Even the Ocean

More straightforward than the other Analgesic games I've played, but no less of a perfect shot right into my heart, Melos and Marina have done it yet again with this one. It seems that regardless of the exact flavour of the style that's approached with these games, a lot of core facets stay intact that lend themselves to the completely one of a kind identity they're steeped in. In this case we have something far more verbose and easy to grasp on a surface level compared to the typically expected cryptic nature that shines through, but it's one with enough depth and nuance to it to really stick with you, or in my case, make me cry a little. The way this is balanced with the deeply evocative, ethereal atmosphere and a lot of fascinating explorative mechanical tendencies is what ultimately make Even the Ocean a very special game for me. I'd say that the most immediately striking aspect of this game is how unique its systems are despite the game being near nonstop feeling in its dialogue, with the typical expectation of this being a purely narrative focus being subverted. The game certainly is rich in its phenomenal writing, but the way that the basic platforming is handled and how th…

Amazing story, needs to be told and experienced, especially now (i imagine it will need to be continually retold in the future as well). Balance! Great game. Props to Melos and Marina for bringing this project to life with the care it deserved.

Light and dark entwine Balance steadies every heart Hope restores the world

A fun little game with an incredibly moving ending! The puzzle design was genius, new mechanics for each area were introduced in a way that felt both intuitive and fun. I never once felt like the game was holding my hand when it came to each level's challenges. Each mechanic was unique and built upon each other in very fun ways. The story is very much like a visual novel, with the player having little to no agency. So many NPC stories felt like there should be more to explore/discover. Sadly, if there was a way to do so, I wasn't able to figure out how. Any actions you take don't impact the world/plot in any meaningful way beyond what was predestined by the devs. Not to say this is a negative! From the beginning, Even the Ocean was presented as a story, with the first character you meet being named the "storyteller." If you enjoy that sort of experience, the story was quite well written! If you don't, there is a mode where you can just play the puzzles. My only disappointment was that the world felt like it had so much more to offer than what was given to us. The art design was amazing, with every you place you explore having its own fun, unique vibe. TLDR: Even the Ocean was a v…

Even the Ocean contains some of the most creative 2D puzzle platforming levels I've ever played (enough that I hope Analgesic will revisit side-scrollers in the future). While I found the ending too didactic and sentimental, the story has its heart in the right place and offers plenty of emotional and intellectual depth throughout. And as is typical with Analgesic Productions' titles, Even the Ocean feels generous: in addition to accommodating many playstyles/preferences, the devs take great pleasure in drawing back the curtain and revealing their behind-the-scenes process. Great game.

the last scene its absolute cinema