The performances from the couple's respective actors in a matter of 30 or so minutes of gameplay sold the tension between them, the hurt that the boyfriend was going through, and how depression can take away your interest in people one step at a time, creating a sense of hopelessness and that feeling of being alone. The story with Kay's boyfriend, in particular, had my eyes welling up as at first, he seems like a warm person to Kay, but as the layers unfold, we find out he's a sufferer of depression. Their conversations are believable, and for a game about depression and separation, they absolutely nailed it. You can truly feel the pain in the delivery or complete joy whenever characters reunite once more. I never played the original ( you can read our review of the first version here), so I can't compare the two versions, but in the Director's Cut, the performances by the voice actors are amazing. The cutscene in which it's successful is fittingly dark with its crunching noises and stirring animation.įor the Director's Cut, the game received a new script and voice actors, and the result is superb. The sense of tension is increased even further as a monster underneath the water is hoping to gobble you up. Witnessing a huge bird perched on a building far away gives a daunting effect as you get closer to the animal. Monsters that reflect each character are also grand in size, bringing a certain gravitas to the level and the scenes they occupy. For example, going through a horrific school setting with bullies that are depicted as monsters is quite a frightening scene. It's impressive how the weather suddenly shifts as rain pours down onto our protagonist and choppy waves hit her boat.įurthermore, dramatic scenes between characters are heightened by the scenery and overall scale. The bright and vibrant aesthetic of Sea of Solitude instantly turns into a barren nightmare as Kay faces hardships on her journey. It's a treat to explore a beach town that's been sunken by the water, and with the Director's Cut Photo Mode, you can take however many pictures you'd like with this stunning setting. Issues like this took me out of the immersive experience that developer Jo-Mei is trying to tell.ĭespite my gripes with the platforming, I loved exploring the imaginative world that Creative Director Cornelia Geppert and her team created. I also had some difficulties getting into the boat more often than not, as the A button didn't initiate the animation unless I backed away and tried again. What makes it worse is that there are a few instances where Kay t-poses when colliding with a wall. Unfortunately, whenever you jump, there's a slight delay on the Switch from the button press to the movement, which can be frustrating. However, this isn't a fast-paced platformer like Mario or Crash it's in the vein of Ico where movements are exaggerated. The character Kay runs through the area finding corrupted parts of the map and then moves forward through the story as she fights back against her self-doubt. Through this experiential journey, you're platforming across a semi-linear open world. Related: Breaking The Taboo Of Mental Health Issues In Gaming (And IRL) Sea of Solitude: Director's Cut portrays this affliction perfectly, and has an uplifting, albeit tumultuous journey in store for you. From first-hand experience, it's honestly tough to face and try to break through your comfort zone. However, like this game's protagonist Kay, I went through a journey of self-discovery, trying to push back the doubt.
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