FAR: Changing Tides Reviews
Singlehandedly manage a steampunk sailboat in this ramshackle but glorious anti-open world game
FAR: Changing Tides is a stunning atmospheric adventure that makes you feel the ups and downs of sailing through a world that has been destroyed by unknown reasons. It excels at making you feel a connection to your vessel as it develops into something bigger, faster, and stronger throughout your time with it. However, opportunities for a deeper narrative and more rewarding exploration weren’t taken, so this intriguing world never felt fully realised. The tranquil atmosphere and art of FAR: Changing Tides is superb, it’s just a shame the somewhat repetitive gameplay loop wasn’t able to match those same standards.
Far: Changing Tides is an interesting simplistic game with a great atmosphere. You will spend most of the time on your travels admiring the beautiful graphics and solving puzzles. However, the developers have gone a little further than they should with their artistic ambitions, and even if you're a fan of similar relaxing games, you may get bored at times.
Review in Czech | Read full review
FAR: Changing Tides doesn't surpass the achievements of FAR: Lone Sails – but it comes close – and is another example of Okomotive's considerable talents.
Despite the little niggles, FAR: Changing Tides is a delightful game that will work your brain and make you sit up and take notice of the world around you. The mechanics are well thought out and common sense will help you through in the majority of situations. I would highly recommend that before playing this game you do play the prequel as it will help you understand what is expected of you and I am glad I did that before sitting down to play and review this sequel. Overall this a game that is a voyage of discovery well worth persevering with and the rewards far outweigh the occasional gripes.
Much of what is present in Changing Tides is plainly fantastic, but it is a shame that the game goes on for too long until it itself runs out of fuel and sputters across the finish line.
FAR: Changing Tides is not a bad experience, it's a great experience for those looking for a slow-moving game that brings comfort and recuperation away from the usual challenges, an experience that will no doubt appeal to everyone.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Far: Changing Tides isn’t going to be for everyone. But if the idea of a quiet, lonesome adventure about keeping your boat moving forward puts wind in your sails, you’ll love it. There’s a wonderful soundtrack to enjoy, and the puzzles it presents to you are engaging and well thought-out. But sometimes it’s just a little too barren for its own good, and the awkwardness of controlling your ship can get in the way of its serenity.
FAR : Changing Tide is a nice journey through a flooded world on a ship that becomes one of the game's protagonists. The visuals are awesome, and the OST and sound design are in a league of their own. Just don't expect any challenge or much action in what is essentially a very calm experience.
Review in French | Read full review
FAR: Changing Tides is largely more of the same. With how good the first title is, that's not a bad thing, but it leaves a little something to be desired. Great sound design and music, as well as incredible environmental art, don't quite balance out the pacing issues, hard as they try. Your new vessel has more components to juggle than last time, and it's mechanically satisfying, but you spend too much time doing it. While traveling underwater does add a new gameplay component to account for, the puzzles don't offer enough of a challenge. All that said, Changing Tides is still worth your time.
The sequel to FAR: Lone Sails scours off the rust and polishes the rest to an acceptable shine. It's a well-oiled machine that runs for twice as long, with a lot more adventure hiding under its hood to compensate for the series' shortcomings.
Far: Changing Tides lacks some of what made its predecessor truly special, but it's still another lovely roadtrip to take.
FAR: Changing Tides fascinates [players] with a contemplative journey through an abandoned world. Manually controlling a vehicle that's simultaneously a ship and a submarine is really intuitive, and the various puzzles along the way helps the game offer some variety. Beautiful backgrounds and a well placed soundtrack intensify emotions such as loneliness and feeling small before the vast locales. This sequel to FAR: Lone Sails has brand new mechanics and concepts, adding to the adventure's longevity. However, these new features aren't only positive: the rhythm is boring sometimes and some tasks related to the machine control can be tiresome due to their repetitiveness and other issues. In the end, FAR: Changing Tides manages to create a pleasant experience, though far from being perfect.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
FAR: Changing Tides modestly scales-up the original’s minimalist adventure game mechanics for another brief, relaxing jaunt that serves as a welcome antidote to the noise of AAA blockbuster excess.
Although it doesn't add much to the first game, it still manages to give the same pleasure.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
FAR: Changing Tides is a phenomenal atmospheric game, as the visuals and sound design amalgamate wonderfully. However, you might be disappointed if you go into it expecting more.
A calm, sometimes even relaxing journey through the deserted world in the formula of a puzzle-platformer and in a phenomenal setting. If you liked Lone Sails - with FAR: Changing Tides it will be similar.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Far: Changing Tides largely sticks to the same recipe as its predecessor, making its vessel more complex and sending players on a journey through a different world. Its description as a companion game is fitting – although you will get slightly more out of it if you play the series in order – and while I loved the original, the sequel didn't grab me as much.
There is no doubt that those who loved Lone Sails will feel at home wallowing in the wet world of FAR: Changing Tides.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Game length is about right and although there is very little narrative, the story does come full circle and has a satisfying conclusion. If you are looking for a chilled-out, unusual puzzle-solving game I heartily recommend this one. It has been available to play from day one on Game Pass so there is no reason not to jump in and check it out.