Endless Ocean

Endless Ocean is a perfect non-game, whatever that means. [Jan 2008, p.60]

It’s a no-brainer for open-minded gamers looking to diversify their collection. Dive in.

As freeform a game as you're likely to get, offering depth beyond measure. [Jan 2008, p.80]

If you fancy a radical change of pace, this is for you. Action fans need not apply. [Jan 2007, p.74]

This game defines what Nintendo meant when they first used the word 'new-gen.'

If you ever played Ecco The Dolphin on the Mega Drive, or its conversion on the DreamCast, and you spent some time just happily swimming around on that first level doing flips and jumps while enjoying the simple delights of the whole virtual-swimming experience, there’s a good chance that Endless Ocean is going to be right up your watery boulevard.

It may not have the splendid story of BioShock or the incredible environmental detail of BioShock, or indeed the cool name of BioShock, but it's a real breath of fresh air in a gaming environment that has become stale with relentless shooting and violence.

Once all areas of the map have been fully explored, the replay value is threatened by repetition, but amongst the violence and destruction found elsewhere in videogames, it will always be refreshing to sit back – cup of tea in one hand, a remote in the other – and simply just relax in the deep blue.

It’s something worth experiencing even if you end up coming to the conclusion that it isn’t for you, your gaming perspective will have been broadened.

Arika has created a very good, albeit different title that centers on the process of exploring the ocean and both seeing and cataloging its inhabitants. There is almost no way to lose (and the aquatic life is all safe, sharks included), but you will have fun all the same simply discovering new things, whether that encapsulates a humpback whale or a long-lost underwater civilization.

Endless Ocean isn't like most games. While others drive tension and excitement to a fever pitch, Endless Ocean's deep-sea visuals and bubbling sound effects slowly dissolve your cares and stresses -- while occasionally eliciting gasps of awestruck disbelief.

It's strictly a deep-sea diving simulator with heavy emphasis on exploration, treasure finding and aquatic discovery. With that said, it's a mesmerizing experience. Nintendo produces a vivid, wondrous underwater abyss to explore, complete with plenty of missions to fulfill.

There’s something pretty telling about a game that can suck away hours of your time before you know it. That’s just what Endless Ocean did to me. Despite not being a game in the classical sense, Endless Ocean is a solid and fascinating diversion.

A great value with a surprising amount of modes and depth. While there is no overriding goal to the game, you still will have plenty of things to do and tours to give during your stay in the ocean.

It's going to last you as long as you want to keep on exploring. There's a lot of sea to explore before you can say you've seen it all.

A charming and unique experience. Gamers with an open mind toward design will find a lot to admire here. It may even make you question what makes a game a game.

Despite the uncomfortable number of missed opportunities and graphics that fall short of current-generation standards, tooling around underwater and leisurely unfolding the central events in Endless Ocean remained unexpectedly delightful and engaging until the end—and even a few hours after.

The game's absence of goals won't please everyone. If you want drama, suspense, and action, you'll have to look elsewhere. [Feb 2008, p.87]

If you’re looking for something that’s different and is completely about exploration, then you’ll enjoy what Endless Ocean has to offer.

Endless Ocean is a unique experience that showcases the Wii in a whole new way, and at $29.99, the game represents a good value. You’ll never have the same dive twice, and it’s nice to have a game the kids can play where a shark won’t accidentally eat them.

This isn't a game for everyone, but for those who get the appeal, it's a success. Over-acheivers need not apply; you'll either quit within minutes or go insane and break the disc. Endless Ocean is a break, not a conquest.