Abzu Reviews
Abzu is a testament to where we are with video game development and shows how diverse the medium can and should be, even if it's not quite as emotionally resonant as it perhaps could have been.
Like the hauntingly beautiful ocean that ABZU has players explore, the real thrill and joy of playing ABZU comes down to going deep beneath the surface to experience its sights and sounds it offers, and the personal and emotional connections that are bound to be found. ABZU may be short on deep, complex gameplay or a lengthy narrative, but is more than capable of providing one of the most stirring, surreal gameplay experiences that (I hope) players will experience this year. As long as you're willing, ABZU is absolutely an experience worth being swept up in and letting you take it wherever it goes.
Abzû is a beautiful game. It's a game stuffed with fish and colour and movement and music. I love those things. Sometimes you feel like you're actually inside an episode of Blue Planet (I recorded the video above during one such moment). But I don't love wrestling for control of an experience which feels expansive one moment and restrictive or unpredictable the next.
ABZÛ is a lesser game than Journey, but since I consider Journey to be one of the more sublime pieces of interactive entertainment I've enjoyed, that's hardly a damning indictment. While it struggles to be truly resonant, Giant Squid's aquatic adventure is nonetheless enjoyable, alluring, and ultimately pleasant.
A nice swim through a virtual world
What more needs to be said? ABZÛ is a beautiful experience. It's still technically a game, but one that can be appreciated by anyone who loves bright colors, art, fish, meditation, and more. If it weren't for the PlayStation 4's fans kicking up due to all the high-poly rendering, it could even make for a nice virtual aquarium. For $19.99, there are definitely other games with more regular gaming content. However, ABZÛ is one experience that many people should not pass up on.
ABZÛ is nothing short of a work of art. Diving through its gorgeous cel-shaded ocean with the title's sweeping orchestra in the background enraptured me from the first moment of the game. This is an experience that shouldn't be missed.
Grab this one for its artistic beauty and a unique, captivating diving experience.
Rather than ask players to challenge themselves, ABZÛ gives you the freedom to explore the mysteries of the deep at your own pace, providing an ebb and flow that offers a masterful experience.
In many ways Abzu looks and feels like a successor to Journey, but while there's mystery and beauty in its underwater world, it's rarely quite as engaging. The simple, predictable gameplay is one barrier, the abstract nature of the story another, creating an experience that's big on audio-visual power and artistry but short on the stuff that made Journey truly magical. However, it's worth playing for its epic high points, its unique atmosphere and the chill-out meditation, but don't expect to find perfection or a game of vast scale and depth.
ABZÛ is perfect for fans of Journey and other thatgamecompany titles, thanks to the sweet simplicity of its gameplay and visuals as well as marvelous musical score.
For those looking for a narrative journey that's unlike anything else on the Playstation 4, Abzû offers plenty to experience.
Abzu is something that was never even on my radar. Then I booted it up, and never let go. Every area was an experience, and it made an impact on me. I don't spend my time trying to figure out what it means, I just enjoyed the ride, and it is easy to recommend. Especially to those that enjoy the idea of swimming in the depths of the ocean, and exploring the alien life found below the waves.
ABZÛ is a triumph of exploration and atmosphere. Its gorgeous underwater playgrounds are a joy to explore thanks to its perfectly tuned controls, awe-inspiring visuals, and beautiful sound design. A somewhat predictable story does little to hamper what is otherwise an utterly unique and rapturous experience.
The porting of a title as peculiar as Abzû has gone incredibly well, considering the difficulty of having to find the perfect balance between a lower resolution and the details of a graphic style so poetically minimalist. Giant Squid's little masterpiece is a must have for those who are inclined to yield to the irresistible call of the sea, even on Nintendo Switch.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Abzu is one of those games that attracts you from the beginning, and it has an excellent atmosphere added by a soundtrack very well implemented. In general, it has a good performance, however, its simplicity is reflected in the short duration it has.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Abzu is an interactive exposure of wonderful underwater nature, concentrated but memorable. However, the game is still missing an important message, a sort of subtext that can impress the player. It remains an important debut for a young team that will be able to achieve great things, with a little more experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Abzu is one of those games that comes along and manages to capture you into its world, allowing you to shut out all of the stress and worries of your own life. It successfully allows you to live in its dream-like environment for a few hours and delivers tranquility you may not have even known you needed.
Abzu offers a lush, gorgeous world to explore.
The game fails to satisfy the natural urge to explore a three-dimensional realm of seemingly endless possibilities.