In the Darkness of the Sea
- February 1, 2017
- Olivier Leclair
Get on Steam"In the Darkness of the Sea" is a 2D-narrative game where players control a boy lost at sea in a lifeboat. Throughout the game, players must avoid menacing sea creatures and weather a powerful storm, all while being inspired by classic literary works such as "The Old Man and the Sea," "Life of Pi," and the illustrations of "Moby Dick" by Raymond Bishop. The game promises a hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a striking atmosphere with beautiful music and emotive visuals, creating a memorable experience.
- As a free game, it provides a worthwhile exploration of themes of loneliness and melancholy in a short time frame.
- The recent updates have improved the controls and resolved previous bugs, making it a more enjoyable experience.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 10 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There is a lack of clear mechanics and a tutorial, which can lead to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
- Some players have reported glitches and issues with gameplay, such as persistent deaths even when avoiding obstacles.
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its soothing and emotive qualities, effectively enhancing the poignant atmosphere of loneliness created by the visuals. Users describe it as beautiful and integral to the overall experience, contributing significantly to the game's artistic impact despite its short length.
“It starts off by suggesting a sense of serenity, carried over by a soothing musical theme and even more by a highly emotive visual aesthetic.”
“While this game (more like an interactive experience) is very, very short; it's a striking piece of art with really beautiful music to go along with it.”
“The black and white, simplistic character, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music make for a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a short while.”
“While the soundtrack aims for an emotional impact, it often falls flat and fails to resonate with the gameplay.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a poignant sense of loneliness, enhanced by its black and white visuals, realistic environments, and intense, melancholic music. Players appreciate the impactful and immersive experience, despite the game's brevity, highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotions through its dark and atmospheric setting.
“The black and white, simplistic characters, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music create a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
“Well-made game, and the atmosphere truly resonates with the player!”
“Short, but really atmospheric... I liked it.”
“The black and white, simplistic character, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music create a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
“Well-made game, but the atmosphere fails to engage the player as intended.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story in "In the Darkness of the Sea" is noted for its thought-provoking themes, but it suffers from a lack of direction and a definitive conclusion, leaving players feeling unsatisfied. While some appreciate the narrative, many criticize the game's execution, including its graphics and mechanics, which detract from the overall experience.
“In the Darkness of the Sea is a fun little story adventure game where you paddle your way through a storm on a little rowboat.”
“The story is one of those types that make you think about what it's trying to say.”
“The story is good, but it feels like it doesn't have an end; it just goes on.”
“The story is convoluted and leaves too many unanswered questions.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and lacking in depth.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a lack of clear instructions, leading to initial feelings of confusion and helplessness. Reviewers suggest that the game would benefit from a tutorial, more engaging mechanics, and a clearer narrative direction to enhance the overall experience.
“Then it cleverly lets you scramble at the start of every scene, by not explaining the few basic mechanics you need to move forward, thus evoking a sense of helplessness and confusion.”
“Then it cleverly lets you scramble at the start of every scene, by not explaining the few basic mechanics you need to move forward, and thus evoking a sense of helplessness and confusion.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as highly emotive and serene, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. However, some users criticize the overall quality, labeling the graphics as terrible and glitchy, which detracts from the experience despite a compelling story.
“It starts off by suggesting a sense of serenity, carried over by a soothing musical theme and even more by a highly emotive visual aesthetic.”
“Terrible game and terrible graphics. Good story but very glitchy, and the story doesn't have an end; it just goes on. Even if you don't hit a whale, you still die, so it's the worst game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability, with no significant bugs or glitches encountered during gameplay.
