Getting into the sea is not recommended. Even just dipping your toes exposes you to crabs and other strange creatures, but the deeper you dive, the worse it gets. Sharks, jellyfish, the Kraken – it’s grim.
The ocean makes for a great setting due to its vastness, and how alien it is to us land dwellers. Under the Waves isn’t a horror game, but it is deeply unsettling at times. This game has an incredible atmosphere, a constant sense of doom combined with occasional, odd moments of beauty.
It revolves around Stan, who goes on a one-man mission deep underwater under the command of an awful corporation. His personal life is in turmoil, so the ocean floor seems like a good place to escape. We learn about him, why he’s there, and what’s eating away at him over the course of his time there.
In spite of Stan’s frequent conversation with a colleague, it’s a very lonely game. Swimming in dark areas, keeping an eye on the comically inadequate oxygen tank to make sure we don’t drown, occasionally eyeing fish or seals, then returning home to sit, depressed, alone.
Even though Under the Waves can be finished in less than 10 hours, we encountered numerous ugly glitches in the game. Our quest markers disappeared once, and we had to restart the game. Another time we got an error message every time the game automatically saved, and we crashed frequently.
While you swim alone in the grim darkness of the sea, the soundtrack is excellent and perfectly complements it; the atmosphere is thick; and the sometimes wondrous moments are just awesome. It is a kind of catharsis when you discover a sunken wreck or a friendly octopus, and you always feel special when you do.
Pros:
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A wonderful atmosphere.
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A great soundtrack.
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Music minigame.
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Octopus made friends with us.
Cons:
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Messy technicals.
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Voice acting questionable.
I give this game 7 over 10.