In the depths of “Under The Waves,” a creation by Parallel Studio and brought to us by the Quantic Dream Spotlight label, I embarked on a mesmerizing journey that plumbed the depths of human emotion. This game, reminiscent of Quantic Dream’s signature style, delves deep into heavy subject matter, including ocean conservation, mental illness, and the overwhelming theme of grief. The setting of the deep ocean serves as a poignant backdrop for exploring the theme of loneliness. The vastness of the ocean mirrors the emotional void that our protagonist, Stan, finds himself in. As we plunge into the depths alongside him, we are engulfed in a narrative driven by his grief. Comparisons can be drawn to another indie gem, “Firewatch,” that I also loved, though “Under The Waves” carves its own niche in the underwater realm.
This game takes place in a peculiar techno-futuristic version of the 1970s, evoking shades of Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” but submerged in water instead of outer space. The art style is uniquely imaginative, with technology maintaining a gritty, analog, man-made appearance reminiscent of the ’70s, while both humans and sea creatures adopt a more cartoonish aesthetic. One of the initial aspects that caught my attention was the exceptional oceanic visual effects. “Under The Waves” stands out with its stunning portrayal of the underwater world, even above the ocean where you actually see the waves look absolutely incredible, arguably among the best in the gaming realm. It vividly immersed me in the ocean’s mysterious beauty. The heart of the game’s narrative beats in the depths of the North Sea, where we assume the role of Stan, a professional diver haunted by the loss of his child. Stan’s struggle to move forward and embrace a new future is a central theme, leaving us to question whether he is simply pursuing his profession or escaping his past by descending deeper into the ocean’s abyss. As the in-game storms intensify and Stan reaches his mental breaking point, remembering where you are when exploring your ocean surroundings can be very crucial in the game, but I’ll talk about that in a moment.
The game’s score deserves special mention for its ability to evoke the profound feelings of loneliness and eeriness that accompany deep-sea exploration. It successfully tugs at the heartstrings while keeping the essence of humanity intact. Although, the game isn’t without its imperfections. The lip syncing, especially with the lead protagonist, leaves room for improvement. The mouth movements often fail to align seamlessly with the spoken dialogue, I don’t know if this was a creative choice or a technical issue, either way it was hindering the immersion factor for me. Gameplay primarily centers on underwater expeditions. The main hub serves as a pivotal point for main and side quests, often involving resource gathering or location-based interactions that advance the story. The dynamic changes within the ocean add a layer of intrigue to exploration, ensuring that boredom never creeps in. While the game offers some side quests to diversify the experience, I couldn’t help but wish for more activities outside of the main story. Nevertheless, this aligns with the typical Quantic Dream style, where the main narrative takes precedence. The added features we did get, some puzzles and daily activities that feel like they’re designed to extend the game’s length, and some side quests come across as inconsequential, I know I just said I was hoping for a bit more, but this isn’t it. Despite all that, the overall flow remains engaging, with the oceanic beauty always keeping me captivated.
The writing of the dialogue is mostly pretty decent, but at times can be a little too “on-the-nose” and could be used a bit more subtly. Luckily the voice performances manage to salvage a lot of the weaker moments and add a lot of heart and emotion to even the subtle moments the game does have. Ultimately, when the credits rolled, I was left with a deep sense of gratification, feeling that the developers had skillfully harnessed the stages of grief in a remarkable way. The Quantic Dream Spotlight publishing has officially piqued my interest and I’m very excited with what else they’ll deliver in the future. For now, we have “Under The Waves,” and it is an emotional odyssey beneath the sea that will immerse players in a world of sorrow, reflection, and resilience.
8/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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