ABZU

 Xbox One
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 67 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 67
  3. Negative: 3 out of 67

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  1. SenorKoquonfaes
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    I'm hesitant about calling ABZU a "game", however it's an absolutely beautiful experience that's worth playing through.

    The game's overall creative direction is really well done; I love the colourful, vibrant, stylized art direction of the environments. One thing the game really nails is the sense of scale within the world around you. It does a fantastic job of making you realize just    I'm hesitant about calling ABZU a "game", however it's an absolutely beautiful experience that's worth playing through.

    The game's overall creative direction is really well done; I love the colourful, vibrant, stylized art direction of the environments. One thing the game really nails is the sense of scale within the world around you. It does a fantastic job of making you realize just how small you are and how large this ocean ecosystem is. Nothing like swimming next to an Orca to make you realize just how small and insignificant you are.

    The game's musical score is also well done. It syncs up well with the game's art direction. Serene music to go with the colourful, lively environments and utter silence and greyscale when in environments that you have to restore to their former glory.    … Expand
  2. MusashiAX
    Apr 18, 2019
    5
    Abzu es una experiencia bastante regulera, el apartado musical y visual es bastante hermoso, siendo su punto más fuerte, ya que de resto no tiene mucho que ofrecer, la jugabilidad es muy simple y el trayecto se vuelve repetitivo al cabo de un par de niveles, debido a la falta de mecánicas, es un juego solo para quienes quieran relajarse o una experiencia distinta pero nada memorable
  3. djevis94
    Jun 27, 2019
    6
    short game (it has barely lasted about 3 hours) very nice both in graphics and in a decent story environment but you practically do not play and I did not like that but as an experience is fine
  4. tomoefuchs
    Apr 2, 2020
    9
    Wonderful game. Or more like a piece of art!
    I really enjoyed the soundtrack and the short "story". I finished it in one session. Didn't buy it, got it via the Gamepass.
  5. TheGameIsALie
    Nov 17, 2018
    9
    ABZÛ é uma experiência rica em audiovisual. Seu universo é feito para ser apreciado, e todas as horas de gameplay servem para preencher algum vazio interno do próprio jogador. A cada momento, o jogo reforça que sua arte é o ponto mais forte, e ela cria emoções muito fortes. Em contrapartida, sua narrativa deixa alguns espaços em branco, e a variedade em suas mecânicas é praticamente nula.ABZÛ é uma experiência rica em audiovisual. Seu universo é feito para ser apreciado, e todas as horas de gameplay servem para preencher algum vazio interno do próprio jogador. A cada momento, o jogo reforça que sua arte é o ponto mais forte, e ela cria emoções muito fortes. Em contrapartida, sua narrativa deixa alguns espaços em branco, e a variedade em suas mecânicas é praticamente nula.
  6. kvnd
    Dec 14, 2019
    7
    Abzû is more of an experience or a piece of art than a video game, but it's definitely worth playing through, with a length of only two to three hours. Gameplay is simple as hell but the fluidity and motion feels great and the score by Austin Wintory is a perfect accompaniment. The art style and use of color are amazing and it's just a beautiful relaxing game that remains interestingAbzû is more of an experience or a piece of art than a video game, but it's definitely worth playing through, with a length of only two to three hours. Gameplay is simple as hell but the fluidity and motion feels great and the score by Austin Wintory is a perfect accompaniment. The art style and use of color are amazing and it's just a beautiful relaxing game that remains interesting throughout. Unfortunately it's very loose in terms of narrative and even when you piece together the story via cave paintings it's not great. The only other con is the long load times (50 seconds on average) between levels. Worth a shot for sure though.… Expand
  7. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 31, 2017
    7
    Abzu
    A peaceful scuba simulator
    Abzu comes from the mind behind the art direction in flower and journey and it shows… This game very much follows the same structure of those games for better or worse. Here you play as a mechanical diver… Because of this you have no gauges to keep an eye on or air to worry about... The burden or survival is completely lifted off of your back you just    Abzu
    A peaceful scuba simulator
    Abzu comes from the mind behind the art direction in flower and journey and it shows…
    This game very much follows the same structure of those games for better or worse.
    Here you play as a mechanical diver…
    Because of this you have no gauges to keep an eye on or air to worry about...
    The burden or survival is completely lifted off of your back
    you just swim and explore...
    Its starts as such a nice calming adventure breathing life into the ocean bed
    swimming with the predators and prey with no care at all…
    Noticing little subtleties and reactions of the oceans inhabitants that really bring the ocean world to life…
    You can even grab onto the larger creatures and go for a ride...
    You feel as one while you swim forward exploring new environments…
    But much like flower there’s a turn for the worse as you slowly inch towards the finish line of this 2 hour game…
    Abzu goes from being a peaceful experience to being a bit of a typical stressful adventure game…
    You can’t die here.. But what starts as a peaceful swim and escape from reality turns into a throw switches, pull chains and avoid unpleasant mines while you do so…
    Time to relax is over…
    Now you have problems to solve...
    This is the majority of the final stretch of the game and it kind of ruins the initial feel this game has…
    Enjoyment is just a memory as you’re swimming through forgotten ruins that should’ve stayed forgotten
    or at the very least should’ve been briefly visited rather than turning into something to deal with because video games…
    It’s unfortunate…
    But this is still a pretty cool experience that offers a great feeling of exploration…
    Even during the final moments that I didn’t like..
    I give Abzu
    a 7.5/10    … Expand
  8. Letarg
    Jun 25, 2019
    7
    Juego en donde lo importante es relajarse, observar el paisaje y admirar la vida acuática, esta bien para pasar un buen rato, pero solo para eso. La historia es simple y olvidable, si quieres un experiencia agradable sin requerir de tus habilidades como videojugador, este juego es para ti, si buscas un reto o una historia profunda, pasa de este juego.
  9. Broyax
    Sep 6, 2018
    0
    Un indé qui propose une promenade sous-marine qui peut paraître reposante mais qui s'avère en fait totalement abrutissante : le machin s'avère en effet vite répétitif et ne peut même pas compter sur sa musique douceâtre, laquelle est un crécelle permanent vite énervant qu'on ne peut même pas désactiver. En vérité, une telle "musique" (?) même un ascenseur n'en voudrait pas.

    La promenade    Un indé qui propose une promenade sous-marine qui peut paraître reposante mais qui s'avère en fait totalement abrutissante : le machin s'avère en effet vite répétitif et ne peut même pas compter sur sa musique douceâtre, laquelle est un crécelle permanent vite énervant qu'on ne peut même pas désactiver. En vérité, une telle "musique" (?) même un ascenseur n'en voudrait pas.

    La promenade écolo ne peut pas non plus compter sur ses graphismes pour faire passer la pillule : ceux-ci sont en 32 couleurs et ressemblent à un jeu Megadrive en HD. Ils auraient pu au moins se sortir un peu plus les doigts parce que là, c'est vraiment très laid.

    On s'ennuie donc incroyablement rapidement dans ce truc sans but, ni jouabilité, ni intérêt : on dirait une vague démo boulottée par des incapables qui ont le toupet de commercialiser leur étron sans se poser de questions. Une honte.    … Expand
  10. WhiteReport
    Nov 18, 2018
    8
    The visual aspect is simply stunning: a magnificent representation of the sea life mixed with fascinating elements of antique cultures. The game is very simple and it consists, for the most part, of exploring the ocean, task that never becomes boring in ABZÛ.

    The soundtrack is beautiful and conveys the peace and serenity of the sea life. The narrative offered is unique, but fails at    The visual aspect is simply stunning: a magnificent representation of the sea life mixed with fascinating elements of antique cultures. The game is very simple and it consists, for the most part, of exploring the ocean, task that never becomes boring in ABZÛ.

    The soundtrack is beautiful and conveys the peace and serenity of the sea life. The narrative offered is unique, but fails at keeping the events together in a few occasions. I recommend ABZÛ for player looking to relax for a few hours or people who would like to try something different.    … Expand
  11. Xplocion
    Nov 20, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. * The good thing: The casual and minimalist graphics, the music and the cryptic that it can be.

    * The bad things: Except the first steps, the rest you have to investigate and intuit for yourself. the game forces you to follow the line and not get away from the script.

    * The meh! things: The last two episodes    … Expand
  12. youngZuber
    Nov 12, 2019
    8
    The game is amazing and beautyfull, I liked the story of the game and it has an interesting gameplay
  13. memus
    Jul 17, 2021
    9
    A true piece of art:
    Mesmerizing visuals
    Relaxing gameplay
    Unexpected story
  14. Nerevarinho
    Jan 12, 2023
    9
    Surprisingly good, with unexpected plot. This is the definition of art, today. But a bit too short.
  15. raptus21
    Dec 6, 2019
    6
    The game begins really nice. Wonderful world below, many species of fish, easy control. I bought it for my son, as his first adventure with gaming. Unfortunately after half of game, it becomes insane. It started with bombs and other traps. And well, child didn't want to play anymore. Personally I didn't like "mythology" here and lack of any story or sense of progress. It is very short, ifThe game begins really nice. Wonderful world below, many species of fish, easy control. I bought it for my son, as his first adventure with gaming. Unfortunately after half of game, it becomes insane. It started with bombs and other traps. And well, child didn't want to play anymore. Personally I didn't like "mythology" here and lack of any story or sense of progress. It is very short, if you just play it to finish and not to swim with fish around.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Feb 4, 2017
    80
    It hits choppy waters at times but this is ultimately an extraordinary undersea tale. [Feb 2017, p.84]
  2. Windows Central
    Jan 17, 2017
    90
    ABZÛ is a short but utterly engaging experience. Not only does it let players discover an undersea world, it does so with impeccable artistry. There's just so much undersea animal and plant life, all of it colorful and exciting. Remember how beautiful the pot dealer in American Beauty thought plastic bags were? That's the level of beauty that ABZÛ actually achieves.
    Read full review
  3. SomosXbox
    Dec 31, 2016
    75
    If you are drawn to the ocean and what it is (hidden?) beneath it, or to the most contemplative journeys, Abzû will grab you without escape during the two or three hours it takes to complete. Even it is not replayable, due to its magical beauty, you will take a second ride soon or later. It is a remarkable experience, even if it is only for the incredible good looks its journey offers. If you are seeking some action, do not plunge into these waters.
    Read full review
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