If you've always fancied donning a swimsuit and swimming amongst tropical reefs, gazing in wonder at marvelous aquatic creatures but have neither the inclination nor resources to do so, then Endless Ocean from japanese studio Arika could be the game for you.
Set in a pacific atoll of unparalled ... Read review
Swim, interact, and observe! Experience the wonders of the ocean through Wii.Explore the ... more
ocean with unprecedented freedom in Endless Ocean. Interact with a huge variety of sea creatures, teach new techniques to your dolphin partners and try to become a first rate diving guide. The freedom to create your own personal diving experience is in your hands so come and explore the natural world like never before.Exploration: Explore the mysterious depths!Observation: Observe a multitude of sea creatures!Training: Train your partner!Friendship: Dive with a friend!Go for a relaxing dive with a friend, using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Requires a broadband internet connection.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:Out of stock
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Advantages: Terrific graphics, lots to explore, you're diving! Disadvantages: You'll either love it or find it incredibly dull
...resources to do so, then Endless Ocean from japanese studio Arika could be the game for you.
Set in a pacific atoll of unparalled and unpolluted beauty, you play the part of a professional diver embarking on your fledgling career. Taking the helm of a small boat with only a friend and colleague named Catherine for company, you begin to explore the multitude of caves, reefs and even ancient, ruined civilizations as part of your job ... ...you're looking for explosions, dog-fights or aliens to splatter against walls then you had better look elsewhere. This game has been designed with relaxation and serenity in mind.
The gameplay consists of diving into the crystal-clear waters and interacting with an abundant and diverse array of sea-life. The controls are simplicity defined - point the wii-mote in the direction you want to swim, press and hold the 'B' button (the trigger ... more
If you've always fancied donning a swimsuit and swimming amongst tropical reefs, gazing in wonder at marvelous aquatic creatures but have neither the inclination nor resources to do so, then Endless Ocean from japanese studio Arika could be the game for you.
Set in a pacific atoll of unparalled and unpolluted beauty, you play the part of a professional diver embarking on your fledgling career. Taking the helm of a small boat with only a friend and colleague named Catherine for company, you begin to explore the multitude of caves, reefs and even ancient, ruined civilizations as part of your job working for the Oceanic Institute.
If you're looking for explosions, dog-fights or aliens to splatter against walls then you had better look elsewhere. This game has been designed with relaxation and serenity in mind.
The gameplay consists of diving into the crystal-clear waters and interacting with an abundant and diverse array of sea-life. The controls are simplicity defined - point the wii-mote in the direction you want to swim, press and hold the 'B' button (the trigger button) and your diver will swim lazily in that direction. Release 'B' to stop and tread-water - useful for exploring nooks and crannies on the sea-bed or just to take in the underwater view. If pressing 'B' is even too much like hard work then you can activate the auto-swim function so all you have to do is point. How lazy is that? Auto-swim stops when you press any button on the wii-mote - rather like cruise control for divers.
If you see a fish (or other species) you want to interact with, press 'A' and your divers vision automatically tracks the animal. Shaking the wii-mote to and fro allows you to pat or stroke it until a small information-panel appears telling you the name of the fish amongst other pertinent facts. It's like a living encyclopedia that you collate yourself. Any species you interact with in this way is added to a species book located in the cabin of your boat where you can peruse at your leisure without having to worry about your air running out (that is, unless you hold your breath while reading).
The underwater graphics have been quite brilliantly rendered with convincing aquatic landscapes and marine life. As you slowly glide through the water, shoals of fish move and parry around you. You can zoom into parts of the sea-bed to investigate pieces of coral for example and as you do so, small particles of matter or sand drift laconically in your wake. Breaking the surface and water droplets stream down your mask. A small shower of bubbles in the distance alerts you to the presence of a new species of fish and as you approach, the suns filtered rays catch their silvery scales. It's extraordinary really and unlike any other gaming experience I've had. Arika have done an excellent job of capturing the atmosphere and ambience of this underwater treasure-trove. The fish move with convincing fluidity and while a little 'angular' in places, they are terrific representations of their real-life counterparts. The above-water graphics let the side down a little though. The moving sea is not-so brilliantly captured and the boat is a weird yacht / catamaran / schooner hybrid. The controls, while on the whole very responsive, can be a little clumsy in places and it's sometimes hard to get in the correct position to see what you want to see.
There *is* a story to follow but progress is entirely at your own discretion. Talking to Catherine (who can't swim by-the-way and spends the entire time wearing a life-jacket - why did she get a job on a boat you have to wonder) will glean subtle clues as to what to do next but it is up to you whether you follow her advice or not. Occasionally, the Ocean Institute will ask you to accompany a fellow diving enthusiast and this usually entails you having to show them a particular species. Completing these mini-tasks rewards you with new equipment or other item. You can even befriend a dolphin who will perform tricks in response to some simple commands. Yeah, it sounds a little hokey but it's good fun none-the-less. While underwater, you can scatter food around you in a bid to tempt fish towards your position. As you progress through the game, an underwater camera becomes available and you can take pictures that are developed and viewed later which is great fun.
Sound, as you'd expect from what is essentially a diving simulator, is sparse but ethereal and atmospheric (there's that word again). Your breathing apparatus provides the main bulk of the sound but you can always listen to the in-game music (all of it seemingly inspired by the works of Enya) or alternatively, use an SD card and play your own MP3's. Somehow though, playing this game to a band like Slipknot or System of a Down just doesn't seem right. Occasionally you will hear whale-song or the distinctive click-click of a dolphin. The sound is functional but very much plays second-fiddle to the graphics.
There is plenty to explore and in-scale, I would guess, covers much more than a few miles of sea-bed. However, it is *so* sedate and leisurely, it runs the risk of becoming boring. Luckily, the story line seems to intrude at just the right moment to give you the impetus (however gentle) to continue. Discovering new species is a definite joy (seeing a turtle or dolphin swim by for the first time is quite amazing) but there seems little point in finding more information about a species from when you first discover them (which you can do by interacting more with them). Sure, there's a certain trainspotting-type obsession with filling your species book but to keep going back to the same species does drag a bit. Incidentally, many of the species from your growing encyclopedia can be placed in your own private aquarium where you can view and swim with at leisure.
There's a fascinating online-mode where you can swim through the ocean with a friend. Using the d-pad on the wii-mote to utter common phrases ('look at this', 'swim over here' etc) and even using a pen to draw in the sea, this does extend the game a bit and allows you to share your discoveries. There is no discernible lag which is quite a wonder considering the size of the environment.
In conclusion, it's visually wonderful but above-all, it's a most relaxing game to play - perfect for winding down to after a hard day's work. Whether it's going to satisfy your adrenaline fix is another matter completely. You'll either find something like this absorbing and interesting or it's going to make you run to the nearest super-alien-death-kill-splatter-fest game. I must admit, this kind of game is totally up-my-street and in fact, was the first one I bought for the Wii - I haven't been disappointed. My 8 year-old daughter wasn't really interested in it at first but has put down her WWE wrestling game long enough to be charmed by the games quirky nature. Now, fish 'n' chips or the vegetarian option anyone?
Can be found at the usual retailers (Amazon, Play.com) for about 18 quid - great value in my opinion.
Advantages: It's unique, there's no other game like it Disadvantages: Graphics are inconsistent, not in everybody's taste
...==
Considering the seemingly endless yearly parade of sports games and licensed game sequels being released, you'd be forgiven for thinking that there's not much room left for originality in today's video game market. There may not be much room, but games such as Endless Ocean--in which your goal is little more than to scuba dive at your leisure--prove that there are still some truly unique games being produced. Endless Ocean is also a difficult ... ...: The Game ==
Endless Ocean takes place off the coast of the fictitious island of Manoa Lai. You're a no-name scuba diver for whom gameplay begins on a sailboat with a young woman named Kat. She gives you all the details on what you'll be doing in your time at sea. You'll start off by exploring a few shallow reef areas where you learn the game's simple controls. All you have to do is point the Wii Remote at part of the screen, press a button to ...
x__Amz.Loves.Harry__x 20.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Endless Ocean (Wii)
Advantages: A quirky idea, superb for an interactive education of the sea Disadvantages: Little plot, slow
...more.
I therefore approached Endless Ocean with a degree of skepticism, dare I say it snobbery. There was no way a computer game could come close to replicating the experience of gliding through the water, each fin-stroke taking you further into that mysterious world. Was there?
In a word, no. But Endless Ocean does deliver an interesting idea in an engaging and unique way.
The plot, as far as there is one, involves the player exploring the Manaurai ... ...Technically I would best describe Endless Ocean as elegant and soothing. If you want action and end-of-level bosses, you'll be disappointed. This is a game that unfolds slowly. Visually, the rendering of the underwater environment is superb, as is the way in which the marine life interacts with the player and its environment. Shoals of fish swim in unison, sharks lurk indifferently and anemones sway gently.
The game has its own soundtrack, a collection ...
DancingCopper 23.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Endless Ocean (Wii)
...ocean with unprecedented freedom in Endless Ocean. Swim through the beautiful water and get to know the inhabitants of the sea… Relax, and enter a world where you can forget about the hectic routine of your everyday life."
The above words are from the introduction of the manual - and by god, they speak the truth!
The minute you boot up the game to the serenading voice that is Hayley Westenra's, you know you're in for a different type of game. This ... ...your hectic life". Well done Endless Ocean, now for the round up!
GRAPHICS: 8.5/10
The underwater graphics (compared to other Wii games) are beautiful but the above water pre-rendered horrors put me off of a 9 or a 10.
AUDIO: 8/10
Ok-ish tunes but the ability to put on own music pushes the score up to a 8.
GAMEPLAY: 9/10
Relaxing and generally open - ended it gets a definite 9.
INNOVATION: 7/10
Good Wii Remote controls and fantastic online ...
oblivion252 09.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Endless Ocean (Wii)
Advantages: Astonishingly brilliant graphics Disadvantages: Seems to be no set goals
My brother borrowed Endless Ocean off one of his friends and being the great big sister I offered to play on it with him for a bit the other night.
Your character for the entire game is a diver and your task as far as I can tell is to complete as many dives as possible and complete small missions. The game begins with you getting the option to choose your character. Now I have to admit that the options here are limited and to be honest you only ... ...are Hayley Westenra's Prayer and Endless Oceans own Embrace Manaurai. Both of these songs are relaxing, Prayer being my favourite and really do help to transport you to the underwater paradise being depicted. My opinion is however that the game really doesn't make the most of its potential. The addition of more song choices, voices for the characters and a set long term game plan would have made the game much more enjoyable. I am not however writing ...
MI9to5 26.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Endless Ocean (Wii)
Advantages: great graphics, peaceful and relaxing Disadvantages: not huge amount of variation
I got this game on the recommendation of several people on a computer games forum that I frequent. I was initially quite sceptical about it because it didn't seem to have much to do, no real missions as such or any real aim to it. However after a while I relented and went halves with my girlfriend.
Our first impressions when we started, were how cheesy the graphics looked, you are presented with a boat and a couple of characters who look like bad ... ...moment we entered the water and saw the real graphics of the game. Below the surface, the graphics are nothing short of beautiful, the lighting, the textures, the colours every just look so inviting and natural. You really do feel like you are beneath the waves enjoying the incredible sea world.
As you complete more and more dives, you will discover more and more different species which you can interact with, feeding them and stroking them. As you ...
valve90210 16.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Endless Ocean (Wii)
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Advantages: Fun for everyone. Easy, intuitive controls. Good Graphics :P Disadvantages: Internet setup complicated. No DVD playback.
't there. Although, I have heard that Nintendo are planning on releasing a PS2 EyeToy-style camera to do that very thing. Don't quote me on that but if it's true, we'll definitely be looking into getting one of those.
At Christmas, we decided to expand our games collection a little and we've all got our favourites. When my daughter isn't winning the WWE Championship, she's building entire towns in Sims. The missus is now an International Three-Day Event Champion on Pippa Funnels Ranch Rescue and when I'm not snowboarding down a mountain, I'm a guitar rock-god in Guitar Hero 3 or scuba-diving in the South Pacific in EndlessOcean (a perfect game to unwind to after a hard day at work). And of course, we all still play on the Wii Sports game which has to be the greatest free-game in the history of free-gaminess. Great fun.
And that ...
4ku-Papa 02.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nintendo Wii
