Beyond Blue explores the natural beauty of the depths of the ocean – TheSixthAxis

For a long time, I found myself terrified by the water of the video game. I mean I completely overcome this fear as an adult, but honestly, there is always something that harasses and pinches my nerve when I dive into the dark depths of the ocean in a game. -that it is a fear caused by being swallowed by this giant fish in Jak & Daxter or by chance meeting the Lagiacrus massif with bright eyes in the opening hours of Monster Hunter Tri. Either way, diving deep into the water and being surrounded by the dark blue nothing always inflicts at least a minor feeling of dread.

When I played Beyond Blue, a video game that takes place almost entirely underwater, I didn't feel anything like it. No fear, no tension, no stress. Beyond Blue is a calm, relaxed and beautiful game that, unlike so many others, embraces the beauty and wonder of the underwater world.

Beyond Blue puts you in the shoes of Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist who leads a live expedition from the depths to contribute to a newly formed research team that uses cutting-edge technology to interact with the ocean, as well as life contained therein. I say shoes, but in this case, they are technically fins. Most of your time in the game is spent in a wet suit exploring the ocean, depths low enough to witness a magnificent life that most people would not see otherwise, while staying away from dark pockets and high pressure from the deep sea.

The interesting thing about this revolutionary technology that Mirai and his team use in the game is that it is deeply rooted in real research. The developers of Beyond Blue have worked closely with aquatic scientists to assess what exploration of the sea might look like in 10 or 20 years, resulting in ultra-light breathing equipment and unique LED capabilities of the equipment. diving from Mirai.

Science has also informed countless other areas of the game. The images and sounds of the ocean are rendered in the most realistic way possible, while a huge library of information in the game gives you a massive index of knowledge and facts regarding the different creatures you encounter.

If reading isn't exactly your speed, you might want to check out Ocean Insights of Beyond Blue. This series of seventeen mini-documentaries released throughout the game was produced in partnership with the BBC, with interviews with scientists and superb visuals of the sea.

Given the emphasis on real information and scientific realism in Beyond Blue, I was surprised to see how much emphasis was placed on storytelling in the game. Mirai is not just a speechless body that you control to drag with the dolphins and the sea linens, she speaks and interacts with the rest of her crew, calls the house back to check on the family, and there are signs of difficulties and trauma that may have influence his decision to participate in this extended underwater expedition. Some of the dialogues delivered can sometimes be cheesy, which makes it difficult to get warm with one of the characters in the short time I have had with the game, but have this type of story online in the game m helped stay a little more engaged. I have to imagine that without it, I probably wouldn't end up seeing the full experience until the end.

Beyond Blue explores the natural beauty of the depths of the ocean - TheSixthAxis

I am not a marine biologist and I have never dived before, but in half an hour, Beyond Blue was able to show me what kind of natural beauty I was missing in the deep blue sea. While the objectives and gameplay were simple, this simplicity contributed to a Zen underwater experience that I didn't want to leave.