Release Date: 02/08/2016
Played On: Win
Available On: PS4 / Win / XBO
Time Played: 2h 22m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Giant Squid Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
While we wait for ThatGameCompany's next game 'Sky', those of us who fell in love with their previous social narratives have been left wanting. Maybe we're waiting for 'Dreams' to finally drop, but Media Molecule are taking their time to polish it off before release. Let me reassure you though, as there's no need to fret when lower profile games like ABZU exist.
If you've played Journey then you'll be a long way toward knowing what ABZU feels like. A more recent example might be Rime, but neither of these games are true analogues. While Journey focuses on peaceful social interactions, and Rime combines exploration and puzzle solving, ABZU sticks closer to its setting than anything else. Instead of running and jumping around desolate landscapes, ABZU plunges you into the depths of an ocean teaming with life.
Mechanically it couldn't get simpler, as all you can do is swim around each location and interact with certain objects and animals. Progression in the game is as straight forward as finding a an open path, or revealing one via certain objects and animals in each area. There's nothing to get you scratching your head, but there are a few discoveries that can be missed along the way. The real challenge comes from your own investment in how much you want to explore before heading to the next location.
Finding certain nodes will release more wildlife into the environment, while meditation statues offer an opportunity to relax and witness the world around you. The fact that these are often easy to miss, speaks to the way that ABZU refuses to demand much from the player at all. It's like the game exists purely as a space within which to exist, and escape.
The real focus of ABZU, is the abundance of marine life that accompanies you along the way. The waters are full of different species and breeds of fish and other animals that all exist in the real world. I was pleased to see that each species are true to life and authentic, as it serves to elicit an appreciation for the real world and its inherent beauty. In fact, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed the game as much if it was populated with fictitious imaginations. The relevance to real world wildlife and environments goes a long way to creating a meaningful and important theme.
Indeed, as you sit upon a statue and meditate, you're given a close-up view of each individual swimming around you. I spent a long while following around a giant turtle, before riding along with a pod of whales through the deepest waters. If you're feeling feisty, you can grab hold of anything you can get close to and ride along for as long as you like.
All of these elements combine to pull the player into the game world, rather than leaving them to pass through as a tourist. Of course you're spending all your time just passing through, but if you stop and look around along the way, ABZU treats you to the silent conversation at its heart. It's a subtle dialogue between observer and existence, which exists in us all when we look upon nature.
Human or not, we're often in a role of dominance on the Earth, and this can be alienating for every other being around us. ABZU manages to connect you to its wildlife in a way that invokes awe and appreciation. Swimming into an open expanse of water, accompanied by hump back whales and schools of fish, is one of the most awesome moments I've had in recent times.
Perhaps it comes from the fact that everything underwater seems impressive to me, as I'm terrified of deep and open expanses of ocean. I don't like it when I can't see the edges of the world I'm floating in, so swimming through this game's diverse environments really elicited some visceral reactions along the way. What's more, being adrift in an oppressive underwater environment has a certain way of making any signs of life feel important.
Other times you'll find yourself winding through thick underwater forests of different corals and plant life. There's such a wide range of environments, colours, and life to be witnessed in ABZU that it never felt like it dragged. Towards the end there are even some surprising sequences that were unexpected and an enjoyable change in pace. I'm keeping it cryptic to avoid spoilers, but the game never feels repetitive or boring. From front to back I found myself captivated by everything I was shown and able to interact with.
The real joy to a game like Journey was the unexpected social experiences that could be had with other players. For me, the exploration and difficulty came second to those experiences that were always interesting and unique. However, ABZU is a solitary experience that pulls your focus to the head of a needle with its singular mission. This is enough to forge its own identity and even though there are comparisons to be made, I found there was a lot to get out of this game that I haven't seen before.
I suppose that's the joy of a game like ABZU, as it might seem familiar on first impressions, but unique by the time you're finished. What ties these kind of games together is the joy that they present in pure exploration, which I find thoroughly entertaining. It's not necessary to swim through every nook and cranny in every level, but taking the time to get close to the environment is a reward in itself.
Perhaps that's why I love these games so much and find myself replaying them regularly. There aren't many other genres that allow you to go at your own pace and set your own level of involvement. There aren't many that will happily walk away right after dropping you into its world. These are games that respect the player's own efficacy and ability to find interesting and entertaining ways of experiencing the world.
If you know me you've probably heard me go on about how much I hate it when people tell me what a song is supposed to mean. More often than not, the intended meaning fails to connect with me as well as whatever interpretation I had come to on my own. It's why I love listening to music and why it can be such a personal and intimate experience. In the same way, games like ABZU allow you to find meaning in a way that makes sense to you alone. The risk might be that you find no meaning at all, but I would argue that even that is more meaningful than anything prescribed by a third party.
I'm aware that talking about a game like ABZU is a little strange, as there aren't many concrete elements to focus on. The controls are simple, the graphics are beautiful, and the soundtrack is appropriately uplifting and ambient. Everything else has a kind of nebulous quality that's left open to interpretation.
However, despite any difficulties describing something so open, make no mistake that this game is a worthwhile entry in any library. It's not a strict narrative, but it has form and purpose. There aren't many examples of games that occupy such a delicate space, but I'm glad to see more new titles getting involved.
Dive into ABZU when you have time to sit back and explore the beauty that exists in our real life oceans. This is an experience to soak in, and far from the challenging competitions of mainstream media. Celebrate everything unique and wonderful that comes from a world where you're free to make your own way and find your own vocation.
Playing ABZU left me feeling peaceful and at one with the world around me. We might not know where we're going, but we could all do with a little zen in our lives. This is the ultimate chill-out exploration experience.