The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human

Everything about this game feels thought out and sculpted with the player’s enjoyment in mind.

Aquatic Adventure distills the Metroidvania into its most essential parts and says something meaningful with it.

It may be a bit on the short side, especially for players who are able to take down the bosses with relative ease, although most players are probably looking at about six to seven hours of playtime. But in that short amount of time, it manages to pack a satisfying amount of action, tranquility, and exploration into a concise, captivating adventure. Just don't be afraid to dive too deep into the ocean depths, no matter what horrors might lurk in the dark abysses below.

Its story and themes are delivered well, but they don't come off as pretentious or preachy. The challenging boss battles deliver immense satisfaction, and the breaks of tranquil exploration offer delightful moments of discovery.

It's an interesting and sometimes weird mix. Metroidvania purists might find it unusual, but the gameplay shows some qualities.

The narrative is over the top in its environmentalist messages that are laid out in text form and hit you over the head like a frying pan. The soundtrack doesn't quite know its place, and the art is passing, but fails when there's nothing to look at but the backgrounds. These sorts of things interrupt the tone, but in situations where the game's parts all work together - which is most of the time - The Aquatic Adventures of the Last Human is a subtle and solemn exploration of a new, but old world.

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human may have its share of flaws, but is a highly original and mostly enjoyable entry into the increasingly congested metroidvania subgenre.

Hellishly difficult trip to mysterious seas. Great idea, impressive atmosphere, but a good experience is sometimes spoiled by strange design decisions and a few irritating bosses. The true dagger in the back is the map for an extra fee. [Issue # 261]

This game is a challenging metroidvania. You play in a gorgeous surrounding with an intriguing backstory, which is divided by challenging boss fights. However, the more time you spend, the more boring this game becomes. It is predictable and it lacks having real interesting developments throughout.