ABZU

Abzu is a brilliant experience .

Gorgeous scenery and a thoughtful, engaging story make Abzu memorable and spectacular.

ABZÛ is nothing short of a work of art. Diving through its gorgeous cel-shaded ocean with the title’s sweeping orchestra in the background enraptured me from the first moment of the game. This is an experience that shouldn't be missed.

Those of you who appreciate casual adventures like taking a walk in a forest will be sure to enjoy what Abzû has to offer, as the dreamlike visuals, entrancing orchestral score and deliberately sedate pace do a fantastic job of drawing the player into this alien world. We’d give Abzû a high recommendation to anybody looking for something a little more gentle for their Switch; it’s not a game about winning, but about the journey (no pun intended) you take getting there.

The porting of a title as peculiar as Abzû has gone incredibly well, considering the difficulty of having to find the perfect balance between a lower resolution and the details of a graphic style so poetically minimalist. Giant Squid’s little masterpiece is a must have for those who are inclined to yield to the irresistible call of the sea, even on Nintendo Switch.

When considering the sum of its parts, Abzu is a masterfully crafted experience from start to finish. It's a beautiful re-creation of the underwater ecosystem, from big predators to schools of colorful fish. Add to that the mystery of exploring an unknown civilization and a musical score that is beyond captivating, and you are in for a treat for all of your senses. It's not for everyone, but if you let it, Abzu may captivate you.

If you enjoy this type of exploration game, ABZU is easy enough to recommend.

ABZÛ is a wonderful experience we highly recommend, even if on Nintendo Switch it suffers from some technical hiccups.

Now ported on the Switch, Abzû is still a superb contemplative and meditative game that any fan of Journey should play.

Playing on the Switch allows you to appreciate the game’s elegance whilst on the move, and playing ABZÛ on public transport can seriously chill you out and bring a wonderful calm to a busy day. It plays excellently, with no lag or compromises as far as the visuals go, and having headphones in is the best way to experience the catharsis of such a noteworthy game.

With an outstanding graphic minimalism, the game tells us without dialogues or texts a perfect ecology fable suitable for all types of players.

Abzû is a short but intense, aesthetically inspired experience. Its message has multiple levels of reading and says a lot, without a single word. Journey's inspirations are present and evident, but the title manages to maintain its own identity.

If you don't have a decent PC that can run the game, and if you instead own a Switch, this version of ABZÛ is for you. Even if the visuals are a step down, the whole game feels as fresh, and lets you enjoy the wonders of portability.

So is Abzû worth it? That’s not entirely easy to answer. In an era when games can deliver potentially hundreds of hours of entertainment, $20 seems a bit high for a 90-minute game. But, in an era when people also routinely pay that amount for a Blu-ray or digital copy of a movie, an experience like Abzû might be worth the trip for some people. And for players itching to go swimming, this is one of the best options currently out there, especially on Switch.

Abzu is still a fascinating experience, perfect for playing anywhere. Unfortunately, the absence of new features fails to unleash its full potential in Switch.

Abzu is also a little gem on Switch, though not too original, but solid with a great OST. There are some technical problems with this portable version and the game is not very lasting.

Abzu doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to slow-paced adventure titles with interesting art designs. The world is what makes Abzu special not anything about how it plays or the game's ambitions. That was the case in 2016 and it's certainly the case now. Yet even if Abzu doesn't offer a brand-new experience it still accomplishes its goals very well.

ABZU is at home on Nintendo’s Switch. The simplistic, but vibrant visuals shine on the Switch’s screen, and the system doesn’t falter in its presentation or performance. There’s perhaps a little more aliasing than you’d find on its bigger console and computer counterparts, but the three-hour long adventure has been faithfully ported.

It is not a sin to put storytelling and intrigue above interaction and engagement. Abzu is successful in telling a sophisticated story inside of a game, I just wish its power had been used for surprise instead of satisfaction.