#ABZU PS4 REVIEW PS4#
This review covers the PS4 version of the game.Abzu is all about the water, and it’s an adventure that deserves to be completely soaked in.Ībzu comes from the mind of Matt Nava, art director of critically acclaimed PS3 titles such as Flower and Journey. The game is available for the PS4 and PC. That said, it’s an experience not worth missing out on, even though you aren’t likely to revisit it.ĪBZÛ was developed by Giant Squid Studios and published by 505 Games. The jetstream sections are a testament to this, as the game is most memorable when it takes control away from the player and simply lets them soak in the wonderful art. It’s an underwater ride, and you’re there to admire the surreal beauty hidden deep in the depths of the sea. On the whole, ABZÛ is predominantly an experience more so than it is a game. The narrative seems to be inspired from Journey, which took similar approach with its story, putting it in the hands of the player. It slowly begins to reveal itself as we explore more of the game. The story in ABZÛ is deliberately kept vague and open to your interpretation. The music that he has composed for ABZÛ leaves a soothing feeling throughout the experience. ABZÛ is essentially a game that is meant to be enjoyed in peace. You might already be familiar with him, since he too has worked on Journey. In this way, ABZÛ loses some of its replay value because unlike Journey, there is no multiplayer to provide a different experience each time.Īside from the visuals being the highlight of the game, the soundtrack truly shines with the work of composer Austin Wintory. There are moments of sheer brilliance in the world of ABZÛ when the art style truly shines, but they do lose their significance if viewed the second time. These levels are often set in the various parts of the Ocean like caverns, coral reefs and ruins, and they focus on visual spectacle more than on meaningful gameplay, which might disappoint the people who were hoping for a more interactive journey through the depths of Ocean. Since there is no multiplayer in ABZÛ, there is no sense of companionship and the result is that the player will remain isolated during their whole adventure.ĪBZÛ features a linear gameplay design that revolves around going from point A to point B, but despite that there are secrets hidden throughout each of the game’s levels. While the journey that the player experiences in ABZÛ touches on a spiritual level, it often feels weakly executed compared to Journey. Aside from being able to see their names and discover new creatures, players can also try to grab them to swim and explore underwater. The interaction between the creatures doesn’t really act well as a gameplay mechanic. The art style truly shines during the exploration resulting in some breathtaking views of the Ocean and the creatures inside it.ĪBZÛ is reminiscent of games like Endless Ocean where the player is exploring the depths of the Ocean while also interacting with the wild life inside it.
It is more about enjoying the sights and sounds which means the gameplay interaction is minimal at best. The gameplay in ABZÛ is fairly simple and revolves around exploring the ocean. The idea sounded really interesting on paper but is the execution as good as it sounded? Originally announced in 2014, the game was praised for its incredible artistic visuals that revoked the same feelings of Journey, but this time the focus was on underwater exploration unlike the deserts of Journey. It is clear from playing the game that he has carried over his experience from his work on Journey to create a beautiful game that appears to be a breath of fresh air in the current gaming industry. The game was directed by Matt Nava, who was also the art director for the critical hit Journey. ABZÛ is a brand new indie experience from developer Giant Squid Studios.