, “So what?” Endless Ocean is about the underwater experience, and the above-water graphics in no way detract from that.
The sound of Endless Ocean is exactly what you’d expect and want from an underwater game. Bubbles will burble from your mask, dolphins will chatter and sing, the abyss is accompanied with a sinister hum, and petting and poking are associated with typical friendly sound effects.
Above the water, you will hear pleasant waves, birds calling, and your ship creaking.
Endless Ocean also features a beautiful soundtrack, as well as a dozen songs performed by the wonderful Hayley Westenra. However, if you prefer other music, Endless Ocean is one of the few Wii games to include SD-card compatibility so you may listen to your MP3s as you dive.
Online play is included for those of you who wish to dive with friends, which is helpful if you are having trouble finding a particular fish or area. Communication is limited to a few set phrases, such as “Look at that!” and “Follow me!”, but you may also use an underwater pen to draw pictures or manually write short messages to each other.
After reading this review, if Endless Ocean sounds like the type of game you will enjoy, I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s simply a masterpiece.
But for those of you who require shooting, enemies, danger and blood in your games (none of which Endless Ocean contains), then look elsewhere.
Platform: Wii
It’s not quite endless, unfortunately, but it will require hours upon hours of exploration to see everything.
Review by Leonhart
I love the ocean. I love its sheer vastness and the sense of unknown… I love the tranquility of its waves on a calm night... I love its unique creatures….
There’s only one problem: I live in the dead center of the continent. The closest ocean to me is over one-thousand miles away. What am I to do when I just want to visit the ocean whenever I want?
Luckily Akira, in partnership with Nintendo, wants to help those of us who don’t have the pleasure of seeing the ocean on a daily basis. Heck, I can’t even afford a yearly basis.
Endless Ocean is an ocean diving and exploring simulator set in Manoa Lai, a fictional section of the ocean off the shore of Africa. Manoa Lai includes everything you’d expect from an ocean: coral reefs, bays, caves, open ocean, the abyss, and even shipwrecks.
The advantage of featuring a fictional location is that it can include any species of animal without being scientifically incorrect, so penguins and other typically cold-water animals are just as comfortable there as any other creature. The in-game script even cracks a few jokes about the improbability of so many species in one single warm-climate area.
The area available to explore is huge. It’s not quite endless, unfortunately, but it will require hours upon hours of exploration to see everything. I am going on 60 hours and there is still a large chunk of the ocean I have yet to explore.
The animal life is abundant and diverse, including not only hundreds of fish species but also whales, crabs, seals, squid, octopi, jellyfish, slugs, and more. If you have a particular species of animal you are fond of, chances are Endless Ocean includes it, or at the very least a close relative.
The basic premise of Endless Ocean is to dive at your heart’s content, but there is a short story for those of you who require a bit more substance in your games. Outside of the story, you will be asked to give diving tours to tourists or snap photographs of creatures for magazines. The treasure-hunters among us will also be pleased to know that there is plenty treasure to hunt.
To get to know the wildlife, you must be a very touchy-feely person. By petting fish (which is done by waving the Wiimote) you will learn the animal’s name and basic facts about the animal. This may sound stupid, but it quickly becomes second nature. And besides, if you don’t think that petting a dolphin’s head is just adorable then you have no soul.
The undersea graphics are stunning for a Wii game. It would be unfair to expect 360- or PS3-quality graphics from the Wii, but unless you are completely spoiled by those systems I find it hard to believe that anybody will be disappointed by the underwater graphics. The divers move fluidly, the creatures look and swim realistically, rays of sunlight beam through the water, and the topography is nicely varied. Night dives are pleasantly illuminated by a headlight, and diving in the abyss is expectedly dark.
Being a diving simulator, Akira obviously made it their goal to ensure the dives are as convincing and dazzling as possible, and they achieved that goal marvelously.
Above-water, however, takes a noticeable step down in the graphics department, where the textures and shadows have horrible aliasing and the character movements are very stiff. But I am inclined to say, “So what?” Endless Ocean is about the underwater experience, and the above-water graphics in no way detract from that.
The sound of Endless Ocean is exactly what you’d expect and want from an underwater game. Bubbles will burble from your mask, dolphins will chatter and sing, the abyss is accompanied with a sinister hum, and petting and poking are associated with typical friendly sound effects.
Above the water, you will hear pleasant waves, birds calling, and your ship creaking.
Endless Ocean also features a beautiful soundtrack, as well as a dozen songs performed by the wonderful Hayley Westenra. However, if you prefer other music, Endless Ocean is one of the few Wii games to include SD-card compatibility so you may listen to your MP3s as you dive.
Online play is included for those of you who wish to dive with friends, which is helpful if you are having trouble finding a particular fish or area. Communication is limited to a few set phrases, such as “Look at that!” and “Follow me!”, but you may also use an underwater pen to draw pictures or manually write short messages to each other.
After reading this review, if Endless Ocean sounds like the type of game you will enjoy, I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s simply a masterpiece.
But for those of you who require shooting, enemies, danger and blood in your games (none of which Endless Ocean contains), then look elsewhere.
| 9/10 - The best diving experience without actually diving. | ||||||
| 8/10 - Beautiful underwater; above-water has some minor issues. | ||||||
| 10/10 - Perfect sounds with very relaxing music. | ||||||
| 8/10 - A simple and clean interface. Story is sufficient. | ||||||
| 8/10 -Will take many, many hours to find and see everything. | ||||||
| 9/10 (Marvel-Ous) | ||||||
New on Marvel-Ous
- Iron Man - Movie Review
- Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay - Movie Review
- Flight of the Conchords - Music Review
- The Forbidden Kingdom - Movie Review
- The Ruins - Movie Review
- Opoona - Wii Review
- Lost Odyssey - Xbox 360 Review
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - DS Review
- Horton Hears a Who - Movie Review
- Funny Games - Movie Review
Latest News
Affiliates
