As videogames continue to evolve the more these artistic games really start stick out. Of course, if the goal was just to make something look pretty feature films or television may be a better media. Games like ABZU manage to integrate very enjoyable, relaxing, gameplay into their formula. Its one thing to see a ocean fill of life, its another to be able to swim around and explore it yourself. It certainly appears that the team behind ABZU is leading the way in innovation with this emerging genre.
At first nothing seems too strange, you're a scuba diver in what appears to be the ocean. There is plenty of fish floating around and plants swaying about. Yet, it turns out you'll have to help restore parts of the ocean and re-introduce some sea creatures while you're here. You soon run into a large shark that appears to be trouble but its motivates aren't immediately clear. Things get more interesting when you discover some hieroglyphs depicting people and there history with the sea. It just gets weirder from there as you start to come across large machine and floating mines.
Although almost every good game needs a challenge ABZU is quite relaxing and provides a very zen like experience. You can find robot companions to follow you around as well as ride most of the larger fish. Get caught in a current and ride through scenic vistas at pleasantly fast pace. Find a shark statue to mediate for a moment or two. While mediating you can simply watch all the different sea creatures as they swim around. You're bound to find sea creatures you know of as well as species you've never heard of.
ABZU nails the aesthetics. The art is as vibrant as it is colorful. Everything looks beautiful yet most things are drawn simply and eloquently. All the fish are easily distinguishable and they really bring life the this world. The music is built to fit the mood in each level and is so subtle you may not even pay heed to it. It is there to excite you as you breath life back into the ocean and well as set you on edge during the more tense moments.
Like many of the biggest indie-games of the past couple years ABZU focuses on quality over quantity. It may only take about two hours to play through but not a single moment goes to waste. Swimming around with all the sea creatures is a real treat and the world is full of eye candy. The narrative is surprising fascinating and has some wonderful moments that are bound to stick with you. A game like this may not be for everyone but I believe is any one should have the chance to play through ABZU they surely won't regret it.