Sea of Solitude | Xbox One Review

Games that tackle issues like mental health can be difficult to pull off successfully and respectfully. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a recent example of one that did it remarkably well, but it’s hard to find quality titles. When I first booted up EA‘s Sea of Solitude from German developer Jo-Mei Games, I was cautiously pessimistic. The last thing I wanted was a sermon or distasteful look and the reality of real-world problems. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised by how artistically beautiful this game turned out to be. Although it’s more of an “experience” than a “game”, it’s one that’s very much worth your time.

Mirroring Reality

You play as Kay, a young girl who wakes up in a submerged city full of red-eyed monsters. Kay, herself, has partially transformed into one of the creatures, and she must explore to find out why. To divulge much more could potentially ruin the experience. I’ll just say that the monsters in this world are personifications of her own issues with people in her life in the real word. In essence, the game is a metaphor for Kay confronting her own demons.

What makes this story stand out from others like it is how it doesn’t pull any punches. The conversations Kay has with her friends and family are legitimately uncomfortable (in a good way). Sea of Solitude isn’t afraid to touch on such issues as bullying, spousal abuse, and depression. As someone who personally doesn’t deal with these problems as much as most, it opened my eyes in a way I wasn’t expecting. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I couldn’t put the game down. I literally finished it in one sitting. It’s that interesting.

Adventure Gaming at Its Finest

My only caution to those intrigued by Sea of Solitude is that it’s barely a game in terms of mechanics. You control Kay in 3-D with minor platforming and puzzle solving. It reminds me of what I wanted out of Journey, a game that didn’t quite deliver for me personally. I didn’t mind the simplistic gameplay this time around, however, since it gave just the right of interaction to make me feel a part of the story. I never felt even the slightest bit of boredom, because the pacing is near perfect. If you go in expecting deep mechanics, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Instead, expect a rich narrative experience, which is what this game is selling.

On top of the story, platforming, and puzzles, you’ll also have collectibles in the form of bottles and seagulls. The former offer a bit more insight into Kay’s mind, as each has a message hidden inside. The seagulls, however, are just shooed away and add a bit more replayability to the title. Neither are incredibly difficult to find and serve as a way to entice you to explore the world of Kay’s mind.

Video Games as Art

The best phrase I can use to describe the look of Sea of Solitude is “hauntingly beautiful”. The artwork expertly crafts vibrant cel shading with contrasting dark themes. The pairing is truly something to behold, especially with the clever use of animation. I found myself staring as the water movement and even puffs of dust emanating from Kay’s feet as she walked through the world.

If that weren’t enough, the voice acting is some of the best I’ve witnessed in an indie title in quite some time. The uncomfortable conversations feel real, not scripted, and left me feeling chilled to the bone in a way games rarely accomplish. Truly remarkable work here.

Sea of Solitude Final Verdict

I can’t recommend Sea of Solitude enough, especially to fans of adventure games. Although I can’t sympathize with people who suffer from mental issues, after playing this title, I feel I can empathize a bit more. It may not be a title I’ll ever revisit, but it’s an experience I’m more than happy to have had.

To hear more on Sea of Solitude, be sure to listen to Episode 252 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast to hear me discuss the game more.

The review is based on a copy of the game provided by EA for coverage purposes and is also available on PS4 and PC.