Endless Ocean: Blue World
Endless Ocean is the kind of software hardcore gamers tend to hate. There’s really not much game to it, you swim around beautiful corral and oceanic landscapes full of different kinds of fish, gaze in wonder at whales, and in this game, you avoid sharks. The music is tranquil, the gameplay is simple and you get to feed and pet fish. Petting fish teaches you about them – and yeah, that’s weird. If you scuba in real life it’s not a good idea to pet the fish.
I think the game is okay. I approve of this kind of software but I can’t help but wish Endless Ocean was an Xbox 360 or PS3 game. The Wii graphics are all right, but for a game that requires beauty and encourages exploration, it stinks to know that it could be a lot better looking. There’s also too much text and I’d like to skip the boat crew entirely, but maybe some people like that part of the sim.
My wife liked the music and would probably spend more time swimming around if she wasn’t so busy.
My daughter (9) thought it was cool and pretty but it wasn’t easy getting her to pick them game up a second time. She did enjoy watching it being played almost as much though.
My son (7) hated it. Well, not hate actually, but he wasn’t impressed. He loves whales and sharks but didn’t like the slow pace and the fact that you have to open up the harder sections of the game to see the really cool critters. He said taking pictures of fish was fun but this is a kid who prefers Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart to pretty much anything else.
If you’re the type of gamer, or nongamer, who longs to scuba dive virtually or just spend some meditative calming time with a game – Endless Ocean and this sequel Blue World are ideal. There aren’t a lot of games like this and I think there should be more. A lot more.
The ESRB has this one rated at an absurd E-10. But there’s no blood and the violence involves shark attacks and crocodiles attacks, plus a few others, but isn’t more graphic than any of those old Disney Wild World of Animals specials. The Suggestive Themes they mention could mean swimsuits, their explanation mentions the pulse gun, but I am baffled why they feel any of the content is E-10. Kids today know that fishies can be dangerous and that people drown when they run out of air.
If the rating bothers you, pick up the first one, Endless Ocean is rated E and has no descriptors at all. It’s just missing the thrill of danger inherent in the hobby.
Note to Developers: If you do a third one a second player tag along or split screen would be a very good idea. Working and exploring together would make the game a lot more fun. The plot about helping a diving company just isn’t compelling. Stick the the visuals, add a second player any way you can, and keep the danger and you’ve got a much more interesting experience/game here.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
I’m the type of gamer who usually prefers Super Mario Galaxy, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy, etc. and I think you’re completely misrepresenting this game based on some first impressions by your family. First of all, there’s a lot to do that has nothing to do with petting fish, such as exploring ancient ruins, salvaging treasure, caring for fish, and much more. It’s got a nice little story too that progressing in is fun and interesting. Sure, if you’re the type that’s not smart enough to understand what a story is, you might not like it, but if you actually play the game and understand how to read, then you should enjoy it.
March 9th, 2010 at 2:06 am
Thanks Matt, I appreciate the comments. I’m going to ignore the insults because frankly it’s nice to see people get passionate about a game/entertainment software like this one. I say that with no sarcasm. I just think you misunderstood most of my review.
First of all, this isn’t a review per se, like other websites. This is a blog. I write about games with as much or as little detail as I like. There’s no score. What I try to do here is give parents the sense of what – and how fun – their kids and families might have with the game. And who, if anyone is going to like the game.
3/4 of my family is giving it a pass based on, as you say, first impressions. That doesn’t mean I didn’t play further personally – but in the end I realized for all its charm it wasn’t for me.
GAMERDAD said: “There’s also too much text and I’d like to skip the boat crew entirely, but maybe some people like that part of the sim.”
Personally, and I do know story thank you, I didn’t find the story or the writing engaging at all. It was preachy and shallow, poorly translated from French. It does a GREAT job of removing you from any positive moment the game has created. The educational value is there but nowhere near presented in a way that’s entertaining in itself.
Yes, I should have given more of a sign of the environment varieties – the ship in particular – and the range of features, but you know what? I covered that part of the game by not criticizing the environments and only complaining about how pretty the graphics would have been on an HD system. I said nothing about the game being boring. I talked about “petting and feeding” the fish – and yes, you can do more , but I certainly didn’t imply there wasn’t anything else to do. There’s a feature list on the box.
GAMERDAD: “If you’re the type of gamer, or nongamer, who longs to scuba dive virtually or just spend some meditative calming time with a game – Endless Ocean and this sequel Blue World are ideal. There aren’t a lot of games like this and I think there should be more. A lot more.”
I think you stopped reading before you got to the end Matt. I, and my family, like the idea of EO: Blue World more than you do but I want to see more games this slow paced, beautiful, education and interesting. And on top of that I note that if you scuba or if you want to virtually scuba then this IS the game for you.
You Matt, So go get your feet wet and enjoy!