ABZU

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 531 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 339 out of 531
  2. Mixed: 146 out of 531
  3. Negative: 46 out of 531
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  1. Caribou
    Aug 13, 2016
    7
    A tweet from Rami Ismail, a game developer, expressed exactly what I think about this game in short: "Abzû is lovely, but mostly it emphasises just how exceptional Journey was. Half a decade later & the best anyone's achieved is "close".

    That can seem be a bit harsh as someone who did like playing the game, but I have to agree with it. If you remember the really beautiful moment of    A tweet from Rami Ismail, a game developer, expressed exactly what I think about this game in short: "Abzû is lovely, but mostly it emphasises just how exceptional Journey was. Half a decade later & the best anyone's achieved is "close".

    That can seem be a bit harsh as someone who did like playing the game, but I have to agree with it. If you remember the really beautiful moment of releasing the whale-like creature in the Tower in Journey? I'd say that ABZÛ is kind of like that but on repeat. I would score it as a 7.5 shading to 8 for the obvious passionate amount of effort poured into creating it. At it's best ABZÛ is full of wonderful colours, shades, creatures and underwater structures with a luscious score to boot; a dream of an idealised undersea world. At it's worst; it's a faint echo of what Journey achieved because by bringing together two of the people who were so important to the look and emotional feel of it, Matt Nava and Austin Wintory, you can't escape the direct comparisons.

    I wanted to like this a lot but I kept running into things that just didn't work for me. The story narrative is not strong or engaging, and somewhat confusing, as, like in Journey, it is displayed via visual storytelling with an Ancient Egyptian theme. It takes almost to the end of the game to get any dramatic narrative action going on. Although there are a couple of quite moving moments, it was all a bit late by then to make a connection. The environments are gorgeous to look at, but it didn't take long to realise most of them are somewhat small and cramped and you're restricted in what is explorable.

    Swimming with various schools of fish and larger mammals could be really touching and relaxing too, the fish swimming or some acrobatics with your pod friends was often the best part. Or would've been if I hadn't loathed the controls. Clunky, slow to respond and the camera angles were seriously limiting. What should've been graceful movements too frequently were just a wrestle to get the camera to point forward.

    I wasn't expecting to be completely blown away by ABZÛ but I wish I could like it more than I did. Austin Wintory's score is fantastic though!    … Expand
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 31, 2017
    7
    Abzu
    A peaceful scuba simulator
    Abzu comes from the mind behind the art direction in flower and journey and it shows… This game very much follows the same structure of those games for better or worse. Here you play as a mechanical diver… Because of this you have no gauges to keep an eye on or air to worry about... The burden or survival is completely lifted off of your back you just    Abzu
    A peaceful scuba simulator
    Abzu comes from the mind behind the art direction in flower and journey and it shows…
    This game very much follows the same structure of those games for better or worse.
    Here you play as a mechanical diver…
    Because of this you have no gauges to keep an eye on or air to worry about...
    The burden or survival is completely lifted off of your back
    you just swim and explore...
    Its starts as such a nice calming adventure breathing life into the ocean bed
    swimming with the predators and prey with no care at all…
    Noticing little subtleties and reactions of the oceans inhabitants that really bring the ocean world to life…
    You can even grab onto the larger creatures and go for a ride...
    You feel as one while you swim forward exploring new environments…
    But much like flower there’s a turn for the worse as you slowly inch towards the finish line of this 2 hour game…
    Abzu goes from being a peaceful experience to being a bit of a typical stressful adventure game…
    You can’t die here.. But what starts as a peaceful swim and escape from reality turns into a throw switches, pull chains and avoid unpleasant mines while you do so…
    Time to relax is over…
    Now you have problems to solve...
    This is the majority of the final stretch of the game and it kind of ruins the initial feel this game has…
    Enjoyment is just a memory as you’re swimming through forgotten ruins that should’ve stayed forgotten
    or at the very least should’ve been briefly visited rather than turning into something to deal with because video games…
    It’s unfortunate…
    But this is still a pretty cool experience that offers a great feeling of exploration…
    Even during the final moments that I didn’t like..
    I give Abzu
    a 7.5/10    … Expand
  3. ThereIsNoSpoon
    Aug 14, 2016
    7
    Gorgeous graphics and music, but...not much of a game. Not much of a story, either. And it's only 2-3 hours long. Whether or not you will replay it depends on how much you enjoyed the aesthetics and the immersion, because that's what this experience is really all about--being at the bottom of the ocean and swimming with all the pretty fishies, all the while listening to a beautifulGorgeous graphics and music, but...not much of a game. Not much of a story, either. And it's only 2-3 hours long. Whether or not you will replay it depends on how much you enjoyed the aesthetics and the immersion, because that's what this experience is really all about--being at the bottom of the ocean and swimming with all the pretty fishies, all the while listening to a beautiful soundtrack reminiscent of the work of Eric Whitacre and Samuel Barber.

    The game borrows so much from Journey and certainly looks the part (same art director), but the gameplay isn't quite as interesting, and there's no multiplayer component. You won't suddenly happen upon another player whom you can share the experience with, which really helped make Journey the special and memorable experience that it was. You also won't be engaging your brain much to solve the few "puzzles" there are, which really can't qualify as puzzles. You're pretty much guided through the whole thing.

    Still, I enjoyed it, especially the final moments. Like Journey, it's simple to pick up and play, so maybe this will be the game you can play with your children or grandma or something.    … Expand
  4. Zalmarus
    Sep 3, 2016
    7
    Let me just start off by saying that this game is visually stunning. I like the art style and the colors. If you have played Journey this game will feel familiar as a lot of gameplay elements are the same.

    This game was a nice experience and I went and completed the game 100%, so it's nice enough to experience this game for about 2-3 times. Other than that this game doesn't really do    Let me just start off by saying that this game is visually stunning. I like the art style and the colors. If you have played Journey this game will feel familiar as a lot of gameplay elements are the same.

    This game was a nice experience and I went and completed the game 100%, so it's nice enough to experience this game for about 2-3 times.

    Other than that this game doesn't really do anything new and it doesn't have the feature like Journey where you go through the story together with a complete stranger with minimal ways to communicate. Which was if you ask me one of the unique features that made that game so great    … Expand
  5. Nel
    Jun 20, 2017
    7
    Very simple artistic game, similar to journey. The game has wonderful music, and is very short. It does not have the best graphics, but the graphics are very artistically designed, other than a few camera problems here and there I really enjoyed the experience
  6. Casualplayer
    Aug 8, 2016
    7
    The artístic concept really needs to be congratulated on Abzu.It is the core essence and it is a very beautiful game.
    But if you are done with this kind of gameplay from previous games of similar content found on psn, Abzu is not gonna change your mind. If i could pass on this one, I would. I am done with this kind of game.
  7. Cycologist
    Sep 14, 2016
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From some of the people behind 'Journey' and 'Flower', two of the best experiences on PS3, this game is quite amazing and also fairly derivative of the two aforementioned games. Strangely, my enjoyment of Abzu was lessened the more I played and saw the similarities and outright riffing of ideas used in Journey and even Flower before that. The character looks like Journey's protagonist in a diving suit. Watching the fish swarm and swim by and around you is STUNNING, but seemed to be a modification of the petal trails in Flower and some of the more automated sequences were definitely ripped from Journey. At the end of Journey, while I won't say I understood everything, I believe I came to a satisfactory understanding of the story they were telling. In Abzu, while I guess I caught on to some of the more major themes by the end, they seemed disjointed and poorly formed. The game, directed and designed by former thatgamecompany art director Matt Nava is gorgeous and visually breathtaking, but having a few more people - or maybe a few less - who worked on Journey's story would've made a game worthy of its predecessors legacy. I gave Abzu a score of 7 mostly for the visuals and docked 3 mostly for the storytelling… Expand
  8. dislexicpotato
    Dec 28, 2021
    7
    Beautiful visuals and captivating music really make Abzu a game worth experiencing, its gameplay is pretty barebones and its length is very short which holds the game back but if you can get it for a discounted price it is definitely worth checking out.
  9. Grayscale
    Aug 14, 2016
    7
    This game is pretty fairly rated. I think one thing is always important to consider when reading reviews about games like this. Whether you have expectations or not. If you are a journey fan, you will likely be satiated at best, very disappointed at worst. The game is attractive, it has a good sountrack and it can be fun at times to play. However, if you are expecting either journey or anThis game is pretty fairly rated. I think one thing is always important to consider when reading reviews about games like this. Whether you have expectations or not. If you are a journey fan, you will likely be satiated at best, very disappointed at worst. The game is attractive, it has a good sountrack and it can be fun at times to play. However, if you are expecting either journey or an original game you unfortunately get neither. It borrows heavily from journey without really matching the magic that journey produced. Its a fair price, however, and still a beautiful and enjoyable game. Just go in knowing what to expect and if it is worth it to you, I recommend it .… Expand
  10. Liam320
    Aug 14, 2016
    7
    Abzu is a beautiful game with a great soundtrack that gives you the impression of scuba diving, without the tank and breathing apparatus. The developers also made good on the overall atmosphere of the game: diverse aquatic wildlife and vibrant colors. They also nailed the fluidity in the players movement, with smooth and responsive controls. All these factors actually culminated into aAbzu is a beautiful game with a great soundtrack that gives you the impression of scuba diving, without the tank and breathing apparatus. The developers also made good on the overall atmosphere of the game: diverse aquatic wildlife and vibrant colors. They also nailed the fluidity in the players movement, with smooth and responsive controls. All these factors actually culminated into a relaxing experience for me, which was deeply satisfying within itself. But, I was looking for something more. I wanted a game that was more narrative driven and without annoying amounts mystery.

    Abzu's plot is just too ambiguous. It didn't give enough gravity to the game. I can completely understand the style the developers implemented, because it made sense in Journey, but Journey wasn't to the point of borderline confusion. Its metaphor clear, but not too obvious. Abzu on the other hand was catch-catch-can with its message and wasn't completely clear to me until the second play-through, and that to me hampered the experience. Getting behind the plot shouldn't take a new game, its message to me becomes less potent. The writers were just too liberal with ambiguity.

    But to summarize on the positive, the game is unique; its mechanics and graphics are artfully crafted; the amount of effort and time sunk into Abzu is obvious. I enjoyed my time with the game, and for what it's worth I'd purchase it again. GiantSquid Studios could of had a comprehensive title that would of easily been liable for game of the year. I know the developers needed ambiguity to preserve their metaphor, but not to the point of weakening the context of your objective within the game.

    If you want a game that is eye candy this definitely the game for you. If you want a game that touches upon all the points of mainstream, comprehensive entertainment purchase at your own discretion.    … Expand
  11. VirgonoShaka
    Jul 8, 2017
    7
    Playing through the two hours and twenty minutes of Abzu's "story" reminded me a lot of the movie Fantasia, a movie that is not very traditional at all, and is more of a moving painting, and is more about putting the right images to the music than telling a story. In that way, Abzu is an interactive painting, and is more about appreciating what it shows than about a story or the gameplay.Playing through the two hours and twenty minutes of Abzu's "story" reminded me a lot of the movie Fantasia, a movie that is not very traditional at all, and is more of a moving painting, and is more about putting the right images to the music than telling a story. In that way, Abzu is an interactive painting, and is more about appreciating what it shows than about a story or the gameplay. In some ways, in a game that is not so cool because it leaves you as a gamer not feeling involved or interested for long. But if you like appreciating a piece of art just because of what it is, then Abzu showcases that games can be made to be appreciated like that with some of the most amazing pieces of graphics I have seen this side of Journey or the like, all complimented by another excellent score from Austin Wintory. Also added to this is the not so bad mechanics for swimming which is practically everything you do in the game. On its bad side, I can't say that the "story" it kind of sort of wants to present is that interesting, and that it doesn't have a lot of replay value. Nevertheless, I don't regret at all playing it, just for the time that I used to appreciate the incredibly colors, lights, sounds, and shapes that it presented. Can't recommend to everyone, because it is not exactly the type of game that anyone can like, but if you like this type of game, it is definitely worth checking out and diving in. Final verdict: 7.5… Expand
  12. parkerz98
    May 8, 2017
    7
    In short: ABZU is a very pretty game that, despite the simplistic and repetitive gameplay, was worth the free PSN download and 2.5 hours of my time.

    Things I LIKED about the game: First of all, this game is beautiful. Seriously, the art direction gets a big two thumbs up. The soundtrack melds with the visuals very well and it created some gorgeous moments. I also appreciated the    In short: ABZU is a very pretty game that, despite the simplistic and repetitive gameplay, was worth the free PSN download and 2.5 hours of my time.

    Things I LIKED about the game:
    First of all, this game is beautiful. Seriously, the art direction gets a big two thumbs up. The soundtrack melds with the visuals very well and it created some gorgeous moments. I also appreciated the inclusion of the meditation mechanic. It's nice to see that the developers gave the players another way to enjoy the art they created, even if it's rather difficult to focus on a specific fish.

    Things I felt MEH about:
    I don't have any complaints about the controls, even if it takes some getting used to. I was never distracted or frustrated about them. I went back and forth trying to decide whether or not I liked the weird, ambiguous story ABZU tries to tell. In my opinion, the story feels like a bizarre version of Flower. There were definitely some heavy-handed parts that made me roll my eyes, but I wasn't playing ABZU for its story anyway. Also, the game is rather short. I took my time, and I was still done with the game in less than three hours. It didn't bother me though, I think I was done with the game at that point (Journey wasn't much longer, and I didn't mind it either). The addition of collectibles was a nice thought to please the explorers and completionists, but there was no way to know how many you collected. On top of that, there was no benefit to the player at all for collecting them, just a random trophy. Nice idea, just incomplete.

    Things I DID NOT LIKE about the game: My biggest problem with the game, however, was how repetitive and formulaic the game felt. By about halfway through my playthrough, I could pretty accurately predict what kind of scene would come up next. But the worst was the handful of the same exact kind of dumb, not really puzzle that just forced you to spend a little more time in a certain area.

    All in all, this is a game for those who enjoy video games as art. While it isn't executed as perfectly as the other two games I mentioned in the review, I still enjoyed the game just fine. With more creative and dynamic scenes and pacing, this would be up there with Journey. It's good, but I wouldn't call it great.    … Expand
  13. CoreGamer1408
    Feb 14, 2022
    7
    Free drop on PS+ and I probably would of not even brought it. That being it was a fairly relaxed chill experience. Simple bold colorful artstyle set to a pretty immersive soundtrack. Story was kind of obvious to figure out the nurture of nature and all that. Gameplay is miminal which works for this type of laid back experience. This does have a nice feel good factor to it all. One andFree drop on PS+ and I probably would of not even brought it. That being it was a fairly relaxed chill experience. Simple bold colorful artstyle set to a pretty immersive soundtrack. Story was kind of obvious to figure out the nurture of nature and all that. Gameplay is miminal which works for this type of laid back experience. This does have a nice feel good factor to it all. One and done no replay value.… Expand
  14. XxAlbertoBuzzxX
    Jun 2, 2020
    7
    Abzu
    ......................................................................
  15. LucaCritics
    Mar 28, 2020
    7
    Abzu Review: 7/10
    Abzu's unique art style, soundtracks and scenarios makes you have a different, unique and relaxing experience.
    The game is more of a visual experience, and a very pretty one.
    Abzu is very linear, there are some optional collectibles and nice vistas.
    To conclude my review I consider Abzu a very peaceful experience, and also similar to Journey.
  16. Lonewolf97
    Jun 15, 2019
    7
    ABZU is a short and sweet game where you take control of an unnamed scuba diver and swim through the ocean. The game doesn't spell out the story at all to the player, though it appears to be about evil machines trying to pollute the ocean and the player must stop them from doing so. The graphics are similar to Zelda: Windwaker and make every location in the game easy on the eyes. TheABZU is a short and sweet game where you take control of an unnamed scuba diver and swim through the ocean. The game doesn't spell out the story at all to the player, though it appears to be about evil machines trying to pollute the ocean and the player must stop them from doing so. The graphics are similar to Zelda: Windwaker and make every location in the game easy on the eyes. The accompanying soundtrack during gameplay works well, making you feel dread in one area and immediately help you calm down and relax in the next area. The gameplay is decent enough. You swim around, perform backflips in mid air and ride fish larger than yourself. The controls of the game are good, though it was annoying moving in directions I did not want to move in, and the boost. You must also activate robot helpers in order to progress, which is easy, since the robots can found by looking around for a bit. The robots don't do much and simply act as keys to doors blocking your progress. You can also collect sea shells, activate hidden water pools which unleash new aquatic life intothe area, and meditate on specific statue, allowing you to observe the creatures around you and letting you choose which fish you want to observe. The game took me around three four hours to finish all it had to offer. Overall, ABZU is a good experience that will stick with you. Though there is not much to do, the graphics, music and short length of the game make up for it.… Expand
  17. Jackthegamer
    Jun 13, 2023
    7
    The game is beautiful and I enjoyed playing it but it's nothing special. Journey was a bit better.
  18. Michael_zilber
    May 25, 2021
    7
    приятный релакс на один вечерок, созерцание и медитация.
  19. sergio123456
    May 15, 2020
    7
    Juego muy bonito en su estética, muy similar al estilo Journey, es un juego más de contemplación que de acción, pero también se agradecen este tipo de juegos, muy buena representación del fondo del mar y el mundo marino, peca de ser excesivamente corto y demasiado sencillo.
  20. XLazer
    Apr 28, 2020
    7
    Overall - 7.1

    Great visuals but get boring really quickly

    Enjoyment - 7.5
  21. TheMrLacky
    Mar 29, 2021
    7
    It is a pretty game, very very similar to Journey but at the same time I felt like it was not at the same level and I didn't feel attached to the "story" the same way i did with Journey. Still, it is enjoyable so if you like this kind of games you should give it a try
  22. tommydlbass
    Sep 19, 2021
    7
    Short experience like Journey but without the novelty of the later. Is not bad and it only last like 2 hours, a recommended game if you wanna just enjoy some free, relaxed time with good visuals.
  23. PanchoRedFalcon
    Aug 31, 2023
    7
    An immersive and cool experience for those who want to spend time without major challenges and enjoy the sea landscape.
  24. chrisdan23
    Jun 12, 2022
    7
    ABZU steht in der Tradition von Spielen wie dem phänomenalen Journey, oder auch Flowers von thatgamecompany. Da kommt nicht von Ungefähr, dass sich das Entwicklerteam GiantSquid aus vielen ehemaligen Journey Entwicklern gegründet hat. ABZU bietet ein ähnliches Spielgefühl und Spielkonzept, das man am ehestens mit dem Wort "flow" beschreiben kann. Mit ihrer Unterwassenwelt entwickeltABZU steht in der Tradition von Spielen wie dem phänomenalen Journey, oder auch Flowers von thatgamecompany. Da kommt nicht von Ungefähr, dass sich das Entwicklerteam GiantSquid aus vielen ehemaligen Journey Entwicklern gegründet hat. ABZU bietet ein ähnliches Spielgefühl und Spielkonzept, das man am ehestens mit dem Wort "flow" beschreiben kann. Mit ihrer Unterwassenwelt entwickelt GiantSquid jedoch auch eigene Kniffe, sowohl hinsichtlich der Steuerung, aufgrund des 360 Grad Bewegungsradius, zudem reichert der Entwickler das Spiel nochmals deutlich stärker mit Umgebungsrätseln an, die das Gameplay nochmal abwechslungsreicher machen. Die Unterwasserwelt ist zudem wunderschön anzuschauen, und gerade wenn man in ein neues Areal schwimmt, kommt es regelmäßig zu einem Wow Effekt. Leider fehlt dem Titel allerdings etwas die Tiefe, die ein Journey beispielsweise durch seine einzigartige Koop-Erfahrung bot. ABZU bleibt einem lange nicht so nachhaltig in Erinnerung. Auch die, zumindest zu Anfang, etwas sperrige Steuerung, stehen einem Flow Spielgefühl etwas im Wege. Trotzdem für jeden Fan des Genres sehr zu empfehlen, wenn auch neuere Titel wie das überragende Solar Ash mittlerweile sehr viel mehr an Gameplay zu bieten haben.… Expand
  25. tymqe
    Apr 16, 2021
    7
    nice relaxing game with great visuals, very good to play if you want to calm yourself down after playing fifa or some other ****
  26. EasyGamerBoi
    Jun 10, 2021
    7
    Abzu is a strange little game. That’s probably the point of it, like Journey, storytelling without actually speaking is a medium that gets amazing games every year or so. I wouldn’t say Abzu is amazing or better than Journey at all, but for what it is, it’s a great little experience. I didn’t know about the movie length run time going in so imagine my shocked face when I hit the end in oneAbzu is a strange little game. That’s probably the point of it, like Journey, storytelling without actually speaking is a medium that gets amazing games every year or so. I wouldn’t say Abzu is amazing or better than Journey at all, but for what it is, it’s a great little experience. I didn’t know about the movie length run time going in so imagine my shocked face when I hit the end in one play through lol. The visuals are spectacular and from what I remember about the score, it’s very relaxing. (I completed it a few years ago my memory is a little fuzzy) but I remember some of the puzzles being a pain, really not a fan of puzzles in games to begin with though. If you can get it cheap, definitely check it out.… Expand
  27. Andrevery
    Jan 8, 2022
    7
    Приятная коротенькая игра, которая подходит для того, чтобы расслабиться. До уровня "The Journey" не дотягивает (часть создателей работала над обоими играми), но оставляет приятное впечатление.
  28. MaxieZeus
    Sep 12, 2022
    7
    Fun little short game, definitely give it a try if you like ocean or sea creatures.
  29. m3ny0
    Oct 28, 2022
    7
    Abzu é muito bonito, e basicamente isso sumariza o jogo. A história aqui é bem rasa (ba-dum-tss) e se desenrola de maneira confusa tentando contar um conto maior do que o método escolhido (sem qualquer diálogo) consegue. Muitas vezes você se encontra tentando achar um significado maior, mas não há nada, o jogo não permite que haja por conta dessa e outras decisões, como os grandes momentosAbzu é muito bonito, e basicamente isso sumariza o jogo. A história aqui é bem rasa (ba-dum-tss) e se desenrola de maneira confusa tentando contar um conto maior do que o método escolhido (sem qualquer diálogo) consegue. Muitas vezes você se encontra tentando achar um significado maior, mas não há nada, o jogo não permite que haja por conta dessa e outras decisões, como os grandes momentos em que você precisa seguir nadando em frente, e só, sem opção de exploração. E entre estátuas para meditar e peixes para interagir, o jogo se mostra um grande mundo aberto embaixo d'água em que, igualmente na vida real, não há muito a se fazer.
    É uma aventura bonita, curta e interessante, mas não muito profunda.    … Expand
  30. aaronnmp96
    Feb 3, 2023
    7
    The game is beautiful, it passes with its task, what happens to me is that it was too short for me, and maybe I didn't like the controls very much
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Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best PS4 Game of 2016
30
#30 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
67
#67 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 72
  3. Negative: 3 out of 72
  1. Critical Hit
    Mar 16, 2017
    80
    Abzu is quite simply a breath-taking piece of interactive art, that feels vivid and more alive than you’d imagine a video game was capable of being.
    Read full review
  2. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    80
    A wonderful trip beneath the waves, abounding in small surprises and impressing with the sheer density of life in certain scenes. Whether you’re riding a manta ray or zipping along a speedy current like a highway, it makes the natural world fun while adding its own intriguing mysteries to uncover.
    Read full review
  3. JeuxActu
    Nov 4, 2016
    90
    Abzû is one of the best games of 2016 with a cryptic yet very good story, alongside with beautiful visuals that go way beyond the aquatic screensaver. Unless you're a hardcore action fan, you have to try it.
    Read full review
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