theBlu

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,731 reviews
  • graphics
  • replayability
  • gameplay
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"theBlu" is a single-player simulation game known for its fantastic graphics and excellent atmosphere. Players can explore underwater environments with high emotional impact through Preview Mode, which offers a shortened two-minute version of the Reef Migration or Luminous Abyss levels. Additional features include the option to toggle Preview Mode on or off and an Ambient Mode designated by an icon. Players are encouraged to report any issues or share their screenshots with [email protected].

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,731 reviews
graphics112 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and immersive underwater atmosphere that captivates players.
  • Great introductory experience for VR beginners, making it accessible for non-gamers.
  • Perfect for showcasing VR technology to friends and family, often leaving them in awe.
  • Very short experience, lasting only about 15-20 minutes, which may not justify the price.
  • Limited interactivity, primarily a passive experience with minimal gameplay elements.
  • Some players feel it should be priced lower, around $5, given the short content duration.
  • graphics158 mentions

    The graphics in this game are widely praised for their stunning realism and immersive quality, often described as breathtaking and near-photographic. While many users appreciate the beautiful underwater visuals and the potential they showcase for VR, some note that the experience is limited in interaction and duration, making it feel more like a demo than a full game. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, though opinions vary on their lasting impact and value for the price.

    • “The visuals are absolutely breathtaking!”
    • “Even 5 years later, this experience still has the most realistic and immersive underwater visuals I've ever seen.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and really show what can be achieved in VR.”
    • “Aside from that, theblu is a wee bit dated in its graphic presentation (so 2017), but aside from that it is polished and deliberate in what it presents.”
    • “No game at all, and the graphics are pretty poor.”
    • “Well it's nice but it's just a demo, you cannot do anything except wait and watch; nice but short, guess 20 minutes and you're done; wouldn't buy it again since 10€ is just a punch in the face for a graphics demo.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its extremely low replayability, with many users noting that it offers little beyond the initial experience. While the visuals and production quality are praised, the lack of interactive content and scripted sequences limit the game's value for repeated play. It is often recommended primarily as a VR demo for newcomers rather than a game to revisit.

    • “Limited replayability and short, but a stunning experience nevertheless.”
    • “It's short and not very interactive or 'replayable', but it's almost always the first 'game' that I show people to demonstrate VR -- because it's memorable and has a great sense of presence.”
    • “Maybe not a ton of replayability but incredibly beautiful and realistic in VR.”
    • “There's no replayability - it's the same scripted sequences as far as I can tell.”
    • “But as a regular user, I wouldn't use it more than 30 minutes as you have seen everything then and the replayability is low.”
    • “The experiences in the game are great, but you can't really do more than push things around as far as interacting with things go, and other than that, in my opinion, there's just not enough content for the $10 USD price and little replayability.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay is minimal and primarily consists of interactive elements like poking sea anemones and fish, which react to player input. While some users appreciate the immersive experience and beautiful environments, many emphasize that it lacks traditional gameplay mechanics, describing it more as an interactive experience rather than a game. Overall, the gameplay is considered too short and limited, leaving players wanting more content.

    • “Even though there is no real gameplay (except for punching sea anemones), this is an outstanding game and I was in awe during all three experiences.”
    • “There is no gameplay as such; however, you can poke fish and they'll swim away, anemones close when being touched, etc. You can unlock two features (inspector and ambient mode) by playing through each episode; the first allows you to take snapshots and slow time; the second is basically an 'endless mode' where the experience doesn't stop.”
    • “That sound, there are interactive mechanics that offer grounding in the beautiful environments (try touching the anemones on the reef!)”
    • “No gameplay, just sit or stand and take in the several minute long experience for each episode.”
    • “After two patches, the game's peak of gameplay is touching something and having the controller vibrate.”
    • “This is purely an experience, though, not a game, unless you count poking jellyfish and sea anemones as gameplay.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere in this VR experience is widely praised for its stunning and immersive underwater environments, complemented by well-crafted music and polished graphics. Reviewers highlight the total immersion and lively animations of underwater creatures, making it an ideal introduction to virtual reality for newcomers. Overall, the experience sets a high standard for atmospheric VR content.

    • “This VR experience offers a stunning underwater atmosphere that is perfect for those new to virtual reality.”
    • “Total immersion in a series of atmospheric underwater environments.”
    • “Amazing atmosphere and animation of the underwater critters.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the experience is highlighted by its stunning visuals and the visceral reactions elicited from interacting with marine life, such as touching jellyfish and encountering a blue whale. While the level of interactivity is minimal, the awe and beauty of the environments create memorable moments that resonate deeply with players, making it feel more like an emotional journey than a traditional game. Overall, it leaves a lasting impact, evoking strong feelings of wonder and connection to the underwater world.

    • “This is not a game, but an awesome (and for me emotional) VR experience.”
    • “Touching the jellyfish and feeling the touch through the controller... it took me a week to get back the breath it took out of me.”
    • “Surprisingly, between this and three bundled games the headset ships with, The Blu was the most visceral, emotional, and awe-inspiring for everyone I showed it to, including me.”
  • story14 mentions

    The reviews do not provide specific insights into the story of the game, focusing instead on technical aspects and user experiences with the Oculus Quest 2. However, there is a mention of an ocean-themed adventure that seems to captivate players, suggesting an engaging narrative element related to exploration. Overall, the story aspect remains underexplored in the provided texts.

    • “I just got my first VR glasses yesterday (Oculus Quest 2) and I was always interested in the ocean. After reading the first couple of reviews regarding this spectacular adventure, I took the chance and gave it a go.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has seen significant improvements, with many users noting a massive performance boost compared to previous months. However, some players experience frame drops that can lead to discomfort, particularly on lower-end hardware, despite the game being well-paced and visually impressive. While the graphics are among the best for the Vive, the "performance per dollar" ratio has been criticized.

    • “Again, what's here is very well paced, animated, modeled, and optimized; clearly a lot of talent went into this entire project.”
    • “Massive performance boost compared to months ago.”
    • “I am running i5-6600k with 16 GB RAM and 980 Ti and with no performance issues.”
    • “While I do not regret the money, I admit that the 'performance per dollar' is bad.”
    • “(8.0 SteamVR performance test) drops a lot of frames, so much so that it becomes uncomfortable.”
    • “After having a sometimes rocky experience with the content or performance of some games, it is always worth the angst to be able to return to theblu.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and atmospheric fit, with ambient tracks and sound effects that effectively immerse players in the environment. Overall, it enhances the gaming experience by drawing players deeper into the game's world.

    • “The music is very well done and fits the atmosphere.”
    • “The ambient music, sound effects, and movement of the environments really allow you to get sucked into it.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game has been noted for its enjoyable experience, but it suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs that allow fish to swim through solid objects like rocks.

    • “This was a nice experience, although it was buggy and fish swim through rocks and such.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy for the game has been criticized for its misleading advertising, as it promotes "the first three episodes" while failing to deliver any additional content for over two years. This has led to frustration among users who feel misled about the game's ongoing development and potential expansions.

    • “The developer is literally advertising 'the first three episodes of theblu..', which implies additional episodes; two years on now and no new content.”
    • “The developer is literally advertising 'the first three episodes of theblu..', which implies additional episodes; two years on now and no new content.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from the reactions of friends experiencing it for the first time, which can be quite entertaining. However, players with extensive VR experience may find the humor less engaging over time, leading to a sense of boredom.

    • “It's hilarious to watch the expressions on your friends' faces when they experience this for the first time!”
    • “The humor in this game really shines through, especially when you see how it surprises newcomers.”
    • “The comedic moments are a joy, making it a fun experience to share with friends.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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