ABZU

Beautiful and full of surprises. The colourful and jaw-dropping vistas and experiences in ABZU will stick with you for a long time. Just like Journey did.

Even though it's a linear game, Abzu offers a sense of freedom to rival any sandbox. [Issue#254, p.56]

Abzu is a captivating and intriguing adventure, once again proving that the journey is more important than the outcome. Journey was maybe a little bit more moving, but Giant Squid's title is still one of the best artistic indie games in recent years.

While very brief, almost overly so, the journey was still one to remember, especially when it features one of the most visually striking and cathartic endings in recent memory. ABZÛ is a spellbinding and visually stunning experience. I can't recommend this title enough, and it's definitely one you'll want to check out.

Art exists to bridge a gap, to communicate emotions or ideas that would otherwise be impossible to articulate. Abzu does this--courageously, confidently, sincerely. Its stirring soundtrack, vivid colors, subtle storytelling, living world, and thoughtful execution combine to create a singularly moving, transcendent experience. In a word: Abzu is beautiful.

Gorgeous and invigorating, Abzû flounders a bit with a hamfisted story, but there’s still nothing quite like it on the PC.

The “it’s not a game” crowd will invariably struggle to see the appeal with Abzû’s monumentally relaxed pacing, but they will arguably be the ones missing out here. An absolutely resplendent experience that is thoroughly and generously stuffed with memorable moments, Abzû’s beguiling audiovisual presentation lends it an atmosphere and sense of place that very few, if any, games can match. This is the very apex of videogame escapism.

A extremely beautiful game that deserves to be calmly enjoyed and savored. It won't convince anyone who puts gameplay or narrative over anything else, but a satisfying journey for those who enjoy this kind of interactive experience.

Abzu's charming aquatic world is always softly in motion. A good-looking journey comes with repetitive and shallow gameplay and its pursuit of affecting emotions remains halfway. Still, execution being detailed and captivating it's definitely worth a dive. One of the best underwater exploration games out there. [Sept 2016]

Calming dive into the magical empire of underwater wonderland that follows in the footsteps of games like Journey and Flower. [Issue#266]

In the end if you’re a fan of explorer, filmmaker, and scientist Jacques Cousteau or feel at home watching the deep sea documentaries of David Attenborough, then ABZÛ is something that you’ll definitely want to check out.

Abzu gives off the feeling that it was originally devised as a way of teaching gamers about marine conservation, but it does so in an enjoyable and relaxing way.

Abzû might not offer an easy to digest story, but those missteps are made up with a dazzling experience, some marvellous set-pieces, beautiful visuals packed with vivid colours, and a lovely soundtrack. All this artistic work gels together for a relaxing and reflective afternoon of wonderment.

Abzu is a truly unique indie game that stands out among the faceless mass of other small games. The developers have shown an incredible attention to detail and have presented the player with a great, very well directed story. It's short and has almost no gameplay mechanics but it's still worth it. There is a secret, a plot and friendship.

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, Flying Squid’s aquatic adventure is nonetheless enjoyable, alluring, and ultimately pleasant.

Stunning art and music design, but shallow when it comes to depth of meaning and gameplay.

Less than two hours of playing time is just right for Abzu’s shallow gameplay. The game offers a hefty dose of “beautiful moments” but fails to make any lasting impact. [10/2016, p.68]