Breakwaters
- December 9, 2021
- Soaring Pixels Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Breakwaters is a 2-player co-op/single-player exploration survival game with a good plot and exceptional gameplay. The game features a procedural world with interactive water simulations, massive Titans, and ocean depths filled with rare resources. Players can gather crystals, build structures, and engage in trading with passing fishermen to rebuild and survive in this compelling game, despite its numerous grinding and bugs."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features stunning water physics and beautiful graphics, creating an immersive experience.
- The building and crafting systems are enjoyable, allowing for creativity and exploration.
- The developers are responsive and actively working on updates and bug fixes, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The camera controls are overly sensitive and can cause motion sickness, making gameplay uncomfortable.
- There are significant performance issues, with low FPS and crashes reported by many players.
- The inventory management is clunky and restrictive, making resource gathering and crafting frustrating.
- story104 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels underdeveloped and buggy, often leading to frustration with mission progression. While some appreciate the potential for an intriguing narrative and the unique setting, they criticize the lack of clarity in quests and the frequent glitches that hinder gameplay. Overall, players express hope for future updates to enhance the story and fix existing issues.
“I never write reviews, but I'm patiently waiting for a major update on the game. I already finished the story and killed the serpent, and it was a blast—one of the best 13 hours I've played on a game for sure.”
“The story has a lot of mystery yet is very clear about what you have to do. There are also not a whole lot of quests, which is nice; most quests after the first island give you bigger goals, so you have time to play the game you want.”
“As you uncover the secrets of the underwater world, you'll encounter intriguing characters and unravel a touching story of courage, friendship, and the power of nature.”
“The story quest line, for me anyway, seems broken/buggy.”
“Big map full of islands with nothing on them, no real incentive to play with the water physics, and like a half dozen missions that don't really function that well.”
“Still too buggy, you can't progress in the story because of bugs (worst kind of bugs after crashing bugs).”
- gameplay100 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Breakwaters is characterized by impressive water mechanics and physics, which are often highlighted as the game's standout feature. However, players have noted a lack of underwater gameplay, clunky inventory management, and a somewhat monotonous survival crafting experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the game shows promise with its unique mechanics and beautiful visuals, it requires further refinement and polish to enhance the core gameplay loop and player engagement.
“Gameplay - this game has some of the best water physics I've ever seen.”
“The most interesting mechanic is the water, and the ability to manipulate the ocean, tides, and waterways proves a unique foundation for developing a gameplay loop and puzzle series - not to mention the possible exploration implementations.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Breakwaters are both innovative and engaging.”
“The very strange choice to not include any underwater mechanics/gameplay in a game centered around the ocean, featuring a fantastic and gorgeous liquid system with great caustics physics, but clearly no underwater shaders were implemented with it. It feels like there should be underwater gameplay.”
“The 'survival gameplay' was passable a few years ago, but other survival crafts have come along with far better realized games and more basic polish, within a similar development lifetime and team size.”
“The gameplay is, in my opinion, a bit too monotone and you're never sure what to do next.”
- graphics71 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful water dynamics and overall art style, describing it as stunning and immersive. However, several users report performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical downgrades over time, particularly on medium to high settings, which detracts from the experience. While the visuals are generally appealing, there are calls for better optimization and improvements in certain areas, such as character and UI design.
“The graphics are gorgeous, the mechanics are working properly.”
“Very cool water mechanics, great style and graphics.”
“The graphics, art style, and lighting...simply amazing.”
“I saw the bad, the worse and I decided to give it time to 'cook'... came back after a year and there were no changes - even a downgrade in graphics, as the water (main part of the game) was looking worse (it was beautiful before, not pixelated and well, ugly).”
“I just bought the game and loaded it up, created a new character and world, looking pretty nice but once I got in I had less than 2 fps. I adjusted the graphics settings to basically minimum and still had terrible fps (barely improved). If this game is given time and work (and much optimization) it could be the best, but right now if you want it, buy it on sale then wait for patches before playing.”
“The game also runs quite poorly even on a high-end PC with minimal graphical settings to try and help.”
- optimization47 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and drastic drops in busy environments, particularly on lower-end hardware. While some users report improved performance on high-end systems, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to reach its full potential. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game.
“Drastic frame drops around big buildings and active environments can use some optimization improvement, but other than that, it runs and plays incredibly. The content is definitely here for sure.”
“Huge amounts of potential; once the optimization gets a bit better (DLSS would be great), this will be a true gem.”
“This game has great potential but definitely needs to be tweaked and optimized.”
“There is no optimization for this game.”
“I bought this game to play with a friend and it has been fun; however, the biggest issue was very low FPS and overall performance.”
“But the game is too poorly optimized and too unpolished at the moment to recommend.”
- stability34 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode, which has led to desync issues, broken missions, and crashes. Many players have expressed frustration over the removal of multiplayer features and the lack of acknowledgment from developers regarding these issues. While some find the game enjoyable despite its bugs, the overall consensus is that it remains too unstable for a fully satisfying experience.
“I have tested it on Ubuntu 20.04 with Proton v6, and it runs great. Performance is about the same. The only issue is that the video in the main menu isn't showing correctly, but who cares?”
“Runs great for me, but I have a good PC.”
“It runs great on my PC. People are probably just using old hardware. I'm using a GTX 1070 with an i9 10850K processor, and it runs great.”
“Bought the game with friends to play multiplayer, but it was too buggy to be playable. Major desync issues, and I returned a few months later to find that multiplayer has been removed. The devs refuse to acknowledge that they promised multiplayer, including showing it in the original trailer.”
“The game is buggy as all get out. I got stuck on multiple missions due to bad programming. It seems like the one remaining developer has some control issues.”
“Broken disaster. The co-op is terrible. While trying to play with a friend, you can't join unless they exit the game and relaunch the lobby. The game does not save correctly, freezes, and crashes. Mid-game joining should be implemented. Once you get to the second island, the missions/quests break because the NPCs do not show up, causing glitches, items to not spawn or drop, and the game to freeze or boot you out.”
- music16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere. However, some users noted issues with sound balance, where other sound effects are difficult to hear, and expressed a desire for more musical variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and water mechanics effectively.
“The water mechanics and soundtrack are amazing, and I hope I get to see this game pump out successful updates in the near future <3”
“The music is really pretty, and I would listen to it even when not playing the game.”
“No faith in this team, disappointing given how incredible the OST is, and how incredible the idea itself is.”
“The musical score of Breakwaters deserves special mention, as it perfectly complements the serene atmosphere of the game.”
“Can't turn off music.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the balance in harvesting and crafting that keeps it engaging without being overly tedious, others feel that the grind can become repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to limited inventory space and the need to repeatedly gather items. The crafting system is generally well-received, but some players express a desire for more streamlined mechanics to reduce the tedium associated with certain tasks.
“The game feels grindy; I have found myself going to a different island multiple times to get an item for crafting. The inventory is far too limited.”
“Boss seems laughably overpowered even if I did spend the time grinding to get better equipment, which I won't do because it doesn't seem worth it yet.”
“I really don't see the need for a survival crafting aspect to this game when it feels tedious almost all the time, especially when the main selling point of this game is the physics of the water, which are amazing.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, coherent environmental design, and serene musical score, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Players appreciate the charming and chill gameplay that enhances the overall ambiance, likening it to other successful titles while emphasizing its unique oceanic setting.
“The atmosphere lifted me off my chair.”
“I like the feel of it in terms of atmosphere; the ocean, the islands, and the titans all feel very coherent.”
“The musical score of Breakwaters deserves special mention, as it perfectly complements the serene atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game, still in early development, shows promise for an emotionally resonant experience, featuring a touching narrative centered on courage, friendship, and nature's power. Players are drawn into a meaningful journey as they uncover secrets and interact with intriguing characters, enhanced by breathtaking visuals and innovative gameplay. Overall, the emotional depth adds significant immersion and purpose to the gameplay.
“As you uncover the secrets of the underwater world, you'll encounter intriguing characters and unravel a touching story of courage, friendship, and the power of nature.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative adds an extra layer of immersion and gives purpose to your journey, making each discovery and interaction feel meaningful and impactful.”
“With its breathtaking visuals, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a heartfelt narrative, it offers an enchanting and unforgettable experience.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as very entertaining, with players finding the bugs to be amusing rather than frustrating, often describing the experience as a "hilarious buggy mess." Many users appreciate the lighthearted approach to the glitches, which are generally easy to resolve.
“Very funny game.”
“Be prepared for a hilarious buggy mess.”
“Plenty of bugs, all either funny or easy to fix with save and reset.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for misleading advertising, particularly regarding its multiplayer features, leading users to advise against purchasing until the game is fully functional.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with essential features locked behind paywalls.”
“It's frustrating to see so many in-game advantages tied to real money purchases, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending.”
“The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel like a cash grab.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's replayability may be limited at present, with many recommending waiting for future updates to enhance the experience before purchasing.
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
“The limited variety in missions and objectives really hampers replayability.”
