Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas Reviews
All told, one can do far worse than Oceanhorn for a shot of Zelda nostalgia. The basics are all present and accounted for, and the game offers good presentation values for a ten-hour-or-so stroll down memory lane. It may not quite nail the sense of charm we’ve seen in similar world design or exploration, but it certainly never goes so far in the other direction as to outright disappoint.
On the whole, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a decent, if not overly spectacular game. I get that they are clearly massive fans of the Zelda series and wanted to do their own game in the same vein, but I would have liked to have seen a little bit more originality and uniqueness in there. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy my time with the game because there were moments where I didn’t want to put it down.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas certainly isn't a bad game, but it gives the impression it wanted nothing more to be like Zelda, and because of that, that's all it really is. It feels like Zelda-lite, a sort of homage to the classics that follows the pattern well enough without infusing enough charm on its own to help it stand out.
I genuinely had fun with Oceanhorn, and I hope that the upcoming sequel irons out of some of the original's kinks. For those wanting a more traditional Zelda experience, I recommend giving this one a shot.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas has a few problems in it’s design choices and others stemming from its mobile roots. But the developers did do a fitting job paying homage to the classic adventure genre and giving that Legend of Zelda formula their own spin. Even with that though, it’s not fun. It got frustrating, not to mention it has that simple combat. If you’re a fan of the adventure genre and looking for something to play on your Switch, maybe look elsewhere. At $15 it seems a little much for what it is, especially when the iOS version is $8. If you’re willing to overlook the issues I had with this game though, you may have some fun and find the $15 perfectly suitable. It’s not for me though.
Despite having a charming art style, the combat can feel underwhelming. Still as the first effort by a small independent team, the game is highly polished and offers an enjoyable experience on the Nintendo Switch.
Oceanhorn is a game that works well on Switch, mainly because of its similarities to Zelda, but is really gameplay limited and lasts only 10 hours.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It is pretty easy to spot the inspirations behind the title Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas. This is a game that has found its way onto just about every platform available now, and of all of them the Switch seems like a suitably comfortable home, lending itself nicely to the pick-up-and-play mentality that Nintendo has been pushing for its hybrid home and portable console. It is a fun game that kind of feels like a portable Zelda title, even though Oceanhorn would have benefited from taking a few more chances along the way to better establish its own identity.
Oceanhorn probably worked better as a mobile game back when not much was expected of such games. But as a modern game on consoles there are so many better options.
Oceanhorn is a game built from components so familiar that even Nintendo has tired of them. If the brief was to ‘Make a Zelda’ then Cornfox & Bros have only succeeded on a surface level. The studio evidently has talent – it’s a visual and aural treat – but due to the game’s mobile heritage, Oceanhorn on Switch feels compromised, vague, and ultimately forgettable.
No adventure game is perfect and Oceanhorn: Monster of the Uncharted Seas focuses on what it does best: a fluid, accessible and eye-catching adventure, despite its sometimes frustrating character moves and a certain feeling of repetitiveness regarding the enemies and bosses. A game that doesn't ignore its inspirations and doesn't try to leapfrog them.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Oceanhorn good short adventure that may appeal mostly due to its wonderful visual effects and a charming soundtrack. The gameplay is not too diverse, but this mechanic a lot, but the combat system is boring after half an hour, and enemies becoming more and more. Boss battles are not interesting, most of them you can just scatter bombs, and magic. Death in the game means almost nothing, the player just toss to the checkpoints with all stored items. In the game there are too few original ideas and no challenge.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The years since its original release have not treated Oceanhorn well. As a mobile game, it's a decent experience, and with a play time of around 10 hours, probably one of the closest experiences you'll find to a console-like adventure game. On an actual console though, Oceanhorn is substandard and lacking in any real substance that would make it worth the time. While limited, the Switch already has numerous experiences that are a much better use of money in its library with more on the way each week. Try as it may, Oceanhorn is not quite the nostalgic Zelda clone it hopes to be, turning out as a tedious adventure walking in the shadow of its inspiration.
If you're a hardcore Zelda fan you may find enjoyment in Oceanhorn; the game's not bad, just very bland. It also might appeal to younger audiences who may have never played a Zelda game before. This game is a good stepping stone into that genre. Ultimately I wish Oceanhorn created more of an identity for itself but it ends up just playing it safe.
Oceanhorn is an interesting game that some people will enjoy and some people will hate. The inspiration drawn from Zelda oozes all throughout the game, and that can be a bit off-putting for some. For myself however, I think Zelda-clones should end up becoming a new thing. Considering the amount of years we have to wait between Zelda entries, why not embrace games that capture the spirit of a classic franchise? Oceanhorn isn't original, it isn't perfect, and it isn't necessarily memorable, but not every game can be. It's a simple, fun Zelda-clone that will bring fans of the franchise great enjoyment in between sessions of Breath of the Wild.
If you've got a hankering for a game with a stamina meter, sword swinging, and pot smashing, there is at least one other better title on the Nintendo Switch that I can think of, but Oceanhorn is an alright little throwback to retro Zelda titles that could help you bide your time between Nintendo's slow trickle of AAA games this year. Now, when do I get to play the sequel?
I was very happy to play this title, and it felt right at home on the Nintendo Switch and being able to play on the go, and I can’t wait to see what this studio comes up with next.
What Oceanhorn offers is basically a discount Zelda. The game borrows most of its gameplay from Zelda, but one should be aware that they get what they pay for. It's not well-defined or polished like a Zelda game. Instead, you can think of it as a cheaper alternative if the Nintendo Switch's premium price tag has left you a little out-of-pocket for Breath of the Wild. Do I recommend? If you already like the genre, you can probably get a few good hours out of the game. If you're new to the genre, Oceanhorn won't do you any favours.
While Oceanhorn welcomes many a Zelda comparison, the game sticks to its guns to provide a somewhat enjoyable, if flawed, adventure that may not be necessary, but still manages to be fun along the way.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas seems to have found its rightful place on Nintendo Switch and I'm delighted I can add it to my collection on the system.