Wavetale

I'm thoroughly impressed with Wavetale as it completely surpassed my expectations by being one of the most beautifully captivating indies that I've ever played. Even though it's a tad short, I can definitely see myself playing through it again and again.

It’s truly a blessing that Thunderful Games has brought Wavetale over to all modern platforms after Google put Stadia in the tomb. Wavetale tells a heartfelt narrative filled with beautiful visuals and a soothing soundtrack in an open world experience that’s short and sweet.

Wavetale remains a hidden indie jewel that could have benefited from more QA before being released on console, even though that would have certainly involved pouring more resources into a game that was initially launched on Google Stadia. For starters, fixing the music issues and the freezes would be mandatory in order to prevent discouraging people from trying it. For what is worth, Wavetale does a single thing well and that's the sliding mechanic, which is probably the only true selling point of the game. From the beginning to end, surfing the waves remains the main charm of Wavetale. It is a remarkable first effort, and one can only hope that it is enough to make people notice Wavetale and grant the developers the chance to make a sequel building upon the existing formula.

Wavetale is a simple adventure with a sweet story, featuring satisfying traversal, although it never steps out of its comfort zone.

The platforming and level design in Wavetale is fantastic. You can easily fly up buildings in style due to the responsive controls. Even though the objectives are similar throughout, the areas are well-designed to make each island refreshing. While you can overlook the lackluster and rigid combat, the performance issues are harder to ignore. Screen tearing and pop-ins are frequent and hinder the experience. However, fans of games like Solar Ash and The Pathless will still enjoy the game.

Wavetale provides a cozy, enjoyable ride of exploration and puzzle solving. The story is one big side quest, but its subtext is well written - global warming, industrialism and the hubris of humanity. Gameplay is fluid and enjoyable with an excellent soundtrack and decent voice acting. Screen tearing and audio glitches distract but ultimately do not deter me from recommending this as a decent weekend getaway.

Wavetale certainly could've used some extra polish but the movement and storytelling shine strongly in a world that is mostly gorgeous to look at. Combat lacks any threat and the platforming can feel incredibly simple. There's not a lot of risks being taken which can result in a game that feels trivial. Despite this, there's more than enough to keep those curious onboard. I do find the personal tale to be engaging and it's nice to see an apocalypse look so bright and optimistic.

If you can forgive the odd technical issue and you’re happy to sink into a rhythm of somewhat repetitive missions, Wavetale offers up an enjoyable five or six hours of laid-back gameplay. Its stylish and smooth traversal remains an absolute joy from start to finish: whether you’re skating along the water’s surface or jumping through wind tunnels, you’re going to have a smile on your face.