Under The Waves

The narrative of Under The Waves is widely praised for its emotional depth and thematic richness, with many critics highlighting its exploration of grief, environmentalism, and personal trauma. Adventure Game Hotspot and GamesRadar+ both commend the game’s poignant handling of loss and its poetic imagery, while Gameblog.fr and Game Rant emphasize the heartfelt character dynamics and the protagonist Stan’s journey toward redemption. The story’s focus on ecological themes is also lauded, with IGN France noting its mature and engaging approach to solitude and ecology, and The Guardian appreciating its affecting portrayal of climate vandalism and corporate greed. Critics like GamesRadar+ and GameSpew praise the narrative’s ability to evoke empathy through Stan’s struggles, while Metro GameCentral and Push Square highlight its atmospheric storytelling and introspective tone. These reviews collectively underscore the game’s strength in creating a resonant, emotionally charged experience. However, several critics point to flaws in execution, particularly around pacing, messaging, and narrative cohesion. Adventure Game Hotspot criticizes the rushed ending, while IGN Spain and COGconnected note that the environmental themes can feel heavy-handed or overly didactic. TheGamer and CD-Action express frustration with the story’s lack of focus, citing unclear motivations for Stan’s actions and a disjointed delivery of its messages. Additionally, some reviewers, like Hobby Consolas and Games.cz, mention that the emotional impact falls short despite the game’s ambitious themes, while INVEN and Noisy Pixel point to issues with tonal consistency or minimal player interaction in cutscenes. These critiques suggest that while the narrative is compelling, its execution occasionally undermines its potential. Overall, the critical reception of Under The Waves leans heavily toward admiration for its emotional resonance and thematic ambition, though it faces some criticism for uneven pacing and messaging. While outlets like Gameblog.fr, Game Rant, and TechRadar Gaming praise its heartfelt storytelling and character-driven narrative, others such as TheGamer and CD-Action highlight its flaws in focus and execution. Despite these contradictions, the consensus is that Under The Waves succeeds as a thought-provoking, emotionally impactful experience, with many critics agreeing that its strengths—particularly its exploration of grief and environmentalism—make it a worthwhile journey despite its imperfections.

The gameplay of Under The Waves is widely praised for its immersive exploration and atmospheric design, with many critics highlighting its focus on environmental interaction and freedom. Adventure Game Hotspot emphasizes the "immersive" nature of the experience, centered around collecting and exploring, while GamesRadar+ notes the blend of interactive narrative and open-world exploration that offers players a sense of control and discovery. TheGamer appreciates the "enjoyable gameplay cycle," and TheXboxHub praises the freeroam diving and submarine mechanics as relaxing and engaging. Additionally, Finger Guns describes the game as providing a "meditative experience" through its emphasis on light survival elements and checklist-like tasks, while TierraGamer highlights the solitary yet active underwater exploration that keeps players engaged through varied daily objectives. These positives collectively underscore the game’s strengths in creating a contemplative, exploratory atmosphere. However, several critics point to repetitive mechanics and underdeveloped systems as significant drawbacks. Adventure Game Hotspot and GamingBolt both note that the gameplay can become "repetitive" and lacks meaningful puzzles, while Guardian criticizes the "pointless" crafting system, as necessary items are often conveniently placed. Jeuxvideo.com and IGN France mention issues like broken map markers, vague objectives, and a "disappointing" exploration experience for the setting. Technical flaws also surface frequently: Metro GameCentral calls the submarine controls "clumsy," and Screen Rant highlights "clunky" mechanics and odd animations. Additionally, many reviewers, including Gameblog.fr and VGC, point to minimalistic or unfocused design choices, such as overly simplistic crafting systems or a lack of depth in survival elements, which detract from the overall experience. These criticisms suggest that while the game’s core concept is appealing, its execution falls short in several key areas. Despite these mixed reactions, the overall consensus among critics leans toward appreciation for Under The Waves as a unique, atmospheric exploration title, even if it has notable flaws. While some, like Game Rant and GamePro Germany, acknowledge that the gameplay is "enough to keep players engaged," others, such as IGN Spain and COGconnected, note that its slow pacing and limited action elements may not appeal to all. The game’s emphasis on solitude and environmental storytelling resonates with several reviewers, including But Why Tho? and CD-Action, who highlight its ability to evoke a sense of loneliness and immersion. However, the recurring complaints about repetition, technical issues, and underdeveloped mechanics suggest that Under The Waves is a polarizing experience—praised for its ambition and charm but hindered by its lack of depth and polish. Ultimately, it seems to be a game that prioritizes mood over challenge, leaving players with a mixed but often reflective impression.

The majority of reviewers praise Under the Waves for its visually striking and immersive art direction, highlighting its ability to create a captivating underwater environment. Adventure Game Hotspot and Gameblog.fr commend the game’s blend of cartoony and realistic elements, with the latter noting the "contemplative and visually appealing" marine life. Finger Guns and GamesRadar+ emphasize the breathtaking detail in seamounts, caverns, and wildlife, while Game Rant calls it “some of the most beautiful underwater visuals that the medium has ever seen.” The retro-futuristic aesthetic is frequently lauded, with Metro GameCentral noting its “industrial-looking interiors” and GamesRadar+ praising the “hand-molded assets” that create a unique atmosphere. Many critics, including GamingBolt and TierraGamer, highlight the game’s ability to evoke emotion through color, lighting, and environmental design, making the ocean feel both alien and mesmerizing. However, several reviewers point out technical and animation shortcomings that detract from the experience. Multiplayer.it criticizes the visuals as “unmemorable,” while Jeuxvideo.com and VGC note a lack of technical polish, including low-quality textures and rough character models. GameSpew mentions screen tearing, and IGN Spain highlights graphical issues like “popping and slowdowns.” Animations are another recurring issue: CD-Action and Gamereactor UK criticize poor character movements, while TheXboxHub notes “occasional roughness” in animations. Additionally, some critics, such as Vandal, point out that the cartoonish protagonist feels mismatched with the realistic environments, and SpazioGames mentions incomplete animations. These flaws, though varied, collectively suggest that the game’s visual design, while ambitious, is not without its technical imperfections. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among reviewers leans heavily toward admiration for Under the Waves’ artistic vision and atmospheric depth. While some critics like Multiplayer.it and Jeuxvideo.com express reservations about technical execution, most acknowledge the game’s unique aesthetic and emotional resonance. Game Rant and GamesRadar+ celebrate its “stunningly beautiful” visuals, while GamingBolt and TierraGamer emphasize how the art direction enhances immersion. The balance between beauty and imperfection seems to be a shared perspective: even as technical issues persist, many reviewers believe the game’s visual design successfully conveys its themes of solitude, wonder, and environmental contemplation. Ultimately, Under the Waves is seen as a visually ambitious title that prioritizes artistic expression over flawless optimization, earning it widespread praise for its creative vision.

The majority of critics overwhelmingly praised the sound design and music of Under The Waves, highlighting their ability to create an immersive and atmospheric experience. Adventure Game Hotspot described the soundtrack as "breathtaking," emphasizing its "beautiful melodies and ambient sounds" that complement the underwater setting. Similarly, Gameblog.fr lauded the "enchanting and captivating" compositions, noting the "mesmerizing whale songs" and the praiseworthy work of Nicolas Bredin. IGN France praised the minimalist soundtrack inspired by Icelandic composers, while GamesRadar+ called it "powerful atmospheric music" that evokes serenity and existentialism. Many critics, including TheXboxHub and Push Square, noted how the music enhances emotional depth and solitude, with GamePro Germany describing a "relaxing soundtrack with melancholic piano melodies." The recurring themes of tranquility, immersion, and environmental harmony underscore the soundtrack’s success in reinforcing the game’s underwater narrative. While the consensus was largely positive, some critics pointed to minor flaws. Finger Guns noted that "some music doesn’t always fit the emotional beats" and that there were "occasional abrupt halts," while Multiplayer.it criticized Nicolas Bredin’s score as "occasionally too intrusive." TheGamer mentioned that "cheesy one-liners" and voice acting detracted from the sound design, and GamingBolt highlighted audio-video sync issues. Additionally, some reviewers, like Jeuxvideo.com (PC version), noted that the soundtrack relied heavily on environmental sounds, which could feel repetitive at times. These critiques, though present, were overshadowed by the普遍 acclaim for the music’s ability to enhance immersion and emotional resonance. Overall, the critical reception of Under The Waves’ sound design and music was overwhelmingly positive, with only a handful of minor criticisms. The vast majority of reviewers, including Gameblog.fr, IGN Spain, and VGC, celebrated the soundtrack’s ability to create a "spiritual atmosphere" and "immersive experience." While some noted occasional issues with pacing or intrusiveness, these were rare compared to the praise for its atmospheric depth, emotional impact, and technical execution. Critics like Adventure Game Hotspot and TheXboxHub emphasized how the music and soundscapes perfectly complemented the game’s tone, solidifying it as a standout element of the experience. The consensus reflects a game where sound design is not just supportive but integral to its identity.

The voice acting in Under The Waves receives largely positive praise from multiple critics, with many highlighting its emotional depth and strong performances. Ben Lambert’s portrayal of the protagonist is frequently lauded as a standout element, with GamesRadar+ noting his "strong performance" and TheXboxHub emphasizing his ability to convey "the character's feelings and loneliness effectively." Critics like Adventure Game Hotspot and GamingBolt commend the voice actors for their skill, with the latter praising the protagonist’s "crackling and exhaustion" that enhances the game’s tone. Additionally, French voice performances are singled out as exceptional by Jeuxvideo.com (on both PS5 and PC), with one critic noting they "help compensate for the lack of lip synchronization." The narrative is also bolstered by well-written dialogues, as highlighted by Everyeye.it, while Metro GameCentral and TechRadar Gaming appreciate how minimalistic dialogue creates emotionally resonant characters. However, several critics point to technical and stylistic flaws that detract from the voice acting experience. Adventure Game Hotspot and GGRecon criticize poor lip-syncing, with the latter noting the protagonist’s "monotone line delivery" as a major issue. VGC and CD-Action describe the voice work as "distracting" due to mismatched lip-syncing and limited expressiveness, while Multiplayer.it finds the acting "flat and lacking empathy." Finger Guns and Vandal also critique the lack of variety and emotional nuance, with the former calling the voiceover "wooden" and the latter noting the protagonist’s "lack of expressiveness." These issues are particularly pronounced in scenes requiring emotional weight, where technical shortcomings overshadow the performances. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus leans toward appreciation for the voice acting’s strengths, even if it is not without flaws. While some critics prioritize performance quality—such as GamesRadar+ and TheSixthAxis, who call it "excellent" or "perfect"—others acknowledge that technical issues like lip-syncing and monotony are significant but not deal-breakers. For instance, Jeuxvideo.com (PC) notes that French voice work mitigates the lack of synchronization, while COGconnected highlights the "excellent" voice acting despite a "lack of subtlety" in the script. The divide reflects a balance between admiration for the actors’ craft and frustration with technical execution, suggesting that Under The Waves succeeds as a narrative experience even if its voice acting is not flawless.

The technical performance of Under the Waves across platforms reveals a mix of strengths and weaknesses. On PS5, several critics noted minor positives despite widespread issues, such as Game Rant acknowledging that close-quarters sequences, while flawed, are not entirely ruined by technical hiccups, and Push Square highlighting that glitches and crashes do not entirely undermine the experience. For Xbox Series X, Impulsegamer observed that bugs “do not significantly detract from the overall experience,” suggesting some tolerance for imperfections, while TheXboxHub praised generous save points mitigating backtracking frustrations. On PC, SECTOR.sk praised the inclusion of an ECO mode to reduce graphical demands, which improves performance and energy efficiency, indicating a thoughtful approach to technical stability. These positives suggest that while the game is not flawless, its developers have made efforts to address platform-specific challenges. However, the negatives across all platforms are more pronounced. On PS5, the consensus is bleak: Finger Guns criticized screen-tearing, crashes, and unsynced animations; GamesRadar+ cited “multiple bugs and glitches,” including save corruption; and Push Square lamented “ugly glitches” and “abrupt facial animations.” For Xbox Series X, TheXboxHub noted that glitches and crashes could frustrate players, while Jeuxvideo.com (Xbox) highlighted a lack of polish akin to Quantic Dream’s standards. On PC, critics like Games.cz and INVEN pointed to stiff animations, frame rate issues, and character glitches, with TechRadar Gaming emphasizing “character movement issues” and “camera problems.” These recurring flaws—crashes, graphical inconsistencies, and performance hiccups—suggest a lack of polish that affects immersion across all platforms. Even the ECO mode on PC, while praised by SECTOR.sk, underscores broader technical limitations. Overall, critics agree that Under the Waves suffers from significant technical shortcomings, particularly on PS5, where issues like crashes, screen tearing, and save failures dominate reviews (e.g., GamesRadar+, Guardian). While Xbox Series X and PC versions see slightly more leniency—such as TheXboxHub’s acknowledgment of mitigated backtracking and SECTOR.sk’s praise for ECO mode—the core problems persist. Despite some minor positives, the game’s technical instability undermines its narrative and gameplay, with critics like Jeuxvideo.com (PS5) noting it lacks the “technical polish” of similar titles. The lack of a unified fix across platforms suggests that while developers may address some issues post-launch, the initial experience remains marred by bugs, glitches, and performance hiccups that detract from its potential.

The reviewers generally acknowledge some positive aspects of Under The Waves’ replay value, particularly its emphasis on exploration, collectibles, and atmospheric storytelling. GamesRadar+ highlights "meaningful missions and collectibles" that enrich the narrative, while TheSixthAxis praises the immersive and serene experience of exploration, noting incentives like collectibles and side missions. Jeuxvideo.com and others mention that optional content can extend playtime to 7–10 hours, with GamingBolt and IGN Spain pointing to side tasks and environmental details as engaging distractions. Additionally, Hobby Consolas notes that narrative depth—specifically a story-impacting ending—encourages at least two playthroughs, suggesting the game’s emotional resonance could motivate revisits for some players. These elements collectively create a foundation for replayability, even if they don’t fully satisfy all critics. However, many reviewers criticize the game’s limited replay value due to its linear structure and lack of meaningful mechanics beyond the main story. Everyeye.it and GGRecon explicitly state that the absence of branching paths or multiple endings diminishes repeat playability, while TierraGamer argues there’s "no incentive to replay" once the narrative is complete. TheXboxHub and TRG highlight the linear storytelling and minimal crafting/action elements as drawbacks, and TheGamer points out that secondary content loses appeal after the initial hours. Critics like TechRadar Gaming and VGC also note that the open world feels empty or repetitive, with limited activities to justify multiple playthroughs. These critiques underscore a consensus that the game prioritizes narrative and atmosphere over mechanics that would sustain long-term engagement. Overall, the critics present a mixed but largely cautious assessment of Under The Waves’ replay value. While some praise its exploration-driven design, collectibles, and emotional storytelling as sufficient for at least one or two playthroughs (e.g., Hobby Consolas, VGC), others argue that the game’s brevity, lack of branching narratives, and repetitive gameplay loops significantly limit its appeal for repeat sessions. TheSixthAxis and GamesRadar+ highlight the immersive qualities that could attract fans of atmospheric games, but most agree that the experience is more about savoring the story than engaging in substantial post-play content. Ultimately, the game’s replayability hinges on individual preferences: those valuing narrative depth may find it rewarding, while others seeking varied mechanics or extended gameplay will likely be underwhelmed.