Ocean's Heart

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,196 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Ocean's Heart Game Cover
Hankering for a great indie 2D Zelda? Here’s one for you.
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"Ocean's Heart" is a top-down action adventure game with RPG elements. Players explore a vast ocean, uncovering secrets and battling enemies as they search for their missing father. The game features crafting, character development, and underwater exploration with a charming pixel art style.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,196 reviews
story167 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions
  • Charming and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic Zelda games.
  • Engaging exploration with plenty of secrets and side quests.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a delightful soundtrack.
  • Controls can be clunky and frustrating, especially with the roll and interact button being the same.
  • Combat lacks challenge and can feel trivial due to abundant healing items.
  • The story and dialogue can be weak, with some characters feeling one-dimensional.
  • story523 mentions

    The story of "Ocean's Heart" is generally regarded as light and straightforward, often compared to classic Zelda games, with a mix of humor and charm. While some players appreciate the engaging side quests and world-building, many find the main narrative lacking depth and coherence, with a few noting that the dialogue can be amusing yet sometimes undermines the story's seriousness. Overall, the game offers a fun exploration experience, but its plot may not be the primary draw for players.

    • “It has an interesting and engaging story with creative locations, quests, puzzles, and enemies.”
    • “The main story is wonderful and the dialogue is fun and sometimes snarky, and I love it!”
    • “Very reminiscent of early Legend of Zelda games with an engaging story, various puzzles, and surprisingly silly dialogue that startled a laugh out of me a time or two without distracting from the story itself.”
    • “The game's inability to take anything seriously hurts the story.”
    • “The story is, unfortunately, the weakest part of the game.”
    • “The plot is basically your dad leaves to do things and after six months you decide to do something about it.”
  • gameplay258 mentions

    The gameplay of "Ocean's Heart" is heavily inspired by classic Zelda titles, featuring a familiar top-down perspective, exploration, and item collection, which many players find nostalgic and enjoyable. While the mechanics are generally satisfying and the game offers a decent amount of content, some players note issues with controls, inventory management, and a lack of challenge, particularly in boss encounters. Overall, the game is seen as a solid homage to the Zelda series, with a charming aesthetic and engaging world, though it could benefit from more innovative mechanics and polish.

    • “The main draw to this game is the gameplay.”
    • “Great pacing, familiar gameplay with new mechanics, and generally a lighthearted atmosphere.”
    • “With that old-school Legend of Zelda vibe in both gameplay and art style, add in some unique twists and takes, and couple it with an immersive world, and you really have a recipe for success.”
    • “The gameplay is clunky/sluggish and the story is very bland and linear.”
    • “Bosses don't use unique mechanics related to the tools you've picked up - they're just zergs...assuming your opening lightning spell doesn't one-shot them or they don't get stuck on a piece of terrain.”
    • “By having an uncapped number of healing items that are used from a pause menu, you so dramatically undermine the risk of combat that the main gameplay features are undone.”
  • music210 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its charm, catchiness, and ability to evoke nostalgia reminiscent of classic Zelda titles. While some tracks are described as memorable and beautifully fitting the game's atmosphere, others note that the music can become repetitive and lacks distinct themes for certain encounters, such as boss battles. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered a highlight, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some criticisms regarding volume levels and repetitiveness.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing--usually I listen to a podcast or what-not while playing games, but I have been deeply immersed in the lovely music of Ocean's Heart.”
    • “The music will live rent-free in your head for a few days after finishing the game, as all good midi-style soundtracks ought to.”
    • “Coupled with an excellent soundtrack and fascinating side characters, the game world appears expansive and rich in detail.”
    • “The worst part of the music, by far, was that there is no miniboss or boss theme.”
    • “Areas I visited had the same music loop repeating for what felt like every 30 seconds, and the music sounds the same between areas as well.”
    • “The music is sort of forgettable; it's not that the soundtrack is bad, just that there is not one standout piece to me.”
  • graphics155 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cute and nostalgic pixel art style, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles like "A Link to the Past" and "Minish Cap." While many reviewers appreciate the colorful and detailed visuals, some note issues with performance and battery drain, suggesting that the graphics may be more demanding than expected for a 2D game. Overall, the art style is considered charming and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some criticisms regarding sprite quality and control responsiveness.

    • “Ocean's Heart is a fantastic game with good pixel graphics and pretty neat combat.”
    • “The pixel graphics and animation are superbly done and bring a lot of life to the game.”
    • “I love the colorful and simple yet beautiful art style.”
    • “The worst part by far, in my opinion, is the terrible performance relative to the graphics.”
    • “Battery drain was equally bad and consumed battery similar to a graphical 3D title.”
    • “The graphics are fine, but as other reviews have noted, the controls make the game just unpleasant to play.”
  • humor111 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the charming and witty dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be consistently enjoyable and well-integrated into the gameplay, others felt that the self-aware snarkiness and occasional flat jokes detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines light-hearted humor with engaging exploration, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its comedic elements.

    • “I quite enjoyed Tilia's sort of deadpan, matter-of-fact humor a lot of the time, and I definitely had plenty of smirks and full-on, actual, laugh-out-loud moments with the game.”
    • “The game's art style is great, and I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor that is sprinkled all over the game; I really enjoyed playing this.”
    • “The world feels lived in and well-rounded, the humor is dry and witty, and the action is just difficult enough to be challenging without being overbearing or repetitive.”
  • grinding32 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find it fluid and engaging with minimal grinding required, others describe certain elements as tedious, particularly in terms of resource farming and navigating the expansive world. Fast travel helps alleviate some of the backtracking, but the experience can still feel grindy for those seeking a more streamlined adventure.

    • “It's a very fluid game with a lot of resources that require almost no grinding.”
    • “It's a very fluid game with a lot of resources that require almost no grinding.”
    • “You don't find hearts around and instead have to use items, so you'll find yourself farming the areas where you collect the few there are, or you just die and restart to get 3 hearts.”
    • “I understand that it's a new IP and doesn't have the pre-existing lore that Zelda does, but it is just tedious and annoying.”
    • “Traveling from place to place can get tedious even with the fast travel system in place.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and lack of engaging mechanics that would encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players found enough enjoyment and humor to consider a rerun after some time, the consensus is that the game does not offer significant replay value, scoring around 2/10 in this aspect.

    • “While I wouldn't say this game has replayability, if I could play it again for the first time, I would.”
    • “It's well worth the time it takes to romp through, and while the replay value is moderate at best, I think there is enough humor and substance to warrant a rerun after the dust of a few months has settled.”
    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “The less than good stuff: consumable items were eh (I don't think I used any of the special bombs, arrows, or potions outside of healing), spells were either obtained so late in the game or had little function that they were fairly forgettable, all enemies and bosses were pretty much just whack it with your sword, puzzles were pretty simple, at least for me, not much replay value.”
    • “That's not really good for replay value, because there doesn't seem to be any other replay-related mechanic.”
    • “Not too much replay value, because it's fairly linear, but I feel I got my money's worth of entertainment.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The game has been widely reported as unstable, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, such as phasing through NPCs and unexpected damage from monsters. While some players noted only minor issues, the overall consensus is that these stability problems detract from the experience and hinder recommendations. Improvements in stability could significantly enhance the game's potential.

    • “It seems to be a common problem, which is apparently due to the engine's controller API that is buggy, which kind of sucks.”
    • “The game is quite buggy, e.g. phasing through walking NPCs, monsters damaging you upon entering an area.”
    • “I had a few glitches and crashes throughout.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming and lighthearted qualities, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, with excellent world-building, beautiful pixel art, and fitting music that enhances the exploration experience. While the game excels in creating an engaging environment, some players feel it struggles with gameplay and story elements, which may detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, those who prioritize atmosphere, exploration, and collection will find it a delightful and captivating adventure.

    • “Great pacing, familiar gameplay with new mechanics, and generally a lighthearted atmosphere.”
    • “Music fits the theme and atmosphere of the environments you explore, and the pixel art graphics are terrific.”
    • “However, although the overall atmosphere and the secondary aspects of the game (i.e. side quests, tangentially-important NPCs) are well designed, Ocean's Heart struggles with its heart and soul: gameplay and story.”
    • “The overall atmosphere and the presentation will capture the attention of anyone who has had even a casual relationship with the classic Zelda releases.”
    • “But if story, exploration, atmosphere, and collection are more what you look for in this type of game, then I wholeheartedly recommend Ocean's Heart.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering during gameplay, particularly after intense actions. While some users find it manageable on lower-end PCs, others report crashes and poor design that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major drawback, impacting the enjoyment of the game despite its other merits.

    • “It's well optimized for casual gamers like me who don't like very hard games.”
    • “It's great compared to games in this generation, not outstanding in performance, but still impressive.”
    • “My other problem is that it is very optimized for a small screen and d-pad.”
    • “The worst part by far, in my opinion, is the terrible performance relative to the graphics.”
    • “Not sure if it's my computer or just poor optimization, but the game will stutter after taking big hits or giving big hits.”
    • “Can't recommend something that relies on dodging to play but also has this stuttering issue.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while the writing is noted for its humor and heartfelt moments, the sidequests lack depth and engagement, which may leave players feeling disappointed. Despite some frustrations, the overall experience evokes a desire to return, highlighting the game's ability to resonate emotionally despite its shortcomings.

    • “The combat is good, the writing is funny but heartfelt when it needs to be, and the pixel art is beautiful.”
    • “It would be easy to note right upfront all the things about Ocean's Heart that left me wanting, but I think that it's telling that instead of going that route, I would much rather share how the game made me feel and respond.”
    • “The real issue is that I can't imagine anyone honestly describing the side quests as particularly engaging, let alone 'heart-wrenching', and if you come to this game expecting that, you're going to be sorely disappointed.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it fails to deliver quality compared to similar titles. Additionally, there are complaints about misleading advertising regarding controller support, as many buttons do not function properly.

    • “The controls are mapped awfully, there are barely any settings, and this all adds up to what this game amounts to: a cash grab LTTP clone that pales in comparison.”
    • “Advertising full controller support when half the buttons don't function is an issue.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is notably strong, particularly highlighted by the guard's journey in searching for inner strength. Players appreciate the integration of humor, secrets, and sidequests that enrich the narrative and provide depth beyond the main objectives. Overall, the small development team has crafted a compelling experience that enhances player engagement.

    • “I'm super impressed with how small the team is that made it for such a good product, and really enjoyed the secrets, the side quests, the humor in the dialogue, the character development of the guard searching for inner strength, and the random elements that broke up the straightforward 'go here and do this, now come back and do this' energy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
8-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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