This is a Nintendo Switch exclusive release, and you can tell that the development team took some liberties here and there to make Sea of Solitude run on the platform. A few chills went down my spine as I heard the striking music. What brings it all together is the wonderful soundtrack that succeeds at delivering those emotional threads that the story and the game requires. They're repetitive, but they show a character flaw within Kay as she constantly gets hung up on things and doubts herself. That feeling of resentment or anguish within Kay is also represented in short lines of dialogue from the monsters surrounding her. She is justifying what she has done, but there are constant hurdles that prevent her from moving forward. Throughout the journey, Kay is struggling with her relationships as she realizes the mistakes she has made in the past. Sea of Solitude tackles some tough themes and the game gracefully and honestly covers them in a beautiful, yet stirring way. Let's not forget about the writing behind those performances. There are multiple moments in Sea of Solitude, in which I could feel the humanity behind the fictional characters and their monstrous visage. 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. Despite my gripes with the platforming, I loved exploring the imaginative world that Creative Director Cornelia Geppert and her team created.
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