Tides of Tomorrow

Tides of Tomorrow ultimately has some cool ideas, but the gameplay doesn’t live up to them. The story and writing are interesting, but also disjointed because of their design. The story never really felt like mine, more so a reaction to another. This might be mitigated by not following anyone, but that seems to go against the core of what makes Tides of Tomorrow interesting in the first place. Hopefully, DigixArt sticks with the formula and makes something truly unique for their next go-around, built on the foundation introduced by Tides of Tomorrow. It’s an interesting adventure and a new experience, which makes Tides of Tomorrow a worthwhile experience.

While I don't think Tides of Tomorrow rises to the same narrative highs as Road 96, its primary incentive is a great draw. It's a little weird to want to stalk other players through a digital world, watching and listening to their every move in order to better your own lot in life, but it's a compelling enough gameplay loop that I overlooked the shortcomings in the game's story and non-player characters. And even if I don't plan on playing the game again, it warms my heart to know that my digital ghost is now out there, potentially guiding other Tidewalkers that may need a little help.

Overall, Tides of Tomorrow stands on its own as a very interesting narrative-driven game that will take you roughly 10-15 hours to complete on your first playthrough (there are several endings based on the choices you, or the person you're following, make). The Story-Link is a neat novelty, but the concept doesn't hit as hard as I would've wanted.

A clever core mechanic elevates Tides Of Tomorrow above its environmentalist earnestness and into a colorful curiosity that's worth checking out.

Tides of Tomorrow introduces one of the most interesting gameplay mechanics in years, but it’s not without its flaws. The story lacks some depth, and the gameplay loop can become repetitive a bit too quickly. That being said, it still stands out as one of the more unique games out there and deserves credit for that. If you’re looking to try something different, this might be worth your time.

Tides of Tomorrow delivers an innovative concept, breaking away from the usual conventions with its asynchronous gameplay mechanic, which works remarkably well. Another striking and cohesive experience added to DigixArt’s catalog.

Kudos for coming up with an imaginative new way of pulling people together online that feels fresh.

Mixing together adventure, stealth and a gripping narrative makes Tides of Tomorrow a very intriguing prospect indeed. It's just a shame that its novel 'online story-link' mechanic isn't as enjoyable as it should be, leaving you feeling like you're existing in someone else's shadow rather than carving out your own path through this unique world.

Tides of Tomorrow attempts to depict a world suffocated by plastic—crafting a fascinating setting rich in thematic potential—yet ultimately treats the subject with the same superficiality with which, outside the screen, we have learned to coexist with it. All the right ingredients are there: the ambition to confront the player with the moral consequences of their actions, bolstered by a brilliant concept like the "Story-Link," which strives to weave players' choices together within a shared dimension. The problem, however, is that this very ambition struggles to translate into something truly impactful. The numerous choices rarely carry the weight they should, and the saccharine writing style ends up excessively dampening the tone. Tides of Tomorrow offers glimpses of something immense lurking beneath the surface, yet never quite manages to bring it to light.

The results are evident, and there is no doubt that the game features some truly evocative sequences—as well as several particularly strong artistic vistas—yet at the same time, one notices minor frame rate inconsistencies on PS5, a few too many reconstruction artifacts, the limited scope of the explorable environments, and, above all, animations that are often stiff, thereby highlighting the production's limitations.

Tides of Tomorrow boasts an interesting world, and has great foundational ideas, particularly with its approach to asynchronous multiplayer. However, it feels more inconsequential and disjointed than it should, and as a result doesn't fulfill its potential.

Despite a clever central mechanic that ties into its core message, Tides of Tomorrow is let down by heavy-handed storytelling, simplistic mechanics and a regular loss of immersion.

Tides of Tomorrow is a good story that's alternately helped and hindered by its asynchronous multiplayer. It enables some compelling gameplay options but sometimes takes agency away from the player as relying on other players means you can't really do anything yourself a lot of the time. The story can also contradict itself sometimes due to the nature of the gameplay. It's enjoyable despite this, though it starts to outstay its welcome towards the end.