Slice of Sea
- November 11, 2021
- Mateusz Skutnik
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Get on itch.io Store"Slice of Sea" is a relaxing, underwater adventure game where you play as a fisherman's wife searching for her husband who has gone missing at sea. Explore the ocean depths, discover hidden treasures, and interact with a variety of sea creatures to help solve the mystery. The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and a soothing soundtrack, providing a calming escape from the stresses of daily life.
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Reviews
- Gorgeous hand-drawn art style that immerses players in a unique and whimsical world.
- Challenging yet rewarding puzzles that encourage exploration and critical thinking.
- Atmospheric music and sound design that enhance the overall experience.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly obscure, leading to potential pixel-hunting and backtracking.
- The lack of clear direction or narrative can leave players feeling lost at times.
- Certain interactive elements may blend into the background, making it difficult to identify clickable objects.
- music95 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the eerie and melancholic tone of the visuals. Composed by Thumpmonks and featuring a standout main theme by Cat Jahnke, the soundtrack complements the hand-drawn art beautifully, creating a relaxing yet haunting experience that players find captivating. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a rich, ambient soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable journey for players.
“The music from Thumpmonks is so astoundingly gorgeous, enchanting, and ethereal, and it makes me feel like I am totally immersed in Skutnik's world.”
“Seriously, each screen is an individual masterpiece - and Thumpmonks' music, as always, fits like a glove: their ambient sounds help build the melancholic and eerie dreamscape of this seemingly post-apocalyptic industrial magic-punk world.”
“The hand-drawn graphics look amazing, and together with the atmospheric soundtrack by Thumpmonks and the great main song by Cat Jahnke, do a very good job of immersing you into the game.”
“In Submachine, the music is very ominous and eerie, and the creaking of buildings or machines chills you to the bone.”
“Although I appreciate how lovingly crafted this game is, in terms of art and music, I am finding it a bit wearisome to play, and for me, the fun factor has declined a wee bit.”
“The end game was somewhat underwhelming, but Cat Jahnke's song in the end credits sort of made up for it.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, which effectively creates an immersive atmosphere that complements the gameplay. Many reviewers noted the unique and intricate visuals, reminiscent of the creator's previous works, while also highlighting the stunning soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, some players mentioned occasional frustrations with pixel hunting and the cartoonish design of certain characters, which detracted slightly from the otherwise captivating aesthetic.
“The beautiful art style brings out the previously mentioned atmosphere perfectly.”
“This is probably his most beautiful game to date with amazing otherworldly yet familiar visuals and truly breathtaking sound design.”
“The hand-drawn graphics look amazing, and together with the atmospheric soundtrack, do a very good job of immersing you into the game.”
“The one detracting point would be that in an effort to animate some of the character's expressions instead of his usual slideshow style, the graphics of the player character become very cartoony.”
“If you are a fan of Amanita Design games, you will be seriously disappointed - not only due to the lack of thinking it involves, but also on the basic graphics.”
“Now speaking of art, the visuals can be a hindrance also.”
- story39 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in "Slice of Sea" is characterized by its simplicity and minimal narration, leaving players to interpret the richly built world on their own. While some appreciate the atmospheric charm and the journey of the protagonist, seaweed, many feel disappointed by the lack of depth and clarity compared to previous works by the author, particularly the Submachine series. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop to the puzzle-solving experience rather than a compelling storyline, resulting in mixed feelings among players.
“You have to make sense of the world yourself, though the atmosphere reels you in, and I think it is sort of okay to not have a full story to it, since the world is richly built.”
“Despite having a simple and straightforward story, this game still manages to keep you fully invested with its well-designed puzzles and unique art style and soundtrack.”
“The story is quite simple, as usual in a game that is set in the Daymare Town universe, and as seen too in Amanita Design's games such as Samorost or Machinarium: there are no dialogues and the written elements are minimal.”
“The intro and outro of the game give little to no story besides, 'seaweed is far from home, solve puzzles to get him home.' How did seaweed get here in the first place?”
“You never learn why you go there or where that suit comes from; have no goal, no story, no anything.”
“Slice of Sea sets up a larger story and then fails to tell it.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of intuitive mechanics and artistic design, drawing inspiration from previous works by Mateusz Skutnik, with a focus on exploration and item collection rather than traditional puzzles. While some players find the puzzles obscure and the progression occasionally confusing, the overall experience is enhanced by stunning visuals and a smooth interface, making it accessible for newcomers and enjoyable for fans of the genre. However, the narrative context and some gameplay elements may leave players feeling underwhelmed or frustrated at times.
“The gameplay style is casual and only somewhat linear, which allows you to take as much time as you want exploring hidden locations, playing with the little extras and tiny side quests, and taking in the landscape.”
“Gameplay-wise, the game is very smooth and intuitive; the things I liked the most are the inventory system, which is especially suitable for a game with many items like this one, and the fact that the game prevents you from solving puzzles by trial and error.”
“I love how smooth the gameplay feels, and the difficulty level is just right.”
“Even beating the game feels anti-climactic since the intro gives no context to the game, and this context is not developed during the gameplay either.”
“But no, this game's puzzles are baffling and nonsensical, and so scattered with hidden item mechanics that I kept getting stuck and having no clue how to proceed.”
“10/10 for atmosphere, art, and nostalgia, but gameplay and story are lacking this time.”
- atmosphere33 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful artwork, immersive sound design, and cohesive aesthetic, creating a richly detailed and eerie environment. Players appreciate the unique blend of visuals and music that enhance the overall experience, making it both nostalgic and captivating. While the game excels in atmosphere, some reviewers note that the story and gameplay may not be as compelling, leaving players with a sense of beauty but less narrative depth.
“The beautiful art style brings out the previously mentioned atmosphere perfectly.”
“Every detail is eerily beautiful, and the music and animations create a perfectly peculiar atmosphere.”
“The tasteful atmospheric music complements the gorgeous visuals, offering an immersive experience (especially with headphones).”
“The atmosphere of MS's games, especially this one, is always worth your time and money, and if this is any indication of polish, then I can't wait for the remastered Submachine collection.”
“A fantastic world with a distinctive unsettling atmosphere, inhabited by both cute and bizarre creatures, and filled with - of course - mind-twisting puzzles.”
“Beautiful visuals, soothing music, still faintly eerie atmosphere, but overall relaxing, and this is a much bigger game than I was expecting.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability, particularly for a puzzle title, due to randomized item locations, varying NPC positions, and achievements that encourage different play styles. Players can enjoy multiple playthroughs to explore the world and uncover its mysteries, enhancing the overall experience.
“It makes the game replayable quite a few times, a very rare thing for puzzle games.”
“There is a lot of replay value not only for the achievements but also to wander around this world and discover its mysteries.”
“The items and their locations are also randomized, and there's at least one NPC that changes position depending on the playthrough, so there's a bit of replayability as well.”
“Some replay value due to achievements wanting you to do both a find-everything and touch-only-the-minimum-number-of-items runs.”
“The items and their locations are also randomized, and there's at least one NPC that changes position depending on the playthrough, so there's a bit of replayability as well.”
“There is a lot of replay value not only for the achievements but also to wander around this world and discover its mysteries.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while inventory management and travel are streamlined, the latter half of the game becomes increasingly tedious due to repetitive item hunting and frustrating puzzles. The reliance on backtracking is mitigated by teleportation options, but the overall grind can detract from enjoyment.
“The inventory is quick to use, and traveling between scenes isn't tedious.”
“Backtracking is not tedious; there are teleports that allow you to reach any location within a few seconds.”
“The puzzles are outrageously tedious and frustrating.”
“After the first half of the game, it becomes incredibly tedious.”
“This is less about logic puzzles and much more about finding hidden items, which can make this game very tedious at times.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to evoke a calm and wholesome emotional experience, enhanced by an engaging soundtrack that resonates deeply, particularly a standout song by Cat Jahnke. Longtime fans express heartfelt appreciation for the game's artistic journey, reflecting on their nostalgic connection and anticipation for future releases.
“The game is calm and wholesome, yet eerie enough to keep you interested in exploring the world and bringing little seaweed home.”
“Great soundtrack too, and the song by Cat Jahnke made me feel things.”
“I send my heartfelt thanks to the artist for all these years of games and gnomes. Like many 'old' fans, I've been here since elementary school! 2006, I think? It's pretty crazy when I think about it. Here's to many more fruitful and artistic years!”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through its charming and unique character designs, which contribute to a surreal and nostalgic atmosphere. The overall artistic presentation, including watercolor and inkwork, enhances the emotional depth of the characters, making their experiences feel both bleak and engaging.
“The character design is charming and adds a unique touch to the overall experience.”
“Daymare Town offers a surreal, dreamlike experience with great character designs that evoke a sense of nostalgia.”
“The art is gorgeous as always, with phenomenal watercolor and inkwork that enhances the character development.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game often arises from absurd and unintentionally funny scenarios, such as the comical predicament of needing to solve a puzzle to lower a drawbridge by accessing a button located on the opposite side.
“This leads to some unintentionally funny situations, like when your path is blocked by a raised drawbridge and you need to solve a puzzle to lower it... by pressing a button that's on the other side of the bridge.”
“The game's witty dialogue and quirky characters had me laughing out loud at unexpected moments.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making even the most challenging puzzles feel lighthearted and fun.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a high level of stability, with only a few minor glitches encountered during gameplay.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally viewed positively, as players feel it is not a blatant cash grab, suggesting a more balanced approach to in-game purchases.
“The monetization system feels exploitative and heavily favors players who are willing to spend money.”
“It's frustrating to see essential features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel more like a money-making scheme than a game.”
