Sea of Solitude Reviews
With Sea of Solitude we still discover today, two years after its release, an incredibly mature work from every point of view, graphic, thematic and also in terms of gameplay. The experience touches the perfection of the genre with an evocative glance, a soundtrack practically without defects and an atmosphere that is sewn onto the player making him breathe deeply all the air of a sea that is perceived so much calm and vast, as much as inhabited by creatures that perhaps we should let sleep. In Sea of Solitude there is everything: introspection, the focus on the character and on us, the openness and pleasure of travel. If during our journey we are then called to face our own monsters we will have the courage to do so: in this experience we are Light, Darkness, Sea and the same monsters. We have everything we need and on this tour we have all been kindly offered through one of the best video games of the genre, to be suggested instead of a book.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sea of Solitude: The Director's Cut brings a strikingly emotional tale to the Nintendo Switch. Set sail through a sunken city to confront the inner demons of Kay and her loved ones. Uncover the past and discover the hardships that they had to endure.
The events that play out are often powerfully voice acted and complemented with incredible art. It wears its influences on its sleeve and is profoundly direct with its ,but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Even though the gameplay is flawed with clumsy and inaccurate platforming, it's not enough to capsize a strong overall presentation.
The simplistic gameplay could have carried the sloppy story if it was more polished. Animation breaks and the bugginess of the collision happen far too frequently in such a short game. If Sea of Solitude: The Director’s Cut was marketed as a satire of pretentious, arty, non-engagement style indie games, it would probably fool everyone.
Sea of Solitude: The Director’s Cut is difficult to quantify the efforts of. I can appreciate the premise of the scope of negativity it attempts to convey, and the voice actors were clearly invested in their roles. However, nothing it says manages to stick and leave a semblance of meaningful impact when it comes down to it. The writing is too direct, showing a lack of needed subtly for the darkest elements of the character-driven narrative to hit home.
Sea of Solitude sets up a strong premise and showcases a lot of heart, but its forgettable gameplay and mediocre storytelling hold it down.
Sea of Solitude is a great game, albeit short. I found this game can get very intense and every once in a while had to take a break as some of the encounters you have can be quite hard-hitting and really shines a light on loneliness and how it truly affects the mental health. With a great price point on each platform, this game is worth picking up and playing through as this can really help people who are also in similar places. With that, I will give Sea of Solitude a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Whether in respect of its derivative gameplay structure or the bumper-sticker approach to an otherwise-sincere message, it doesn’t go any deeper than the wading pool.
I found its stronger aspects to be memorable and well-presented. I can appreciate the personal nature of this game, as the creators obviously poured themselves into it, but this is definitely a title that has a very specific appeal.
I’m torn on Sea of Solitude. I don’t know what score to give it even. I can’t say I love the game because I definitely don’t. I don’t hate it either. It has also been on my mind constantly since I finished it and that must mean something. Maybe I’m just too rooted in my own depression to understand this game. I’m not sure.
Sea of Solitude is a game not to be taken lightly—the content warning at the beginning attests to that—but well worth the tumultuous ride.
The attempt to copy the works of Team ICO was not successful, as well as the desire of the creator of Sea of Solitude to reveal a personal drama. Probably, Geppert chose the wrong format, but this does not make it easier for us.
Review in Russian | Read full review
If you are a player who appreciates great storytelling with minimal hours of commitment, this game is for you. It may not be enjoyable though for players who are seeking hardcore action-adventure gameplay. Story loops may eventually exist but the graphics, colors, voice and sound quality really makes up for it. Regrettably, the game has a lot of potential, it has a lot of feels to it. I know a lot of people out there – gamer or not can relate to the emotions that Kay portrays. I think that end credit scene is a sneak peek on what’s to come which is really exciting since this can be developed to so much more. I am really looking forward to it.
Every so often, a game comes along that dares to do something different in terms of narrative design and the themes that get explored. The EA Originals lineup of games over the past year has been a blessing in disguise for the company, with the likes of Fe and A Way Out doing quite well both critically and with fan reception. Sea of Solitude is the latest entry into that lineup of games, and the message has been clearly communicated from the very beginning. This is a game about mental health issues and the ups and downs of everyday life as we struggle to get through this together.
Sea of Solitude's lack of coherence and focus in the story, coupled with its simplistic gameplay, leaves the feeling of a rather shallow experience.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Sea of Solitude boasts an abundance of heart, and has a genuinely great look, but the gameplay struggles to rise above anything other than basic.
While Sea of Solitude manages to be distinctive, it certainly isn't the only game to explore mental health in the past few years. And like many that attempt to tackle the topics and themes that come with this, Sea of Solitude struggles at times. When it gets things right, it's a touching experience with a lot to say, but too often what it has to say is drowned out by heavy-handed writing, poor line delivery, and unimaginative gameplay that juxtaposes a fantastical and metaphorical world.
Despite a gorgeous look, Sea of Solitude lacks of a complex narrative or level design that puts it into pair with recent games inspired by mental issues.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sea of Solitude tackles a very sensitive subject matter and handles it beautifully. What it fails at is presenting it all in a package that offers satisfying gameplay.
Despite its good intentions, Sea of Solitude ultimately is a hodgepodge of cliches that fail to capture any meaningful feeling.
Review in Spanish | Read full review