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ABZÛ |OT| A Journey into an ocean of wisdom

D

Deckard Chapel

Banned
Anderson DL said:
This game isn't designed to create tension. It's designed to create the opposite. For example, they didn't have an oxygen gauge, because they didn't want players worrying about running out of air. That would create stress. They want to create a feeling of tranquility and exploration -- that is evident in all the video clips. Creating tension just isn't a goal here. There may be occasional moments of tension, but this isn't your ordinary game, fueled by adrenalin and the threat of virtual death.

If you think about the nervous system's sympathetic and parasympathetic branches (the first being fight or flight, the second being rest and restore), this is a game whose emphasis is on the parasympathetic branch. Relax, enjoy the view, explore, and swim (not sleep) with the fishes.
Click to expand...

Very well said! That's what I was getting at was that there will be some moments of tension the further down you dive into the abyss; but for the most part, the game will be relaxing and tell a beautiful story.
 
W

Wind's Howling

Member
I just pre-ordered this. I could not leave it for that price. I think I paid almost the same for Journey on the PS3 when it got released. Don't know for sure.
 
V

VanCityGamer

Member
Deckard Chapel said:
So if there is tension that a character may die - and they don't - are you saying that fact erases any tension felt or perceived originally?
Click to expand...

What? Sorry, I'm not following the point.

It has been stated that death or failure/retries are not possible in Abzu. It is clear that those things are possible in 90% of videogames. In TV and movies, the threat of death or extreme failure are a) uncertain, b) apparent early, or c) obvious based on genre. Options A and B both create suspense. Option C means not to expect death in something like a comedy (most of the time).

Not sure why we're going into so much detail. I was merely correcting what you said about TV and movies being just like Abzu because the player can't die or have fail states. It's the characters who can die, which creates the suspense. That's all. Of course, that doesn't apply to all media/movies/games nor would I want it to.
 
D

Deckard Chapel

Banned
VanCityGamer said:
What? Sorry, I'm not following the point.

It has been stated that death or failure/retries are not possible in Abzu. It is clear that those things are possible in 90% of videogames. In TV and movies, the threat of death or extreme failure are a) uncertain, b) apparent early, or c) obvious based on genre. Options A and B both create suspense. Option C means not to expect death in something like a comedy (most of the time).

Not sure why we're going into so much detail. I was merely correcting what you said about TV and movies being just like Abzu because the player can't die or have fail states. It's the characters who can die, which creates the suspense. That's all. Of course, that doesn't apply to all media/movies/games nor would I want it to.
Click to expand...

I get what you mean. I don't mind that there is no dying in ABZÛ - there was no dying in Journey either and I still feel tension in that dark cave where the Serpent's appear and also going up the mountain where they are looking for you.
 
F

Fahzgoolin

Banned
well, I just don't see how anyone could feel fear knowing a shark or creature won't even harm you. However, I hope the game has puzzle elements or something to engage me as a player. It looks beautiful and playful, but I'm afraid it would grow boring really quickly if all there is to do is collecting shells and holding forward.

*shrug*

I can appreciate it as a piece of art, but I have a hard time justifying it as a video game. I could just watch it =/
 
W

Wind's Howling

Member
Deckard Chapel said:
I get what you mean. I don't mind that there is no dying in ABZÛ - there was no dying in Journey either and I still feel tension in that dark cave where the Serpent's appear and also going up the mountain where they are looking for you.
Click to expand...

There is a sense of dread there. Getting found or hit by those serpents makes you lose the length of your cape and replaying Journey countless of times with the full length eventually lets you morph into a more advanced character.
 
T

Teriyaki Blues

Member
Rivyn said:
There is a sense of dread there. Getting found or hit by those serpents makes you lose the length of your cape and replaying Journey countless of times with the full length eventually lets you morph into a more advanced character.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you're talking about, but that isn't what gives you the White Robe.
 
F

Freezasaurus

Member
oginath said:
Can't wait for Tuesday.

Does anyone know if I should expect to finish it in one sitting, like Journey?
Click to expand...

I only ever finished Journey in one sitting once. It took a bit longer to finish than my usual gaming sessions. From what I've heard, it's more or less around the same length as Journey.
 
Fix-It Felix. Jr.

Fix-It Felix. Jr.

Member
Booted up my PS4 and saw the Abzu panel/countdown, and got really excited. I just finished Headlander today, so I'm ready to dive into (no pun intended) my next Play pre-order.

Freezasaurus said:
Abzu and the first episode of Telltale Batman this week
Click to expand...
I've been so hyped about Abzu, I completely forgot that Batman was coming on Tuesday too. Gonna be a nice change in pace between them.
 
J

JonnyKong

Member
I've just this minute completed Hyper Light Drifter, perfectly in time for this coming out. I'm thinking I need a nice relaxing change of pace!
 
D

Deckard Chapel

Banned
Rivyn said:
There is a sense of dread there. Getting found or hit by those serpents makes you lose the length of your cape and replaying Journey countless of times with the full length eventually lets you morph into a more advanced character.
Click to expand...

In Journey, you collect glyphs to extend your scarf. Once you've found them all, you unlock the white robe with the regenerating scarf. Playing through it 3 times adds new patterns to your Brown robe [up to 3].

oginath said:
Can't wait for Tuesday.

Does anyone know if I should expect to finish it in one sitting, like Journey?
Click to expand...

Yes.

If you explore the environments for a long time though, it will greatly extend your playtime - but even if you quit out of it, it will give you a continue option
 
W

Wind's Howling

Member
Deckard Chapel said:
In Journey, you collect glyphs to extend your scarf. Once you've found them all, you unlock the white robe with the regenerating scarf. Playing through it 3 times adds new patterns to your Brown robe [up to 3].



Yes.

If you explore the environments for a long time though, it will greatly extend your playtime - but even if you quit out of it, it will give you a continue option
Click to expand...

Oh, damn. I completely got that wrong then. Don't you lose the glyphs when you get hit, though?
 
N

NateDrake

Member
Fahzgoolin said:
well, I just don't see how anyone could feel fear knowing a shark or creature won't even harm you. However, I hope the game has puzzle elements or something to engage me as a player. It looks beautiful and playful, but I'm afraid it would grow boring really quickly if all there is to do is collecting shells and holding forward.

*shrug*

I can appreciate it as a piece of art, but I have a hard time justifying it as a video game. I could just watch it =/
Click to expand...

It has some minor puzzle elements to it. Each zone as spots you need to activate so that other species of fish will swim around, and there are seashells to discover in each zone.
 
Humdinger

Humdinger

Member
For those of you who need the fear of death to make a game interesting, it might help to remind yourself that people sometimes die when they are sitting on their couch watching TV or playing a game. You never know, you might be next. You might keel over, and then it'll be months before anyone finds your rotten corpse, half eaten by your cat. Just think about that. Pretty scary stuff.
 
A

AWintory

Neo Member
Fahzgoolin said:
well, I just don't see how anyone could feel fear knowing a shark or creature won't even harm you. However, I hope the game has puzzle elements or something to engage me as a player. It looks beautiful and playful, but I'm afraid it would grow boring really quickly if all there is to do is collecting shells and holding forward.

*shrug*

I can appreciate it as a piece of art, but I have a hard time justifying it as a video game. I could just watch it =/
Click to expand...

This conversation came up a lot on Journey. And Flower. And flOw...

I have two responses: 1) I see the term "video game" generally broadening in its scope. A widening umbrella to encompass a vast array of types of experiences and interactions. I much prefer retaining that name than making "video games" a subset of "interactive media."

and 2) Games of minimal "activities" (lacking or with few traditional game mechanics like puzzle solving or shooting or crafting, etc etc etc) are still very enjoyable in the way that sometimes I go to a museum to see the exhibits, and sometimes I go to simply be in the space. The environment itself is evocative enough that the feeling of being there is all the interaction I aspire to.

I'm not trying to suggest ABZU is #2. But that is my case for why games which are purely #2 (I would use Everybody's Gone to the Rapture as at least a near-example of #2) are still very much are games.
 
D

Deckard Chapel

Banned
Anderson DL said:
For those of you who need the fear of death to make a game interesting, it might help to remind yourself that people sometimes die when they are sitting on their couch watching TV or playing a game. You never know, you might be next. You might keel over, and then it'll be months before anyone finds your rotten corpse, half eaten by your cat. Just think about that. Pretty scary stuff.
Click to expand...

Wow, you really painted a bleak picture lol! Good point though!

AWintory said:
This conversation came up a lot on Journey. And Flower. And flOw...

I have two responses: 1) I see the term "video game" generally broadening in its scope. A widening umbrella to encompass a vast array of types of experiences and interactions. I much prefer retaining that name than making "video games" a subset of "interactive media."

and 2) Games of minimal "activities" (lacking or with few traditional game mechanics like puzzle solving or shooting or crafting, etc etc etc) are still very enjoyable in the way that sometimes I go to a museum to see the exhibits, and sometimes I go to simply be in the space. The environment itself is evocative enough that the feeling of being there is all the interaction I aspire to.

I'm not trying to suggest ABZU is #2. But that is my case for why games which are purely #2 (I would use Everybody's Gone to the Rapture as at least a near-example of #2) are still very much are games.
Click to expand...

Very well said!

I enjoy a game because it's enjoyable; I don't need a constant fear of failure to continue playing it.

I'm there for the experience of it.
 
T

TheDarkKnight774

Member
Have this game pre ordered. Can't wait. Has there been any indication of the game length. I'm guessing its Journey/Flower length. Witch would be a-ok for me. Just planning out my game playing schedule
 
F

Freezasaurus

Member
gketter said:
Have this game pre ordered. Can't wait. Has there been any indication of the game length. I'm guessing its Journey/Flower length. Witch would be a-ok for me. Just planning out my game playing schedule
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's supposed to be around the same length as Journey.

Mine already installed this afternoon.
 
C

Corleth the Fey

Member
So I'm all pre-loaded, which is cool. My pre-order theme also downloaded, but I can't set the theme until the game unlocks! That's pretty stupid.
 
M

Mdk7

Member
Deckard Chapel said:
Without spoiling specifics,
are there menacing, large, predatory prehistoric things down in the depths? I really want to be surprised by what types - but I noticed by Googling the Latin names from the soundtrack, it reveals non-threatening creatures like Ichthyosaurus, etc. I just want to see large, predatory prehistoric creatures in the game. Please don't spoil the different types, just let me know if there are any lol!
Click to expand...

Still wanna know the answer?
 
Matt Frost

Matt Frost

Member
Finished Song of the Deep in time for ABZÛ (didnt rush it, completed 100%, my score: 9/10). Two very different gameplay-wise underwater games one after the other, perfect for the summer. Now to wait until midnight to play ABZÛ. Cant wait!!
 
V

V3rt1go

Member
Finished the game and all I can say is that it kinda feels like Journey 2, but I think I liked ABZÛ more.

All I want now is to buy the glorious Austin Wintory OST!
 
S

Scanna

Member
Hey guys, do you think this might work decently on a i5 Surface pro 4, 8 gb ram?
I'm really not that into PC gaming, so I wouldn't know :D
 
Raven77

Raven77

Member
Although I agree that creating tension through oxygen gauges, etc. would not be the feeling they were going for...part of my can't help wishing that it had a survival mode option or something.

The thing is, their are NOT many games of this type, ocean exploration, etc. So when one comes along, I guess I kind of wish it just did it all because God knows when we'll get another one.
 
T

Tricky I Shadow

Banned
V3rt1go said:
Finished the game and all I can say is that it kinda feels like Journey 2, but I think I liked ABZÛ more.

All I want now is to buy the glorious Austin Wintory OST!
Click to expand...

XZ5hq2L.gif
 
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