Beyond Blue
- June 11, 2020
- E-Line Media
- 3h median play time
Beyond Blue lets you swim alongside marine biologists from the future, tagging and learning about the creatures that occupy our world's oceans.
Beyond Blue is an underwater exploration game that allows players to experience the wonders and challenges of the ocean depths. As a researcher, you'll dive into diverse ecosystems, interact with marine life, and uncover mysteries of the sea. With a focus on marine conservation, the game encourages players to make decisions that impact the environment and its inhabitants.
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and beautiful underwater environments create an immersive experience.
- Educational content, including mini-documentaries and detailed information about marine life, enhances the gameplay.
- Relaxing and calming atmosphere, making it a great escape from daily stress.
- The game is very short, typically completed in 3-5 hours, leaving players wanting more content.
- Limited interactivity with marine life; creatures do not respond to the player, making exploration feel less engaging.
- The storyline feels rushed and underdeveloped, with some character arcs lacking resolution.
- story566 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Beyond Blue" is generally perceived as short and somewhat shallow, typically taking around 2-5 hours to complete, depending on the player's pace. While some players appreciate the touching themes and character development, particularly regarding marine life and environmental issues, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and could benefit from more exploration and content. Overall, the game is seen as a visually stunning experience that combines educational elements with a simple storyline, but it leaves players wanting more in terms of narrative richness and gameplay variety.
“I enjoyed every bit of the story while it was going.”
“The gameplay is simple and relaxing and the story is well written, carrying a distinctly human touch whilst also shedding light on the horrors humanity is imposing upon our world.”
“It's a beautiful story that will pull on your heartstrings in several ways.”
“The conclusion to the story felt a little rushed.”
“There's so much more content that could have been squeezed out of this concept and the story.”
“The story was a short 2 hours of family drama that felt disconnected and dull.”
- graphics178 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and attention to detail, creating an immersive underwater experience that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant visuals and smooth animations, which enhance the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of exploring marine life. However, some mention minor graphical issues and a lack of interactivity with the environment, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, they are not without flaws.
“It has breathtaking graphics and makes me love the ocean even more.”
“The graphics are stunning, and the soundtrack is wonderfully immersive, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The visuals are beautiful and the music sounds like the most solid Spotify group playlist ever.”
“The graphics are alright with some bugs and missing parts on the models.”
“Its quite relaxing initially, but soon gets boring - the graphics are just ok, not amazing, which would help push up the ratings a bit.”
“The educational and narrative moments don’t fully gel with the undersea exploration, and the visuals get murky on the Switch.”
- music167 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of original scores and curated tracks. While many players appreciate the atmospheric soundtrack and its ability to complement the stunning visuals, some express dissatisfaction with certain licensed music choices and the inability to customize playlists during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight, contributing to the game's serene and educational environment.
“The soundtrack is heavily underrated and has many good songs like 'Only in My Dreams', 'Love That Never', and 'Tangaroa Whakamautai'!”
“The graphics are stunning, and the soundtrack is wonderfully immersive, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The ambient music was superb when exploring, trying to find all the different types of aquatic life, and definitely had a sea-feel to it; that sense of vastness and freedom.”
“I'm glad I was able to finish it, so I can't be subjected to the main character's terrible taste in music every ten minutes or so ever again.”
“You are not going to like being on the sub in the first place, you are really not going to like being on the sub if you're forced to listen to crap music.”
“Don't waste money on music licensing... this game, no joke, gives you an iPad-like device that just controls the music in your sub.”
- gameplay124 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Beyond Blue" is characterized by its simplicity and lack of depth, primarily revolving around swimming and scanning marine life, which some players find relaxing while others deem it repetitive and lacking in engaging mechanics. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers note that the game falls short for those seeking a more challenging or immersive experience, often comparing it unfavorably to other underwater titles. Overall, it offers a brief, educational experience that may appeal to casual players but leaves more serious gamers wanting.
“The gameplay is simple and relaxing, and the story is well written, carrying a distinctly human touch whilst also shedding light on the horrors humanity is imposing upon our world.”
“Beyond Blue is a beautiful game with a simple gameplay loop and a compelling narrative.”
“Beyond Blue has a brilliant atmosphere and chilling gameplay with an educational purpose, and it’s definitely a great move from the developers.”
“There's barely any gameplay mechanics in Beyond Blue; it consists of the following: you start a dive.”
“Beyond Blue looks nice and can be relaxing, but there's so little gameplay it can also feel like a chore.”
“Max. 2 hours of gameplay, consisting of looking at some fish/whales and swimming to objective markers, accompanied by a boring story that just ends without a resolution.”
- atmosphere57 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Beyond Blue" is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, featuring stunning visuals, a soothing soundtrack, and realistic underwater sounds that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a relaxing environment, akin to an atmospheric documentary, while also providing educational insights about ocean life. However, some users noted a lack of interaction with marine animals, which can detract from the overall engagement.
“Beyond Blue is an atmospheric game, with great ambiance and excellent graphics.”
“The atmosphere is spot on, the soundtrack is fabulous, and the visuals are crisp and realistic.”
“A beautifully crafted atmospheric ocean-diving experience!”
“The atmosphere of the game is overall relaxing and meant for you to just sit back and enjoy/learn.”
“Every single dive has a different vibe and atmosphere in it.”
“The sounds while diving are so mesmerizing and somehow even when you are just inside the sub talking to your peers, the atmosphere and music really makes you feel like you are 10,000 leagues under the sea.”
- emotional44 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting moments of tears and deep connection to the characters and story. However, some reviewers noted that the game's short length undermines the emotional impact, leaving players wanting more depth and resolution. Overall, while the game offers a touching and educational experience, its brevity may limit the emotional resonance for some players.
“Warning: I cried at least 3 times during my playthrough.”
“I was so emotionally involved in the story that I teared up at several points (which is unlike me).”
“The characters are surprisingly human and in-depth for a game where the main draw is the diving; I found myself getting emotional not only because of the beautiful visuals but because of the characters as well.”
“Max. 2 hours of gameplay, consisting of looking at some fish/whales and swimming to objective markers, accompanied by a boring story that just ends without a resolution.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with users reporting various glitches such as crashes, loading issues, and graphical anomalies. While some players noted that the glitches were not overly frequent, they still detracted from the overall experience and raised concerns about the game's reliability.
“I encountered a few glitches I hope will be fixed soon (continuing to crash the game, models in the ocean not loading in...)”
“I did notice a few glitches (some fish stuck in places, one of which might be preventing me from getting the full scan achievement), but there weren't many.”
“My system can play most games, and ones my system isn't made for, so that isn't the issue... I just think it's buggy.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily through its free swim mode, which some players find enjoyable. However, many reviewers note that the short length, lack of interactivity with sea life, and static levels diminish its long-term replay value.
“If you're looking for a relatively chill gameplay experience with a bit of replayability in the free swim mode at the end, this is $20 well spent.”
“If you're looking for a relatively chill gameplay experience with a bit of replayability in the free swim mode at the end, this is $20 well spent.”
“Limited replayability.”
“[Not much replay value, very short, sea life lacks interactivity and levels feel static.]”
“Definitely has replay value.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a grindy experience focused on scanning and collecting targets rather than solving puzzles, which some players find tedious. However, it appeals to fans of slow-paced walking simulators, offering a relaxing and educational journey complemented by an excellent soundtrack.
“There really are no puzzles to solve, just targets to find and scan or collect, which can be tedious.”
“I will finish the game up, and will recommend it for people looking for something slow and grindy, but chill - walking sim enjoyers, basically.”
“Scanning all the life is a bit tedious but this game is an educational joy ride, along with some of the best soundtrack in a game.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game generally runs well without any performance issues, but many users feel that it could benefit from better optimization to enhance overall efficiency.
“No performance issues either.”
“The game runs fine, but is not optimized as well as it could be, in my opinion.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, players feel that the character development in the game is lacking, expressing a desire for a longer story and more depth for the main character. Many reviewers believe that additional creatures and locales could enhance the character's growth, ultimately leaving them wanting more from the experience.
“I wish it were longer and had more character development for our main character - it's definitely a game that leaves you wanting more!”
“A great idea but would have been better served with a longer story and maybe some more creatures, locales, and character development.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional humor, which not only entertains but also complements the informative elements of the story, creating an emotional impact that resonates with players.
“It had amazing humor and was very informational and even tugged at your heartstrings in the story.”
Critic Reviews
Beyond Blue Nintendo Switch Review
An educational way to explore the deep blue sea at your own pace.
78%Beyond Blue review
Beyond Blue is an overtly educational game that has a message worth sharing. The experience is pleasant enough, but other games manage to convey the majesty and beauty of the ocean more elegantly.
60%Beyond Blue review
A calm and realistic marine-diving simulator that unfortunately never goes deeper than the surface.
71%