Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Metareview: Endless Ocean]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/metareview-endless-ocean/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/metareview-endless-ocean/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/metareview-endless-ocean/#commentsFiled under:


Our blogger in the UK, Chris, provided us with a review of the title last month (thanks to the game releasing in his territory before ours, for a change) and spoke his mind concerning the undersea exploration within. After providing his honest opinion on the title, many here who were otherwise dead-set on picking this one up (this blogger included) then began to contemplate the other releases this week. Soon, its place among the "must-haves" for the week was in question, and we started thinking about picking up one or the other.

What about you all, though? Have you picked up Endless Ocean and found the critics to be off their rockers? Is this game awesome and nobody but IGN knows it?

Let's get to the reviews:
  • IGN (80/100) says: "There are enough missions, from becoming a tour guide for other divers to photographing rare fish, to keep you busy for hours, but you might just prefer the pointless exploration to accomplishing set goals. Add in a two-player online mode and there's a lot to like about this scuba-diving simulation, even if some of its basic controls are wonky and its action-oriented scenarios limited. Did I mention it's only $29.99?"
  • Game Informer (60/100) thinks: "Have you ever wanted to be as cool as Aquaman, except without any super powers? You could swim around, make friends with fish, and...well, that's about it. That is exactly what Endless Ocean delivers, giving players a chance to pet all sorts of underwater wildlife and watch them float by. The few other distractions, like taking pictures and filling an aquarium, provide only the barest incentive to keep going."
  • Eurogamer (60/100) labels the game: "Endless Ocean is simple to the point of being quite dull, and certainly no masterpiece. But sometimes all a game needs to do is offer you something different, and it's an honest relief to play something that doesn't shout in your ear, set any time limits, or feature a single explosion; a game whose raison d'être is just beauty and peace. Playing this game is almost like taking a holiday from gaming. If you can live with that paradox - and if you can find it reasonably cheap - it's worth dipping a toe in these calm, blue waters."
  • GamePro (25/100) magazine critiques: "Endless Ocean's underwater atmosphere is soothing and relaxing but it lacks a crucial element: fun." [Feb 2008, p.84]

JoystiqMetareview: Endless Ocean originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdivingendless-oceanendlessoceanforever-blueforeverbluescubascuba-divingunderseaWed, 23 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Review: Endless Ocean]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/wii-fanboy-review-endless-ocean/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/wii-fanboy-review-endless-ocean/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/wii-fanboy-review-endless-ocean/#commentsFiled under:



Here's a very brief list of adjectives I would almost never use to describe video games:
  1. Genteel
  2. Laid-back
  3. Soothing
Historically, a handful of titles have bucked this trend -- Electroplankton, PlayStation 3 curio flOw, Pilotwings and its sublime 64-bit follow-up (one of this writer's all-time favorites) -- but on the whole, the term "video game" conjures up images that are far from tranquil: gobby, cornrowed marines shooting the bejesus out of this week's alien threat, epic battles with scaly fantasy creatures, futuristic pod racing, urban gang warfare. You get the idea.

Endless Ocean does things differently. Arika's scuba-diving sim is almost certainly the most relaxing, pedestrian game of 2007. And while that's certainly a welcome change from other video games, occasionally it can become a little too laid-back for its own good. Or, to be blunt, boring.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Review: Endless Ocean

JoystiqWii Fanboy Review: Endless Ocean originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureaquaticarikadivingendless-oceanendlessoceanexplorationforever-blueforeverbluejoystiqfeaturesscubascuba-divingunderseaMon, 24 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's saltiest video: Forever Blue]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/todays-saltiest-video-forever-blue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/todays-saltiest-video-forever-blue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/todays-saltiest-video-forever-blue/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

Continue reading Today's saltiest video: Forever Blue

JoystiqToday's saltiest video: Forever Blue originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>divedivingendlessoceanforeverbluehottestvideomarineoceanpadiscubaseasimulationwiiMon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Ever PS2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/wii-warm-up-ever-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/wii-warm-up-ever-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/wii-warm-up-ever-ps2/#commentsFiled under:


We here at Wii Fanboy are pretty intrigued about Endless Ocean, because it looks like such a unique gaming experience-- underwater treasure-hunting mixed with adventure game elements. But, strictly speaking, it is not unique at all. It is, in fact, another entry in the Everblue series of diving adventures for the Playstation 2.

Well-rounded and experienced gamers though we are, there is a big old hole in our gaming history in the shape of the Everblue games. This is especially embarrassing for us, as we are possibly alone in our fandom of Arika games like Technic Beat and even the Street Fighter EX series.

We figure somebody out there has played one of the Everblue games. We'd love to know what you thought of the experience. Should we stop caring about Endless Ocean? Should we be getting Endless Ocean tattoos? Also, do you think this game is the sort of thing that waggle can genuinely improve?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Ever PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arikadivingendless oceanEndlessOceaneverblueforever blueForeverBlueoceanps2scubawwuMon, 16 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A (quick) peek at Forever Blue]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/a-quick-peek-at-forever-blue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/a-quick-peek-at-forever-blue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/a-quick-peek-at-forever-blue/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's been a while since we've seen anything about Forever Blue, the undersea diving game scheduled for later this year, and developer Arika still seems to be keeping things under wraps. One lone screenshot has surfaced, however. We can add this to the slowly developing collection. By this fall, we may know a little more than we do now!

Check out the screen after the jump. All we can say so far is: it's a good thing we're fond of blue.

Continue reading A (quick) peek at Forever Blue

JoystiqA (quick) peek at Forever Blue originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArikadivingForever BlueForeverBlueNintendoscreenscubaseaunderseaWiiThu, 22 Feb 2007 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Forever Blue strikes a chord with divers [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/forever-blue-strikes-a-chord-with-divers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/forever-blue-strikes-a-chord-with-divers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/11/forever-blue-strikes-a-chord-with-divers/#commentsFiled under:



It's rare that we get tipped off about a title by a scuba diving site, but it looks like there's a first time for everything after all. Forever Blue, a diving game set for the end of 2007 (for now, at least), was first announced during the Japanese Nintendo event last month, but there was so much going on that we hope you'll forgive us for losing it in the shuffle. Developer Arika has some experience in the creation of underwater environments, as they were responsible for the PS2's Ever Blue and Ever Blue 2. A shift to the Wii for a game like this just makes sense. And you won't be swimming solitary in the deep, either; WiFi support is planned, so you can explore with your friends.

It's interesting to note that a diving site not only picked up the story, but presented it with such enthusiasm, while at the same time having to explain the Wii to their nongamer audience. Though this is certainly not the first game of its type -- see above -- the immersion of the Wiimote makes it a unique and exciting title, and one that we have high hopes for.

[Update 1: Somehow, the link to the original story disappeared ... fixed!]

JoystiqForever Blue strikes a chord with divers [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArikadivingForever BlueForeverBlueNintendoscubasimsimulationunderwaterWiiWed, 11 Oct 2006 08:54:00 EST