Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas

 Switch
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 63
  3. Negative: 9 out of 63
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  1. ricklongo
    Sep 12, 2017
    7
    Originally released on mobile platforms, Oceanhorn is a title that has been on my radar for a while now. That's because it's impossible to not get the feeling that this is a game majorly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, which is one of my favorite games on one of my favorite franchises. After spending twenty hours to 100% the game, I came out impressed, even if, as expected,Originally released on mobile platforms, Oceanhorn is a title that has been on my radar for a while now. That's because it's impossible to not get the feeling that this is a game majorly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, which is one of my favorite games on one of my favorite franchises. After spending twenty hours to 100% the game, I came out impressed, even if, as expected, originality isn't really something that's all that present here.

    Truth be told, Oceanhorn is less Wind Waker and more Phantom Hourglass, the direct sequel to the former game that was released on the Nintendo DS. Like the latter, it's played from an angled top-down perspective, and the navigation through the open seas isn't directly controlled, but pre-determined, with a few shooting targets here and there to keep you busy while it happens. Luckily, the controls don't really mirror Phantom Hourglass (or even Oceanhorn's own original mobile version), meaning the game has complete support for physical button inputs.

    The story is simple, but it does have some nice moments. Your character wakes up to find a note from his father, explaining he's gone away to fight Oceanhorn, a mythical monster who terrorizes the seas. From there, it's up to you to go after him, exploring the ocean and a good number of island scattered through it.

    Like expected, the game play as a top-down Zelda, meaning you'll come across quests, different races, and, of course, dungeons. Also like Zelda, each dungeon provides you with a new weapon, allowing you to reach previously unreachable areas. The overall game design is fair and the gameplay itself is very fun, but it has to be said that the puzzles are more simplistic and far less imaginative that the ones in Nintendo's franchise.

    The one exception for this is the Island of Whispers, which is a late-game discovery that was by far my favorite part of Oceanhorn. The island was originally a post-launch downloadable content, and it shows, as the quality of game design goes dramatically up. Not only that, the island offers a parallel, self-contained story about a mysterious kid whose ambition led to the end of the local civilization. Figuring out what exactly happened, piece by piece, was an extremely engrossing experience, and the closest the game got to Zelda levels of excellence.

    As far as production values go, I have to say the game far exceeded my expectations. The stylized graphics are crisp, colorful, and very pretty. Even more impressive is the soundtrack, which is nothing short of phenomenal, and is complemented in the audio department by excellent voice acting.

    TL;DR:
    There's no two ways about it: Oceanhorn is a Zelda clone, lacking originality to stand as its own thing. Luckily, it features a nice campaign and a surprisingly interesting story, even if the overall game design is a bit more basic that I would have hoped. Each of the game's explorable islands are self-contained isometric playgrounds that are a lot of fun to pick apart, and it all looks great (and sounds even better). For someone looking for a Zelda-lite experience, you really can't go wrong here.

    Rating: 7.5/10    … Expand
  2. chavaflyfree
    Nov 7, 2017
    7
    Nice topdown Zelda clone for the Switch. It doesn't do anything new to add to the gameplay, but what it does, it does well.
    Story and voice acting is a bit bland, but the music and art style is gorgeous either on portable or docked mode.
    Puzzles are a bit on the easy side and can be completed in under 10 hours, although going for 100% will take a bit more.
  3. derkonig6
    Dec 28, 2017
    5
    The game is decent but not worth it's price on the switch. Overall meh game, lacks the " spark " to keep you there.
  4. Switchindiefix
    Feb 26, 2018
    7
    In conclusion, I think Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a good Zelda spiritual successor that lacks its own personality and identity. Unfortunately, playing the game through a second time and looking at it critically has lowered my feelings about the game. However, for some people this might be ok. Maybe you played Breath of the Wild and really want a Zelda fix? Then Oceanhorn isIn conclusion, I think Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a good Zelda spiritual successor that lacks its own personality and identity. Unfortunately, playing the game through a second time and looking at it critically has lowered my feelings about the game. However, for some people this might be ok. Maybe you played Breath of the Wild and really want a Zelda fix? Then Oceanhorn is perfect for that, but I would personally like to see a less generic story and combat mechanic in Oceanhorn 2. Nevertheless, I think in other respects Oceanhorn punches above its weight, especially in its art and music. This shows that even though a game may be smaller in scope, that important things should not be skipped, proving Oceanhorn’s and Cornfox & Bros’s quality. I would suggest Oceanhorn to players who liked Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, as that too is inspired by Zelda (but does a better job of having its own character and identity).

    For more indie game reviews on the Nintendo Switch, google Switch Indie Fix.    … Expand
  5. AllySky
    Jan 11, 2019
    5
    This game feels mediocre at best, a "meh" zelda game. I think it is hard to like a game like this, and the best I can say as a warning, expect the worst? Although it's still playable with adventure, dungeons, puzzles and bosses. However for some reason the game makes me motion sick, so I am forced to play with a headache and a upset stomach every time I pick it up, not sure if this happensThis game feels mediocre at best, a "meh" zelda game. I think it is hard to like a game like this, and the best I can say as a warning, expect the worst? Although it's still playable with adventure, dungeons, puzzles and bosses. However for some reason the game makes me motion sick, so I am forced to play with a headache and a upset stomach every time I pick it up, not sure if this happens to other people.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
52
#52 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Nintendojo
    Sep 14, 2017
    58
    Oceanhorn is an admirable attempt at taking a stab at the Zelda formula. There are plenty of islands to explore, puzzles to solve, and baddies to bonk. The controls are serviceable outside of a couple small hitches with running and a somewhat clunky interface. While imperfect, the presentation makes the world look like a stunning diorama and the music serves to enhance the experience even further. I genuinely had fun with Oceanhorn, and I hope that the upcoming sequel irons out of some of the original’s kinks. For those wanting a more traditional Zelda experience, I recommend giving this one a shot.
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  2. SpazioGames
    Jul 19, 2017
    65
    Oceanhorn is a game that works well on Switch, mainly because of its similarities to Zelda, but it's really gameplay limited and lasts only 10 hours.
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  3. Vooks
    Jul 17, 2017
    60
    The Switch is the best fit for Oceanhorn too. While it has issues, I just know the groundwork has been laid for a killer sequel and I can’t wait to see what Oceanhorn’s world will look like when we return in the years to come.
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