Sword of the Sea Review

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Established by the Art Director behind 2009’s Flower and 2012’s Journey, developer Giant Squid has been producing under-the-radar gems for the past decade. Notable titles like 2016’s meditative underwater adventure, Abzu, and the more action-oriented 2020 release, The Pathless, are examples of their work. Their latest creation, titled Sword of the Sea, beautifully combines elements from their past and current studio ethos.

In a nutshell, “Sword of the Sea” offers a tranquil experience that prioritizes relaxation, yet its engaging gameplay ensures it captivates players throughout its brief duration.

Sword of the Sea Is a Sleek, Streamlined Adventure

As I dive into the immersive world of “Sword of the Sea”, I’m captivated by a breathtaking view of swirling water. The camera guides me, following a single drop that dances elegantly onto a stone statue, imbuing it with life. This statue now pulsating with energy is none other than my character in this enchanting game – an ancient sea warrior on a quest to resurrect this once-bustling underwater realm now turned barren and lifeless. With my trusty sword-shaped surfboard in tow, I embark on an adventure through the first of many intricately designed biomes – a sprawling desert that houses countless ancient temples, waiting to be explored.

The game “Sword of the Sea” offers a captivating gameplay experience that harmoniously blends the minimalist, immersive elements found in games such as “Journey” and “Abzu,” while incorporating slightly more intricate mechanics similar to “The Pathless.” In this game, players navigate through diverse settings using a sword-surfboard, effortlessly gliding over straightforward puzzles and platforming obstacles. By interacting with specific objects within the environment, known as “Resonating,” players help revitalize water and marine life in their surroundings.

Even though the loop in this game might seem basic at first glance, it becomes more intriguing due to the thoughtful level design in “Sword of the Sea”. The majority of stages plunge players into a relatively expansive space that encourages them to find their own strategy to complete the limited objectives. There’s no guiding marker, forcing gamers to decipher the environment’s subtle hints and their natural curiosity to discover the game’s highlighted areas of interest.

In Sword of the Sea, I, as a player, am always drawn deeper into the game world thanks to its optional content. Scattered throughout each level are intriguing lore obelisks, brimming with captivating tales about the world’s past and my own enigmatic backstory. Moreover, hidden in every level are testing grounds – some of them reminiscent of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, complete with ancient rails for grinding, temple walls for skateboarding, and a variety of airborne tricks to pull off, all with the goal of racking up a high score.

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but get hooked on the captivating world of “Sword of the Sea”. While delving into its diverse landscapes might not seem all that enticing just for the rewards, these prizes are more than just an added bonus.

By successfully conquering the challenges and meticulously exploring each level, you’ll be richly rewarded with ‘Tetra’, a precious resource that can be traded for exciting new tricks and in-game abilities. Though these rewards may not initially sound like the most thrilling reasons to explore this game’s vast biomes, they serve as a fantastic incentive to keep immersing myself in its exhilarating traversal mechanics. It’s essentially a great reason to continue enjoying every moment of my gaming adventure!

Sword of the Sea: Tony Seal Pro Surfer

The ‘surfboard’ in the game “Sword of the Sea” is a delight to maneuver. Players just need to move forward, and the board glides effortlessly over a biome’s surface, picking up speed on inclines and adapting fluidly to the ground beneath it. Giant Squid has enhanced the captivating sense of motion in “The Pathless” and made it even smoother, providing a polished, integrated gameplay that serves as a robust base for “Sword of the Sea”.

In the game titled “Sword of the Sea“, this robust base is continuously expanded upon, and each progressing level incorporates at least one fresh traversal technique into the loop. These techniques frequently manifest as new environmental elements introduced after the player revives an area, like bioluminescent jellyfish enabling the player to jump higher or tall seaweed stalks for vertical travel.

In “Sword of the Sea”, the continuous introduction of new game mechanics seamlessly blends with the storyline. As players work to rebuild their environment, they are rewarded with enhanced gameplay elements. Furthermore, as more exploration techniques become available, the immersive quality of the game’s real-time play increases significantly.

Sword of the Sea‘s streamlined traversal mechanics are aided by smooth performance on PS5.

Sword of the Sea is a Truly Restorative Journey

As a gaming enthusiast, much like those who have been captivated by the enchanting worlds of Journey, Abzu, and The Pathless, I can confidently say that Sword of the Sea delivers an immersive and engaging gameplay experience. However, what truly sets this game apart is its stunning presentation and atmospheric depth. Simply put, Sword of the Sea is a visually stunning masterpiece that’s hard to forget once you’ve dived into its captivating underwater realm.

The game, titled “Sword of the Sea“, maintains the minimalist aesthetic that was prevalent in Giant Squid’s prior creations. Characters and animals are depicted with straightforward shapes that stand out due to their sharp linework, allowing them to be easily recognized while the game’s backdrops grab the spotlight. Each biome in “Sword of the Sea” showcases a unique visual experience, featuring intriguing architecture as well as stylish surfaces that subtly change beneath the player’s ship, providing an engaging visual spectacle.

The game titled “Sword of the Sea” boasts a lively array of colors, consistently enhanced by spectacular lighting that playfully shimmers across each biome’s landscape. Moreover, the dynamic camera in this game offers commendable support, as it smoothly adjusts around the player during turns to preserve a feeling of motion, and zooms out selectively to emphasize an impressive sense of size as you enter fresh regions.

Each snapshot from the game “Sword of the Sea” is captivating, yet it’s when the game is in action that its visuals reach their peak. However, the visuals aren’t the only impressive aspect of “Sword of the Sea’s” overall presentation.

The stunning images from “Sword of the Sea” make for great screenshots, but it’s when the game is moving that its visuals really shine. It’s worth noting though, that the visuals aren’t the only standout feature in “Sword of the Sea’s” presentation.

Echoes in the Wells of Silence

Simple yet impactful, the audio design of “Sword of the Sea” is remarkable for its ability to make much out of little. Every motion is accompanied by a gentle whisper of wind and a crisp, subtle sound of metal striking sand, stone, or ice. With each leap, the rhythmic tap echoes, highlighting each action within the game with perfection.

The collaboration between Giant Squid and award-winning BAFTA composer Austin Wintory persists with the title “Sword of the Sea“, and his music takes center stage yet again. Time and time again, Wintory’s distinctive style provides a continuous feeling of tranquility throughout the gameplay experience in “Sword of the Sea“. The escalating build-up in the score as players progress is consistently exciting to engage with.

As a gamer, I can’t help but be captivated by the immersive world of Sword of the Sea. Its stunning visuals seamlessly blend with engaging gameplay to create an enchanting and tranquil experience that leaves me in awe. Soaring gracefully towards objectives feels incredibly satisfying, as I breathe new life into what was once a lifeless wasteland. Watching lush vegetation sprout and vibrant marine life dance across the screen is nothing short of mesmerizing. The gentle sound of cascading water combined with Wintory’s harmonious yet powerful score creates a serene atmosphere that makes me feel like I’ve escaped to my own personal oasis.

The game titled Sword of the Sea offers a rejuvenating experience, both physically and emotionally. Each in-game restoration acted as a form of self-healing for me, while the peaceful travel between tasks served to calm my mind, loosen up tense muscles, and promote deep breaths. Sword of the Sea transcends its role as an interactive art installation, becoming a profoundly fulfilling meditative journey instead. However, this soothing expedition isn’t eternal.

The Trance Comes to an Abrupt End

The game titled “Sword of the Sea” lasts approximately 2 hours and a half. This might not shock those accustomed to playing games like “Abzu” and “Journey“, but it could take newcomers by surprise, especially considering the rather abrupt ending. While the game maintains great tempo for most of its duration, the final 15 minutes seem somewhat hurried, and the conclusion feels a bit rushed. It’s an enjoyable climax, and the emotional moments are impactful, however, a couple more levels towards the end could have given the finale the necessary build-up in “Sword of the Sea“.

After the ending sequence, viewers are invited to stay put as the game Sword of the Sea has an additional mode called New Game Plus. This bonus mode enhances the core gameplay by introducing some fresh abilities and modifications without significantly altering the overall experience. The tweaks serve as a tempting motivator for those who seek to revisit the game’s serene atmosphere once more.

Sword of the Sea is coming to PlayStation Plus Extra on launch day.

The Game of the Sea stands out as an ideal blend of brevity and sweetness. Each element of its presentation, including graphics, sound design, and musical score, are flawlessly optimized, seamlessly intertwining with the game’s intuitive and immersive navigation features to create a serene, contemplative journey that merits your attention, making it a suitable choice for almost everyone.

The “Sea Sword” is currently accessible on PC and PlayStation 5 platforms. For this review, we were given a PS5 code by Game Rant.

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2025-08-19 08:07