ABZU

This is a complete miss for me purely because of how bad it feels to play on PC. The options will not let you change the key binding, and damn does it feel bad to simply move around in this world. You go forward using your right click which you have to continuously press, and use wasd to orientate your character -this feels absolutely horrible no matter how much I try to get used to it. I simply don't understand why they'd be so stupid as too bind the keys that way without even letting us change it. I guess with a controller, it might be fun. But for me, it's the third time I give it a try, and it's simply not worth the hassle.

Very beautiful, short, simple game. But ONLY worthwhile if you disable the horrific motion blur effect. Go to C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\AbzuGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor (AppData is a "hidden" folder on Windows 11 for some reason, but it does exist.) From there, open Scalability.ini (blank config file) and type in the following: [PostProcessQuality@3] r.MotionBlurQuality=0 Save the file and change it to "read-only" in Properties. ALL credit to user NairBot, who figured out this fix 10 years ago at this link: https://steamcommunity.com/app/384190/discussions/0/353916184345127301/

[h2]Overall: 5/10[/h2] [h3]Story:[/h3] In my opinion, the 'narrative' here is both intriguing and frustrating in equal measure. While there is technically a story present, it is intentionally very minimalistic, as there is no dialogue or readable text at all. Instead, everything is conveyed through environmental storytelling, hieroglyphics, and occasional brief cutscenes, leaving you to piece things together on your own. This isn't even my main issue with the story; I actually appreciate how it invites different interpretations and allows players to project their own meaning onto the experience. On a surface level, it can feel like nothing more than a relaxing, visually beautiful experience if you just play it passively, but I do think there is a surprising amount of environmental detail to unpack over its roughly two-hour runtime, even if it remains quite vague overall. However, that vagueness is also where my main gripe with the narrative comes in. This game clearly presents itself as a symbolic story about the relationship between nature and technology, but it ends up sitting in an awkward middle ground that makes the storytelling feel incomplete. [spoiler]Through its hieroglyphs, murals, and submerged ruins, it strongly implies the rise of an ancient civilization, its connection to the ocean, and its downfall tied to the creation of/misuse of these pyramid machines.[/spoiler] Yet, while these elements hint at something deeper, they never fully come together into a coherent narrative, consistently lacking the connective tissue needed to clearly establish cause, effect, and resolution. Unlike other games that use fragmented storytelling but still provide enough structure for the general player to form their own satisfying interpretation/meaning of the story, (like Journey, ironically) this one feels like it gives [i]just enough[/i] to spark curiosity without fully supporting it. The hieroglyphs came across less like meaningful clues and more like aesthetic suggestions of depth, as if key context of the story was missing. Because this game never fully committed to either complete abstraction or a clearly decipherable narrative, I was left feeling exactly that, like it was asking me to interpret a story without giving me all the pieces I needed. [h3]Gameplay:[/h3] The gameplay here is very simple, and that's kind of the whole point. ABZU is designed as a casual underwater exploration/appreciation experience, and that becomes clear almost immediately. This entire game is centered around fluid underwater movement, letting you freely swim through several contained but open ocean environments, each with its own distinct vibe and color palette, along with variety of marine ecosystems. There is basically zero pressure or difficulty, and the gameplay loop mostly consists of minor, simple puzzle elements that move you toward the next environment, meditating on statues that take your controls away so you can just observe the underwater world, and restoring ocean life to ecosystems by activating Hidden Pools. There is no combat, no health system, and no real failure state, which really reinforces that the focus is on the immersion and atmosphere rather than any kind of mastery or challenge. So why am I leaving a negative review when this probably sounds intriguing to you? Because it simply was not for [i]me[/i]. I have played through this game a few times and never had any complaints about the controls or performance, but I've honestly just come to realize that I'm not the target audience for this game's general 'gameplay'. I can absolutely see how it creates a cozy and intriguing underwater atmosphere for fans of the ocean to get lost in, but the lack of goals, interactivity, and meaningful gameplay variety (along with the monotonously basic puzzle structure) just did not resonate with me personally... especially as someone who feels indifferent to, and at times mildly uneasy about, the ocean. [h3]World:[/h3] Even though I don't love ABZU's gameplay, even I have to admit that the world and level design is one of the biggest selling points of the experience. This whole game takes place across [spoiler]seven[/spoiler] visually distinct chapters [spoiler] (well, technically eight, but the last chapter is just the credits so I don't really count it) [/spoiler] and instead of traditional levels that feel like separate stages with hard boundaries, the game flows through a series of connected underwater regions that each feel like a different part of a larger oceanic journey. Each major area introduces a new biome with its own color palette, marine life, and environmental tone, which helps the game stay visually memorable even though the gameplay didn't really grab me. Additionally, progression is usually gated by simple environmental puzzles that gently guide you forward without ever breaking the relaxed pacing, but you're not forced to do them until you actually [i]want[/i] to progress, so you can hypothetically spend as much (or as little) time as you want in each chapter. The level design also relies heavily on verticality and open space, so other than the jet stream segments, you're not confined to narrow paths, and are instead encouraged to explore freely in all directions. However, my biggest problem with the world design is that there isn’t anything particularly unique about each area when it comes to [b]interaction[/b]. Even though the chapters look different, you’re still just finding the same things in every one. For a game that’s so often praised for its exploration, only having things like the [spoiler]hidden pools, secret seashells, and meditation statues[/spoiler] I've previously mentioned to interact with throughout the entire experience felt pretty disappointing. Because of that, if the new colors or different fish types don’t immediately grab you, the areas can definitely start to feel a bit stale. [h3]Visuals:[/h3] I actually really respect the general presentation here, and the visuals are something I genuinely appreciate. Because of ABZU’s nature as an indie game rather than a 2016 title that was chasing hyper-realistic, cutting-edge fidelity at the time of release, the graphics look great and hold up very well even ten years later, since it leans into a simple yet extremely colorful artistic style that feels intentional and cohesive. The vibrant underwater environments, fluid animations, and use of color give this game a timeless quality, making it feel like something that could be released in the indie game space even today without seeming outdated. On top of that, the visual approach makes it very easy to run, since it isn’t particularly intensive, which just adds to its accessibility. Even if I didn’t personally enjoy the overall experience, I can still recognize that ABZU succeeds in creating a visually memorable and artistically strong world. [h3]Music/Sound Design:[/h3] Unfortunately, the timelessness of the music/sound design is not as consistent as the visual experience is. I'll start off by saying that I really do enjoy the music in ABZU and the general auditory experience it provides, but it's the [i]quality[/i] of the audio that shows it's date at times more than anything. The soundtrack is immersive and well produced, reinforcing the sense of underwater exploration and emotional flow the gameplay is known for. However, due to this game’s age, it often lacks the crispness and clarity of more modern audio mixes and occasionally peaks in louder moments, sounding mildly jarring/slightly unrefined by today’s standards. Despite that, I [b]DO[/b] still find the overall soundscape deeply engaging, and the music without a doubt remains a strong emotional anchor for this game... even if the technical fidelity does not quite match the timelessness of its visuals, in my opinion.

Sometimes, you just want to swim through the ocean and unwind, and ABZÛ delivers exactly that. It’s a beautiful ocean adventure filled with stunning visuals, a relaxing soundtrack, and an atmosphere that feels completely meditative from start to finish. It reminded me a lot of Journey. The same sense of wonder, tranquility, and storytelling without words. Every environment feels peaceful and alive, and just moving through the water is calming in a way few games manage to achieve. The controls take some getting used to, but you adjust over time. I definitely recommend playing with a controller for the best experience. The combination of gorgeous underwater environments, soothing OST, and peaceful exploration makes this one of the most relaxing games I’ve played. Also, I made friends with a shark ahahah Beautiful, calming, and unforgettable. A complete meditative experience

艺术品......能让人完全沉浸进去的一款海洋观景模拟器，治好电子养胃（bushi）景做的太美了，特别是最后两关，生机勃勃的水中园林以及浮光跃金的樱花遗迹，震撼人心......小鲨鱼好萌，小乌龟好萌，完全被治愈了...... 唯一的缺点是手感真的很烂，操作很别扭转向很慢，需要花时间适应一下

много ли вы знаете игр с водной тематикой? лично я мало и эта игра явно одна из лучших в жанре подводного мира в ней нету смысла и нет морали только море 10 рыбов из 10

啊，啊提给木…… 走到某处按下互动键，装模作样的速度提升，我奶奶都能通关的操作要求，很酷不说话的文学造纸，空无一人的人物塑造，以及都会经历的美丽-黑暗-美丽的流程公式，但是我还是挺喜欢本作的，玩完感到挺满足。本作的海底场景氛围营造很强，生物动画很生动，能让我足不出四叠半感受下海洋，还能让我跑到壮观的沙丁鱼群中添乱，是的，这就是我小时候看科教频道时候的梦想。 所以我原谅了arty game…真的。

[h2][i]ABZÛ - Beneath the Surface[/i][/h2] Water has always scared me. I've nearly drowned a few times in my life, so anything involving the deep ocean usually makes me a little uneasy. Abzu, on the other hand, somehow made me fall in love with the underwater world. It looks exactly how I imagined the ocean as a kid vibrant, colourful, peaceful, and full of life. Combined with its beautiful soundtrack, it creates an incredibly calming atmosphere. Sometimes all you need is a relaxing game to escape from the stress of everyday life, and Abzu does exactly that. The amount of marine life in the game is honestly impressive. Every area is filled with different species of fish and sea creatures, making the world feel alive. You can even swim alongside them, interact with them, and ride some of the larger fish, which never stopped putting a smile on my face. I played the game on my Steam Deck OLED using a mix of Medium and High settings for a smooth 60 FPS experience. The achievements are also very approachable thanks to the chapter select feature, making 100% completion a relaxing experience rather than a grind. If you're looking for a short, beautiful game to unwind with, Abzu is an easy recommendation. I can definitely see myself returning to replay it someday. Much love <3