Under The Waves

I initially approached Under the Waves with the intention of conquering a fear I’ve harbored since childhood. Instead, I found myself confronting parts of myself that I hid not only from others but also from myself. It was one of the most discomforting experiences I’ve ever had playing a game, but it’s an experience I know will stay with me for years to come.

A man might enjoy the story, but I am not a man, and I did not.

Under The Waves is a heartfelt story-driven adventure set in a beautifully crafted underwater world. While there’s a lot to love, such as the magnificent locations and the bizarrely beautiful dream sequences, there are also some flaws that pull it back from perfection.

Although some mechanical elements suggest other games, Under the Waves uses deep sea exploration for its twin themes of personal grief and environmental exploitation in a unique way. There’s a lack of technical refinement here and there, and the messaging gets heavy-handed at times. Under the Waves is actually about something which puts it ahead of many other games in the survival crafting genre.

This reviewer can't go into too much detail about the story of Stan and Under the Waves - some things are best experienced by the player first hand after all, and the story that is spun along the seafloor is definitely one of those. Players will learn more about Stan through his isolation, all the while exploring the beautiful ocean. If you're a fan of oceanic visage, emotional stories, crafting mechanics, wide ranging exploration, or some combination of them all, Under the Waves might just be the game for you.

A high-level atmospheric experience, Under the Waves offers a truly immersive aquatic experience, enhanced by an absolutely memorable soundtrack (which you will undoubtedly want to listen to in your free time) and very convincing French performances. It's a shame that the story, although fascinating, suffers from a sometimes languorous pace, also hampered by laborious micro-tasks.

Diving into the depths of Under The Waves unveils an immersive underwater world brimming with captivating exploration, atmospheric density, and an emotionally charged narrative. However, the overall execution appears as if the creators were assembling the Titan submarine – a touch rough around the edges. Technical imperfections disrupt the illusion of seamless immersion, and the redundant crafting along with its narrative inconsistency simply break the spell at times. Yet, it undeniably possesses a certain charm underneath.

There are three types of people. The living, the dead, and those at sea. Under The Waves is a non-standard philosophical game where you think about this statement. It mainly focuses on the effect from the emotional experience.

Under the Waves is one of those games that you have to complain about, but overall you still like it. First of all, the game takes not so much the plot or gameplay as the atmosphere. Lamp retro futurism, stunningly beautiful water depths, excellent simulation of marine life, Stan's beautiful nightmares (no matter how strange it may sound) - and all this is accompanied by well-chosen music. The audio-visual series is on top, and thanks to him you forgive the game a lot. If you like nautical themes or just meditative projects where you don't have to rush and kill someone, take note of Under the Waves.

Having lived on the ocean floor in the extraordinarily atmospheric Subnautica, I hadn't thought that this game would trump that underwater experience in terms of beauty, atmosphere and variety, but it has, despite its modest playtime of only four hours.

It is impressive that the game combines the exploration of the meticulously crafted underwater world with a message of environmental protection. But, it's a bit disappointing that the main story was not easy to immerse due to bugs scattered everywhere, even though it is the core content of this game.

It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or do anything groundbreaking, but it’s a very enjoyable adventure with a story that deserves to be played.

Under the Waves is a fantastic game that uses the vastness of the ocean to craft wonder and solitude, moving you from avid adventurer to sad man in a way that feels dynamic and intimate no matter the task you’re completing.