What seems like a companion for the Diver is actually just a fleeting tool that can be used to remove a few obstacles, disappearing inexplicably whenever a new area is reached.
You dig a wee bot out of the sand, which then proceeds to follow you, bobbing around and leaving a trail of light behind it. The first time it was a bit mindless, and doesn’t remotely deserve to be reused.Įarly on, things are introduced that seem like they’ll be central to Abzu, but either fall by the wayside or don’t get satisfactorily expanded on. They’re locked and you’ve got to open them by turning two wheels.
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There are no puzzles, no moments where you wonder how to get somewhere, and only a single path to follow. While I appreciate the lack of violence, there’s very little in the way of other interactions, either.
There’s this incredible, well-realised aquatic realm, and not much to do in it. That aimlessness does permeate throughout the game, though. And it meant I could just kick back and get swept up in the soundtrack. I spent a good five minutes swimming with a small shark as it darted in and out of a huge churning school of frantic fish, for no reason beyond the fact that it was a hypnotic, pleasurable way to kill a few minutes. So friendly, in fact, that you can hitch a lift by holding onto some of the larger creatures, which doesn’t serve much of a purpose but is still unexpectedly delightful. Despite being set in the ocean, it’s a well-lit world, where shafts of sunlight penetrate the water through gaps in the ceiling of plants, and the fauna is almost always friendly. Otherwise, most of the tension comes from the atmosphere and Austin Wintory’s exceptional and varied score.This is a deliberately safe, welcoming place to inhabit. They still don’t pose much of a threat, though, and avoiding them is a simple task. Ancient, monolithic guardians can be found in some areas, for instance, and if the Diver gets too close to them, they get zapped and stunned for a brief moment. Struggle and death aren’t things that the Diver – Abzu’s quiet, enigmatic protagonist – needs to concern his or herself with. There is no health bar, no oxygen tank that needs to be refilled, and no energy meter forcing limitations. A crab relaxes on the seabed, but quickly scarpers under a rock when anything gets close. A pair of manatees glide through a forest of kelp, which parts as they cut through it. Fish, whales, crustaceans, and turtles fill the ocean and make it a vibrant, reactive place. It’s eye-catching and alien, even though most of the underwater denizens can be found in our own oceans. Your eyes are always being drawn to something – a natural wonder, an imposing temple, a gentle but intimidating whale shark.