Everything is Beautiful Under the Sea: Abzû Review

Abzû introduces players to its world with a vision of water, sea creatures and the depth of darkness. Then suddenly, there is the most beautiful light. Peacefully, but lifelessly floating just at the surface of the crystalline water, a mysterious figure awakens to the sounds of idle waves. The figure comes to and surveys both its immediate and distant surroundings. The bright blue of the sky meets the vibrant blue horizon of the water, while clouds tower high into the air. You are the Diver, and your goal is to dive.

Abzû is a PlayStation 4 game that shows players the infinite beauty and mystery of water. This independent title is the first project of developer Giant Squid. Matt Nava, creative director for the young California-based studio helped author 2012's indie hit, Journey. Abzû does indeed boast aesthetic, narrative and creative characteristics quite similar to Journey, which is a very positive aspect of the game. The primary similarities being the game's complete lack of dialogue, and the prominence of its fantastic score composed by Austin Wintory. Thankfully, the game has so much to offer players other than what Journey did, but it feels fantastic to be on another Journey-esque adventure. And Game Chop is happy to say that it most certainly delivers.

Upon waking up at the surface of the water, players are then free to have the Diver do what it does best - dive. In a shallow but very open area, players are eased into the swimming movement that Abzû employs. Controlling the Diver's movements is difficult at times, but it's also wonderfully fluid (pardon the liquid pun). It takes some time to become used to the idea of frictionless travel, but within minutes players are performing whimsical underwater acrobatics with schools of friendly fish. Boosting your speed allows you to swiftly sweep over sand and seaweed, or even break the surface in a spectacular arc. Camera panning can be operated manually to take a more deliberate look at your surroundings, or players can relinquish control and let the game show them the sights. Without a doubt, Abzû has to be the most relaxing game we've played in some time. The music, the sights and the ability to softly swim anywhere and at any pace you'd like is comforting and almost therapeutic.

Giant Squid has also achieved, in our humble opinions, the most gorgeous visuals of the summer. Beauty is an objective term, and can often be categorized by the various artistic styles that different video games can use. Very few games have ever presented such an awe inspiring display of genuine exquisiteness. We've honestly never seen colors so vibrant and radiant. We think we've seen every known color during our time with the game, from pleasant brights to ominous darks. However, Abzû isn't pretty just because of bright and pretty colors, but because of the contrasting presence of darkness. Murky blues, grays and blacks cover the deeper portions of the ocean, where the sun's light cannot reach you. Navigating these sections of the game's maps are haunting, especially with the accompaniment of erie sounds and music. The game treats the player's movement from light to dark as a pilgrimage from the welcoming to the unknown.

With this extensive discussion on the beauty and mechanics of the game drawing to a close, you may still be wondering what this game is actually about. Journey is treasured for its story-telling, and Abzû is no different. The Diver is searching the ocean for something. What that something is isn't exactly known. Is this a standard marine survey, or a existential odyssey in pursuit of the heart of the sea? Donned in scuba gear and a futuristic helmet, Diver occasionally runs into underwater drones, robotic submarines that follow and assist the Diver in passing certain obstacles. How did these drones come here? What is their purpose, and does their purpose coincide with the Diver's? Submerged among the caves and seaweed-covered ocean-scapes are ancient ruins hinting at the importance of this ocean, and the mysterious beings that once lived there. Curiously, there also appears to be advanced machinery throughout the ocean floor, making us question what these former inhabitants were up to. It comes down to the player to keep swimming their way to understanding the truth.

But be warned - infamous dangers and strange relics litter the ocean floor. Upon guiding the Diver from the peaceful introduction of the sea gate, we discover that not all the sea's inhabitants are joyous to see us. The Great White Shark is a constant and intimidating force of nature that relentlessly follows the Diver's path. Found in the darker regions of the ocean, the Great White can attack your accompanying drones, and scare away your fish friends. Narratively, the Shark is a classic symbol of the ocean's vastness and our inability to understand all that it holds. While piloting the Diver through darkened undersea caverns, the Great White would attack our drones or loom ominously in the distance. The shark is one of many examples of the thematic devices the game uses to push the story forward.

Abzû is one of the greatest indie games we've ever played, and we hope you have as much fun as we did playing it. The game provides gamers with both a surreal relaxation, and a beautiful introspection as you search the ocean for signs of meaning. The elegance of of this game cannot be fully expressed without seeing it first hand. The game is short, so it should be a breeze finding time to play this downloadable PS4 exclusive. Enjoy your dive.