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. OliverBridson
    Sep 16, 2016
    9
    If you're not a fan of small, artistic experiences in games then Abzu isn't for you. If you're not drawn to a game because of it's art or musical direction then again Abzu isn't for you. However, if you're captivated by artistic visuals and beautiful musical scores then Abzu is most certainly for you.

    Abzu's combination of visuals and music is sublime. The score feels dynamic, seamless    If you're not a fan of small, artistic experiences in games then Abzu isn't for you. If you're not drawn to a game because of it's art or musical direction then again Abzu isn't for you. However, if you're captivated by artistic visuals and beautiful musical scores then Abzu is most certainly for you.

    Abzu's combination of visuals and music is sublime. The score feels dynamic, seamless and its ambient presence fits the aesthetically gorgeous ocean setting perfectly.

    Control wise, Abzu has some of the most satisfying swimming controls I've seen. Swimming feels simple, seamless and handles incredibly well. Once you master the controls, exploring the environments feels incredibly satisfying.

    The narrative arc of the game is minimalist. You essentially have to figure out the story for yourself, and it's definitely open to interpretation. But for me, this made my experience with the game feel personal, spiritual, and at times breathtaking.

    If you enjoyed Journey, you'll love Abzu.    … Expand
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. adrianvandelzel
    Sep 1, 2016
    10
    Un juego precioso, no entiendo como hay gente que le da una baja puntuacion. Es relajante y bello, vale su precio en oro, estoy muy contento con esta compra.
  5. GoodApollo88
    Aug 24, 2016
    8
    A great indie game with a great amount of freedom as you gracefully attach yourself to one of the many various forms of underwater wildlife and dive above the surface of the ocean. Abzu is a journey of discovery and wonder. The levels are well designed in it's simplicity in detail. There will be those who compare it to Journey but Abzu is it's own game. The inverted controls can be trickyA great indie game with a great amount of freedom as you gracefully attach yourself to one of the many various forms of underwater wildlife and dive above the surface of the ocean. Abzu is a journey of discovery and wonder. The levels are well designed in it's simplicity in detail. There will be those who compare it to Journey but Abzu is it's own game. The inverted controls can be tricky to begin with but once you get used to them the movement is freeflowing and fluid. Essential indie purchase.… Expand
  6. torq314
    Aug 21, 2016
    9
    Another masterpiece from the duo Matt Nava and Austin Wintory. If you loved Journey and expect a spiritual sequel of it, you have just found it here. Gorgeous design and music and a relaxing gameplay.

    The only subtle drawback is that the story lacks the depth of Journey, there is no such sense of "coherent wholeness", a metaphor of something bigger than the simple story you follow.    Another masterpiece from the duo Matt Nava and Austin Wintory. If you loved Journey and expect a spiritual sequel of it, you have just found it here. Gorgeous design and music and a relaxing gameplay.

    The only subtle drawback is that the story lacks the depth of Journey, there is no such sense of "coherent wholeness", a metaphor of something bigger than the simple story you follow. Specifically, I missed the story behind the civilization that left the ruins you explore. In Journey you meet other beings, in Abzu you just explore and don't meet anyone.

    Despite this, I strongly recommend Abzu. Well spent money and a team of creative people that we really expect to get more games from in future.    … Expand
  7. Yankee6X
    Aug 15, 2016
    8
    I found this game to hit the brief on the head. Visually captivating, easy to learn controls, not particularly difficult (great for kids!). The sound design was perfect, the wildlife, water and soundtrack all set a perfect level of calm in the right places, and built tension without freaking you out in others.

    The only failing of this game is that for the price on the PSN, its    I found this game to hit the brief on the head. Visually captivating, easy to learn controls, not particularly difficult (great for kids!). The sound design was perfect, the wildlife, water and soundtrack all set a perfect level of calm in the right places, and built tension without freaking you out in others.

    The only failing of this game is that for the price on the PSN, its debilitatingly short-lived - i completed the entire thing with a self-enforced slow pace in just over three hours.

    A plus, however, is that the "meditation" mode in the game is great for something pretty to look at while you go about your day.    … Expand
  8. 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
  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. 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
  11. 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
  12. GamingDrake
    Aug 11, 2016
    3
    Well if the art director wanted people to experience what he did when he went diving then WHAT THE HELL DID HE FIND DOWN THERE!. But seriously this game is an artsy fartsy kind of game its not a deep kind of game at all. you just swim about and say look at that fish, look at coral which yes the art style is very good but that's it i want more from a GAME!. Not a flipping (no pun intended)Well if the art director wanted people to experience what he did when he went diving then WHAT THE HELL DID HE FIND DOWN THERE!. But seriously this game is an artsy fartsy kind of game its not a deep kind of game at all. you just swim about and say look at that fish, look at coral which yes the art style is very good but that's it i want more from a GAME!. Not a flipping (no pun intended) swimming simulator its not a game I'd rather watch finding nemo which is just about as long and has a hell of a lot more replay value. If i want a relaxing game I'll go and play Grow home which has gameplay… Expand
  13. Fosseli
    Aug 11, 2016
    6
    I really wanted to love this game, but it left me disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful game with grate music, but it did not have the magic i expected after playing Journey.

    The controls felt fidgety and i could never get used to the tree step boost. It never felt as free and seamless as zooming over sand and carpets. The sense of scale was also off. Because of the cell    I really wanted to love this game, but it left me disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful game with grate music, but it did not have the magic i expected after playing Journey.

    The controls felt fidgety and i could never get used to the tree step boost. It never felt as free and seamless as zooming over sand and carpets.

    The sense of scale was also off. Because of the cell shading, I could never understand how small or big something was compared to the avatar and was often confused of the perspective. This game would probably benefit with a 3D or VR perspective.

    Why they omitted the random online element, that was so revolutionary in journey, is kinda strange. The personal story you created with others in Journey was so magical. The attempt of a story in ABZU was less impactful when the "other part" (trying not to spoil) felt less personal and contrived.

    I know it's not fair to compare it to a previous title, it's not even made by the same studio. But so many other elements were so familiar, that this felt more like an attempt at a "spiritual" successor to Journey then something new.

    The reason for this is because It is development by video game studio "Giant Squid", founded by Flower and Journey art director Matt Nava. Lead designer on Journey Nicholas Clark was also a consultant on ABZU and of course Music composer is Austin Wintory who also made the award winning music for journey.

    So i can't help comparing the two... It's still a god game, but its not a great game like Journey. .

    I still play Journey annually, and think i will continue to do so. Don't think this game will get the same treatment.    … Expand
  14. Crackfarmer
    Aug 9, 2016
    2
    Gets very boring soon plus uses Denuvo Protection. Game Dev's please, invest more Time into your fcking Game than DRM....Is that really so much to ask for?
  15. Lbjmvp232
    Aug 9, 2016
    10
    If you aren't entranced by mechanically shallow games like Journey, don't bother. But if you find exploration titles even marginally interesting, Abzu is an absolute must-play – it's the most majestic one yet
  16. 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.
  17. Malooga
    Aug 5, 2016
    10
    I have to say, Abzu might be might pick for GOTY, at the very least in the indie development category. There are many who argue that true art, in any form, is only art because it remains unexplained by the artist. Abzu is true art in that sense. Sure, there is a story told here, but I sincerely hope the developer does not elaborate on their inspiration, because it is the kind of story thatI have to say, Abzu might be might pick for GOTY, at the very least in the indie development category. There are many who argue that true art, in any form, is only art because it remains unexplained by the artist. Abzu is true art in that sense. Sure, there is a story told here, but I sincerely hope the developer does not elaborate on their inspiration, because it is the kind of story that will mean different things to different people.

    It definitely draws inspiration through Journey (same art studio, same orchestra) but even takes a little from more retro titles like Treasures of the Deep and Echo the Dolphin. Movement is VERY fluent, although the camera struggles to keep up sometimes. Mostly what will have you gasping and coming back are the music and art.

    Combined they make for some of the most amazing set-pieces I have ever seen in gaming, and I'd be lying if I didn't say a couple of them nearly moved me to tears. If you care at all about the artistic value of video games, do NOT pass up Abzu. An incredible award/praise worthy effort from Giant Squid, with very few complaints (mostly centering on some incongruities with fish anatomy/migration) that most people won't even notice.

    Simply perfect, 10/10.    … Expand
  18. Gautham27
    Aug 4, 2016
    9
    An amazingly beautiful game with an incredible array of different species. The levels and habitats were brilliantly made with lots of fine details. Not to mention that the art is incredible too. Only complain is the lack of a story and the play time.
  19. Proteus
    Aug 4, 2016
    4
    Probably the most overpriced game ever sold. This is a $4.99 game selling for 19.99 at the PS Store. The game is fine, as the reviews say, but they are capitalizing on the success of Journey for this price at 2 hrs of play time.
  20. Dukay66
    Aug 3, 2016
    6
    Abzu has been a game I have had my eye on since it's announcement a few E3's ago and I couldn't wait to explore such a beautiful world. Sadly, there isn't much to find other than stunning vistas and unique art style. There isn't really anything to do other than swim using very clunky controls that I never got used to. Abzu fails at everything that made Journey so good, and it's a shameAbzu has been a game I have had my eye on since it's announcement a few E3's ago and I couldn't wait to explore such a beautiful world. Sadly, there isn't much to find other than stunning vistas and unique art style. There isn't really anything to do other than swim using very clunky controls that I never got used to. Abzu fails at everything that made Journey so good, and it's a shame considering the fantastic look of the game.… Expand
  21. fijiboy
    Aug 3, 2016
    8
    Abzu is somewhat of an exploration game, similar to journey. Im gonna be comparing this game to journey quite a bit during this review, because of how similar it is and the fact that the art director of journey was the lead director of this game. If you don't know what journey is, simply keep in mind that I find it to be a near perfect game and is one the most emotional games I have everAbzu is somewhat of an exploration game, similar to journey. Im gonna be comparing this game to journey quite a bit during this review, because of how similar it is and the fact that the art director of journey was the lead director of this game. If you don't know what journey is, simply keep in mind that I find it to be a near perfect game and is one the most emotional games I have ever played. Is this game as good as journey? no, but it has a lot going for it still. The game is absolutely beautiful when it comes to its art design and game physics, possibly one of the most beautiful games I have ever played visual wise. The game mechanics work well but are way to simplistic and I wish they would have implemented more ways to make your way through the game instead of just swimming. The "puzzles" are way to simple as well, not that I expected the puzzles to really challenge me, but I did want them to be fun atleast, and they just weren't. The game didn't resonate with me as much as I hoped it would, infact when the game ended I felt like it was really missing something and was really disappointed, but after some reflection I think the game does a good job at making you feel a sense of awe and wonder and connection to the world of the game, but still fails to really leave a lasting impression. I might sound kind of negative towards this game, but I actually really enjoyed it while I was playing and was extremely immersed in the visuals and sound design of the game. I really enjoyed the mechanics and how they felt even if they were overly simplistic, and there definitely some emotional moments in the game, but it didn't leave me with anything to really remember by or take away from it besides it beautiful design, which was quite disappointing for a game that is so well made in almost every aspect. Journey had themes and messages that were very clear by the end of the game that were very impactful, and that's what made the game so great apart from is beautiful design, and I would say abzu is an even more beautiful game but has no impact in the end or at least a very underwhelming impact in my opinion, but I could see some people being very moved by this game and have a great love for it, and I hope that's the case for anyone else who plays it. I guess I simply couldn't get a clear picture of how I should be feeling or understanding of what this game was trying to be, and that could just be me not analyzing the game properly, but I did put a lot of thought into this game and really couldn't get much out of it as I wish I did.… Expand
  22. ChuckDee33
    Aug 3, 2016
    10
    I've been playing games at a moderate level for over 25 years now, so I have some authority to speak on the topic like many of us I'm sure. This game kind of transcends the medium, I believe. It's not a game, not in the traditional sense anyway. It's more of an experience simulator. One with gorgeous visuals, a sublime soundtrack and one of the most smooth and elegant control schemesI've been playing games at a moderate level for over 25 years now, so I have some authority to speak on the topic like many of us I'm sure. This game kind of transcends the medium, I believe. It's not a game, not in the traditional sense anyway. It's more of an experience simulator. One with gorgeous visuals, a sublime soundtrack and one of the most smooth and elegant control schemes I've encountered. It's a mechanically simple and direct setup, without the need to explain anything via menus or on screen text. In fact, there no HUD item of any kind, no map or marks, not even a health bar. You can't die or really get "hurt". You don't know where this world comes from or what it means. It's an undersea dream world though. That's the beauty of this type of media at this level, that you can bring your own experiences and emotions away from it. For PS+ users it's only $16. At just 3-4 hours of general playtime I still believe it's worth every penny of that. Another advantage it has going for it is that literally almost anyone capable of moving a joystick and holding a button down could play this and get something out of it. Only negative I could mark on it would be it's shortness, but again for the price it was worth more than that. I definitely wanted to see more creatures and see how far I would go down the rabbit hole. I also want to praise the graphics and art direction more specifically. There is a great balance between realism and game world here. In that I mean it's not trying to portray a true ecological version of the sea, but the aesthetic is very much intact. Replayability, yeah you could definitely play through this a second time and probably find some of the items you missed on the first run. It is a fairly linear game in that you're moving from one clearly definable area (sometimes smaller and sometimes enormous) to another. Within these areas you have the general freedom to move wherever you like and explore off the beaten path, but there's always a very simple mechanic upon which to progress, so you can't really go around the level design in that way. If you care about this sort of thing, there's a pretty wide variety of sea life to be found and they're all rendered very well and glide through the water convincingly. The giant schools of smaller fish swarming in a cyclone is something to be seen. With the excellent ambient soundtrack to boot, I can't recommended this one enough. Even after you've put the controller down it will stay with you longer than most games these days.

    TIP - the only menu setting is for the directional controls. I recommend trying out both normal and inverted on all three axes to find the right combination for you. Trust me, fool around with in the first level and tweak it to your preference, it'll be a better experience if you do this up front.    … Expand
  23. JM81
    Aug 2, 2016
    6
    Honestly, pretty meh. Sure it's beautiful and has some great music, but what bothers me is that it's Too much like Journey. In fact, it's a re-imagining of Journey, but under water, and that doesn't warrant a new buy for this game.

    If you haven't played Journey, get it. It's the better "relaxing non-game experience with great music and visuals". The two are basically comparable, but    Honestly, pretty meh. Sure it's beautiful and has some great music, but what bothers me is that it's Too much like Journey. In fact, it's a re-imagining of Journey, but under water, and that doesn't warrant a new buy for this game.

    If you haven't played Journey, get it. It's the better "relaxing non-game experience with great music and visuals". The two are basically comparable, but Journey is definitely better in my opinion.

    If you had Journey, don't expect anything new, because there really isn't anything. Well, there's that One enemy that explodes and doesn't hurt you if get too close, but that's a step down of the looming "search" enemy from Journey.

    My 6/10 is set from a Journey owner's perspective. It might've been a 7.5 or even 8 without it.    … Expand
  24. homer4president
    Aug 2, 2016
    8
    A very beautiful game. Even though there might be little actual gameplay, it's so marvelous to look at. The fish move so graciously in the water and so does the sea weed. Although it did not have the same emotional impact that Journey gave me it sure did astound me with the visuals. There are even a couple of sections in the game that are exactly like Journey, although that isn'tA very beautiful game. Even though there might be little actual gameplay, it's so marvelous to look at. The fish move so graciously in the water and so does the sea weed. Although it did not have the same emotional impact that Journey gave me it sure did astound me with the visuals. There are even a couple of sections in the game that are exactly like Journey, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing as it brought me back memories. So to summarize:

    Amazing Visuals/Score
    Little Gameplay
    Visuals are amazing (Did I say that already?)

    If you like Journey then you will definitely like this.    … Expand
  25. Andret00x
    Aug 2, 2016
    6
    It's like Journey but under water...and not as good...and slightly boring...and short....I was expecting something a little bit more productive. Sometimes the game feels a little bit...cheap.
  26. TheOmegaMale
    Aug 2, 2016
    8
    I wanted to write a review of ABZU that wouldn't end up comparing it with Flow, Flower or Journey. I wanted to talk about how the game stands on it's own merits.... but.... I just couldn't. The game is great, pretty much what I was expecting, but it is essentially just these three games squashed into one package. A beautiful and artistic audio visual package to be sure, but not an originalI wanted to write a review of ABZU that wouldn't end up comparing it with Flow, Flower or Journey. I wanted to talk about how the game stands on it's own merits.... but.... I just couldn't. The game is great, pretty much what I was expecting, but it is essentially just these three games squashed into one package. A beautiful and artistic audio visual package to be sure, but not an original one. Which begs the question "why not just play Flow, Flower and Journey"? Ultimately it's a lack of original ideas that takes the shine off what is an otherwise pleasant experience.

    ABZU is not a massively lengthy game either, but It does have replay value in the form of secrets to find. However, I'm betting most people will grab them all on their second play through. I feel the price at launch is reasonable enough, but I did get a small discount for pre-ordering. (Don't pre-order games it's a stupid thing to do)!

    Grab this game if you're a fan of Flow, Flower or Journey, or if you're looking for a good "relax em up" to help get you through FPS fatigue. Also if you have some weird fish fetish.... freak show XD    … Expand
  27. Megagal1978
    Aug 2, 2016
    10
    Absolutely breathtaking. That was one of the most enjoyable video game experiences I've had in quite some time. No, you can't die, it's not difficult, there's no assault rifles, and no dungeons. But it's an amazing experience and it will take you away to another place entirely. I found myself smiling from ear to ear many moments during the 3 to 4 hours of gameplay. I highly recommendAbsolutely breathtaking. That was one of the most enjoyable video game experiences I've had in quite some time. No, you can't die, it's not difficult, there's no assault rifles, and no dungeons. But it's an amazing experience and it will take you away to another place entirely. I found myself smiling from ear to ear many moments during the 3 to 4 hours of gameplay. I highly recommend this game/experience,… Expand
  28. joshcam19
    Aug 2, 2016
    10
    A combination of Endless Ocean and Journey. A wonderful game and incredibly beautiful. When you are swimming with literally hundreds of different kinds of fish at once it is like nothing ever. Completely breathtaking.
  29. GamingNinja
    Aug 2, 2016
    9
    It might not live up to the masterpiece that was Journey.
    But damn this is still one great, beautiful crafted game.
    For any Journey fan this game is a no brainer go pick it up now.
  30. TrevZ
    Aug 2, 2016
    9
    This game is beautiful and emotional by using simple actions and colors to evoke emotion. Not as thought provoking as journey, but tells a very cryptic message about life and beauty.
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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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