|| REVIEW || In Other Waters (PC)
Developed By : Jump Over The Age Published By : Fellow Traveller
Category : Exploration, Adventure, Narrative Release Date : April 3, 2020
Category : Exploration, Adventure, Narrative Release Date : April 3, 2020
The power of gaming has always allowed for a great escape from reality, opening doorways for us into the past, present, and places in the present we couldn't possibly go. While some titles look to do this with over the top graphics, intense powers, and a vast array of characters covering all sizes, shapes, and species...sometimes none of this is even needed. It's the much simpler approach that allows the beautiful and emotional story contained within In Other Waters to really shine through.
Xenobiologist Ellery Vas is summoned to the planet Gliese 677Cc by her partner Minae Nomura. The summon isn't explained, and when Ellery finally arrives Minae is nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, Ellery's diving suit that she has brought to the water covered planet isn't functioning properly, leaving her to drift alone on the strange planet. Alone, that is, until a little AI comes along and inhabits her suit to help her, and to guide her. That AI...is you.
As you play this narrative exploration game, you will things entirely as the AI. Instead of seeing the planet for yourself, you'll see the meters and functions of Ellery's suit, and her descriptions of the things around her that she's seeing for the first time. Her suit functions include the ability to scan for safe points to travel, monitoring her power and oxygen levels, the ability to take samples from the life you find on the planet, and a few more functions that you'll uncover as you dive into the story.
These extra functions don't offer any expansive mechanics, but they allow you to explore areas of the planet that might have been blocked earlier. For instance you gain the ability to briefly increase the propulsion strength of your suit. Until you get this upgrade, you'll come across some places where the currents are a lot stronger, which you'll have to avoid until your suit is capable of making it across.
Outside of following Minae's story, the only other big thing to do on Gliese 677Cc is uncover as much as you can about the plant and creature life beneath it's waters. The planet is covered with tons of things to learn about. Now and then you'll run across some of these lifeforms which are in a more dormant state, allowing you to take a sample. These samples get collected every time you return to your base, and expand into side-quest like missions where you can further investigate each organism to learn more about it. Eventually, if you see these through to completion, you'll unlock a sketch of these organisms as you take all the samples required.
In Other Waters is a pretty amazing game, and it's definitely not just your ordinary narrative game. I loved the different approach of playing a sort of point-and-click adventure, but again not like one I've ever seen before. One thing is for certain, the team chose an amazing color palate for this game. The colors are extremely easy on the eyes, and for a game you will easily spend at least 5 or 6 hours playing, you definitely want something easy on the eyes if it's going to be remaining mostly the same.
In the end the story is phenomenal too, it's one that really makes you think about some things. At least if you've been paying attention as it all transpires. I can't recommend this game enough. Even if you don't go the extra (nautical) mile to collect everything on the planet's inhabitants, you'll enjoy every moment you spend in this game.
Pick up the game HERE on Steam
Xenobiologist Ellery Vas is summoned to the planet Gliese 677Cc by her partner Minae Nomura. The summon isn't explained, and when Ellery finally arrives Minae is nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, Ellery's diving suit that she has brought to the water covered planet isn't functioning properly, leaving her to drift alone on the strange planet. Alone, that is, until a little AI comes along and inhabits her suit to help her, and to guide her. That AI...is you.
As you play this narrative exploration game, you will things entirely as the AI. Instead of seeing the planet for yourself, you'll see the meters and functions of Ellery's suit, and her descriptions of the things around her that she's seeing for the first time. Her suit functions include the ability to scan for safe points to travel, monitoring her power and oxygen levels, the ability to take samples from the life you find on the planet, and a few more functions that you'll uncover as you dive into the story.
These extra functions don't offer any expansive mechanics, but they allow you to explore areas of the planet that might have been blocked earlier. For instance you gain the ability to briefly increase the propulsion strength of your suit. Until you get this upgrade, you'll come across some places where the currents are a lot stronger, which you'll have to avoid until your suit is capable of making it across.
Outside of following Minae's story, the only other big thing to do on Gliese 677Cc is uncover as much as you can about the plant and creature life beneath it's waters. The planet is covered with tons of things to learn about. Now and then you'll run across some of these lifeforms which are in a more dormant state, allowing you to take a sample. These samples get collected every time you return to your base, and expand into side-quest like missions where you can further investigate each organism to learn more about it. Eventually, if you see these through to completion, you'll unlock a sketch of these organisms as you take all the samples required.
In Other Waters is a pretty amazing game, and it's definitely not just your ordinary narrative game. I loved the different approach of playing a sort of point-and-click adventure, but again not like one I've ever seen before. One thing is for certain, the team chose an amazing color palate for this game. The colors are extremely easy on the eyes, and for a game you will easily spend at least 5 or 6 hours playing, you definitely want something easy on the eyes if it's going to be remaining mostly the same.
In the end the story is phenomenal too, it's one that really makes you think about some things. At least if you've been paying attention as it all transpires. I can't recommend this game enough. Even if you don't go the extra (nautical) mile to collect everything on the planet's inhabitants, you'll enjoy every moment you spend in this game.
Game Rating : 9 / 10
Pick up the game HERE on Steam
Also available on the Nintendo Switch
A code for this game was graciously provided to the site for the purpose of a review
