Today's saltiest video: Forever Blue

49 Comments by Zack Stern Jul 23rd 2007 12:00AM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Online, Simulations, Video, Casual

The Wii undersea exploration non-game, Forever Blue, sure looks pretty in this trailer. (We have to imagine how the graphics will look outside of a web browser, but we'd swear this game takes at least three Gamecubes taped together.)

~~While Japan-only at this point, maybe~~ the SCUBA simulation will surface in other regions, with the Wii's success. See the video after the break.

Update: Thanks to readers for pointing out that Forever Blue will launch in the U.S. as Endless Ocean on October 29.

Gallery: Forever Blue

Tags: dive, diving, endlessocean, foreverblue, hottestvideo, marine, ocean, padi, scuba, sea, simulation, wii

(Page 1) Reader Comments

tenchi221: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:14AM

that video made me want to watch some planet earth on discovery hd theatre

Chris: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:20AM

Word.

ill trooper: Jul 23rd 2007; 6:22AM

I bought that on blue-ray and it is amazing! I wish this game would come out in HD flavor for the 360 or the PS3...

enix: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:15AM

i thaught it was coming to the US under the name endless ocean...?

Deaddy: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:15AM

I was under the impression that this had been renamed Endless Ocean and announced for North America.

Frankie: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:17AM

It's coming in the USA and dated October 29th. It will be retitled as Endless Ocean.

Ken: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:44AM

Wow. That game is looking great!

I'll pick it up :)

Kevlar: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:55AM

Did that video play-through twice for anyone else? It looks like it looped... How strange.
The graphics are indeed nice, and I imagine this will be a great calming experience. I can just see it now:

"AUGH! I can't take this anymore!" *door slam*
*Wii Sounds* *Insert Disk*
*Endless Ocean singing*
"Ahhh..." *sinks into comfy chair*

fawazr: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:02AM

I'm just happy for an exploration game with actual sea creatures and not imagined characters with super powers.

Raikage: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:19AM

Oh wow, that looks awesome! Now if I had the time with all the games coming to the Wii this winter...

Jay34: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:32AM

The vid over at Wiifanboy is crystal clear and should've been posted on this thread to begin with.

Evan: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:41AM

How is this a "non-game?" What, are any games besides first-person shooters not officially games?

accidental: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:55AM

Game: "anything resembling a game, as in requiring skill, endurance, or adherence to rules"

AFAIK forever blue doesn't fit into those categories since there are no objectives, rules or anything.

Psaakyrn: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:09AM

It's a very fine line, but this, by book definition, isn't a game, along with Sim City and Spore.

A closer approximation I've heard being used is Interactive Multimedia, which would then also encompass "interactive displays" on the other end of the physical spectrum, or educational/non-fiction/artistic software, on the other end of the emotional spectrum (i.e. the purpose is no longer to entertain, but to educate or create an emotion). I think that's is still closer than focusing on "game" since it is getting rather limiting in that sense.

Platy: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:41AM

anyone knows who sings ths song ?

stevyb23: Jul 23rd 2007; 1:59AM

I could be wrong, but the singer sounds like Hayley Westenra, a teenage popera/celtic singer from New Zealand. It could be one of the songs from her latest CD. Remember, this title allows you to play your own mp3 files while you play. Although, a theme song for this title would be great!

accidental: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:07AM

It sure is Hayley Westenra, just do a quick google on the first line of lyrics. It's a song called 'Prayer'.

Eligio J Rosa: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:10AM

This may be the Wii version of Nintendogs.

Stevenjazz787: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:22AM

Game: definition #1 from m-w.com - activity engaged in for diversion or amusement. boo.... and yah.

video game: an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action ... (don't know if I would agree with the fast action part, then Final Fantasy 1-11, Chibi Robot, Pong, etc. wouldn't be games)

Psaakyrn: Jul 23rd 2007; 3:47AM

By that definition, many sports aren't games, such as soccer, basketball, rugby, and poker, while many hobbies become games, such as sewing, drawing, cooking, and drinking.

Just an example: Reading Joystiq: Does it amuse me? (yes) Does it act as a diversion from stuff I should be doing? (yes) Is reading Joystiq a game? (based on the definition you gave, yes...)

Or, Competitive soccer: Does it amuse the player? (not really) Does it act as a diversion from stuff they should be doing? (It's their job, so no.) Is competitive soccer a game? (Based on your definition, no.)

Car2oon: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:29AM

WTF!? This is the WII! Did someone forget to tell this dev to NOT put effort into their game's graphics? And where are the minigames!?

Honestly, I'm just dissapointed.

Slaziman: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:39AM

+1 to you sir!

t_m: Jul 23rd 2007; 7:36AM

you mean some devs actually learned to program shaders for the Wii architecture?? For shame!

bobby d.: Jul 23rd 2007; 3:01AM

saltiest (salty)... proud to see joystiq getting a little gangster.

Kye: Jul 23rd 2007; 4:35AM

The dolphin that the person came face to face with at about 6 or 7 seconds into the video; is it me or did it have a vertical tail fin?!

elmersglue: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:06AM

its the dolphins dorsal fin...whats the big deal? Oh btw, This "game" seems like a huge waste of time... what's the point? Is it just me or would this get old after half an hour?

t_m: Jul 23rd 2007; 7:50AM

depends, did swinging around the city in spiderman2 get old in half an hour? or driving around the city in gta? or running around for no reason in WoW?

elmersglue: Jul 23rd 2007; 9:37AM

Well, take any one of those games you just mentioned, and make it so that swinging around in spiderman 2 is all you can do, or driving around in GTA is all you can do, or running around for no reason in WoW is all you can do... How long do you think that would last before getting old?

ouj: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:42AM

This "game" was released for PS2 in 2003 under the name "Everblue 2":

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/everblue2

It's got 59/100 at Metacritic. But then again, even a 75 point is amazing by Wii standards, so I guess it's gonna be "ok".

Fatass of Kickassness: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:48AM

Good job on being wrong there bub - this is a sequel, not a port.

Frankie: Jul 23rd 2007; 6:41AM

The previous Ever Blue weren't published by Nintendo. In fact, Nintendo didn't have any involvement at all. This one was overseen by Nintendo(moneyhats) and will be published by them.

It's probably why this is called Forever Blue/Endless Ocean rather than a direct sequel to Ever Blue.

The Purveyor of Justice: Jul 23rd 2007; 11:32AM

Judging by some of the screens of EverBlue 2 I've seen it's definitely not a port, this game looks much better graphically than EverBlue 2.

rokerovakero: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:47AM

the dolphin looks ok to me.

elmersglue, I'm sure it will get old to you in 30 minutes, probably less, but you are not really the target for this kind of "game". You better go buy Call Of Duty or something.

elmersglue: Jul 23rd 2007; 9:32AM

Will do, however, it's dumb to assume that someone not interested in a game such as this would only be interested in an FPS. All of a sudden Wii owners have turned games like Call of Duty into meat head material, while raving about an ocean exploration game with no objectives.

rokerovakero: Jul 23rd 2007; 5:50AM

ouj, I've never seen that game before, but this one is developed by Nintendo itsef, and not Capcom. Unless they sold the game, but I don't know about that...

ouj: Jul 23rd 2007; 6:24AM

Nintendo is the publisher, not the developer. The developer is a company called Arika and they did Everblue and Everblue 2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arika

ill trooper: Jul 23rd 2007; 6:19AM

I'm looking forward to this a lot. I loved 'Aquanaut's Holiday' (PS1) and from what I can tell, this is compatible with my "Tennis/Bowling Console" that I bought last fall. I wonder if my eject button still works.

rahnyc4: Jul 23rd 2007; 6:45AM

don't forget you can play this game using your own tracks on the sd card. imagin swimming through the ocean while free bird is playing. (as clique is, and the fact it has nothing to do with swimming)

Skeffington: Jul 23rd 2007; 7:06AM

I would consider myself a 'casual' gamer in the sense that I don't really enjoy spending hours killing aliens or zombies, and that I'd rather play short bursts of WiiSports or Ouendan.

So I guess this is the kind of game I normally would be interested in, but I have to say that this one doesn't appeal to me. I like having specific goals to achieve in a game otherwise it feels a bit pointless.

Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I think I'll give this one a pass.

Cuddlefish: Jul 23rd 2007; 7:59AM

Just so no one is confused by one of the posts above, this is not Everblue 2 ported to the Wii. I played Everblue 2 and what I've seen of Endless Ocean it's nothing like Everblue 2 which was an RPG.

bigkountry: Jul 23rd 2007; 8:31AM

This game looks awesome. But honestly, I have a fear of the ocean. This game looks scarier for me than any other game I've played.

jay: Jul 23rd 2007; 8:37AM

That looks so beautiful, crap, enjoyable, fantastic, terrible and fun all the same time. It's difficult to express.

I buy.

Havoc: Jul 23rd 2007; 9:29AM

Oh, haha! Gamecubes... duct-taped together! Hah! ...hah.

Seriously guys, if it wasn't funny the second time, it's not going to be any funnier the hundredth time. Can we move on?

Almack64: Jul 23rd 2007; 10:38AM

Actually I did get a mild chuckle out of the mention of, count them 3 GAMECUBES, "AH HA HA HA HA!"

WiNG: Jul 23rd 2007; 11:11AM

Considering I am a giant aquaria nut, this is a must buy as long as there is a lot to do and I can learn a lot from it. If it turns out to be highly unrealistic/semifactual though, it's a no go!

X_Arre: Jul 23rd 2007; 12:16PM

Why do we get a lame name?

carl: Jul 23rd 2007; 2:28PM

Isn't this a port over of EverBlue or its sequel that the same devs released on Playstation2 a little while back?- it looks exactly the same - nice graphics but zero game unfortunately. don't get your hopes up over this one. Have they just changed the name from everblue to forever blue to endless ocean???When will these PS2 port over jobs stop???

Almack64: Jul 23rd 2007; 3:02PM

This one's not really a port over, its actually a "new" game. I guess you could consider it a 3rd entry to the series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Ocean

miklnk: Jul 23rd 2007; 4:27PM

Am I supposed to care about this game? As a Wii owner, I thought I was supposed to enjoy game play over graphics. I can't imagine enjoyable game play from this at all. If I want to scuba dive, I will take a vacation and do it for real. I beg of you to stop pushing this game down my throat.