Imagine all the poetry and visuals of Journey with the evocative nature of the ocean and all the secrets within. That’s the vibe we get from the gorgeous Abzû, the first title from Giant Squid.
Two years ago we heard about Abzû, a curious indie title under development by Santa Monica studio Giant Squid. Since then and until a few weeks back the title was somehow resting away from curious eyes.
Giant Squid is a brand new studio established by creative director Matt Nava. If his name does not ring a bell, probably two of his creations do: Journey and Flower. Two of the titles that catapulted That Game Company to fame thanks to their uncomplicated, yet compelling and artistic nature. They relied in the unspoken, the contemplative, and let you tell your own story as you traversed those worlds full of enigmas. They sure showed us that there’re more ways of making everlasting videogames than we probably thought.
[blockquote cite=”Giant Squid press release”]Abzû is an epic descent into the depths of the sea where players explore the mystery and wonder of the ocean, while the distinct art style blends beautifully rendered ocean environments alongside a deeply emotional narrative.[/blockquote]
Abzû, a Journey Underwater
In the latest gameplay video released by the studio we can definitely see that vibe in Abzû. We can witness the rookie-friendly gameplay and the fantastic environments. The visual style, those colors and the harmony, an invitation to get lost in good whale company.
According to their creators, we will play as the “Diver”, uncovering our true connection to the ocean. As it happened with Journey, it seems there is no single line of dialogue in the whole game – an aspect we cannot but cherish. As the sea starts unlocking its secrets around us, the Diver will get a better grasp of the events via what seem to be old wall paintings. Is this, again, the story of his own people or something else we fail to comprehend? We’ll see.
Ah, did we say already that the game is featuring the music of Austin Wintory? Maybe he expands with this one the Bafta prize he achieved thanks to his work with Journey.
Abzû is coming for PlayStation 4 and PC on August 2 already. We cannot wait to experience it and let you know!
