Abzu Reviews
Abzû is a beautiful game. It's a game stuffed with fish and colour and movement and music. I love those things. Sometimes you feel like you're actually inside an episode of Blue Planet (I recorded the video above during one such moment). But I don't love wrestling for control of an experience which feels expansive one moment and restrictive or unpredictable the next.
Abzu is just a perfect game that's only held back by being a few hours long, but that shouldn't at all stop you from enjoying such a lovely world.
A mesmerizing audiovisual triumph that will feel heavenly to your eyes and to your ears, unfortunately without warming your heart as much as you would expect. It probably won't leave you teary-eyed like Journey did, but it will still be a trip absolutely worth embarking for.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Abzû isn't for everyone, but it has its rewards if you stop to enjoy them
I did enjoy being in the water, but I can't help but feel the beautiful visuals and music were jamming pictures of places and emotions in my face instead of earnestly telling a compelling story. There's an unshakeable air of falsity about Abzû. As a treat to the senses, however, it's hard to beat.
Abzû is the type of wondrous palate cleanser that reminds us of the beauty of video games.
I don't even know if I'd necessarily recommend ABZÛ even if I did enjoy it.
For those looking for a narrative journey that's unlike anything else on the Playstation 4, Abzû offers plenty to experience.
Abzu is gorgeous and calming but a little shallow
ABZÛ is perfect for fans of Journey and other thatgamecompany titles, thanks to the sweet simplicity of its gameplay and visuals as well as marvelous musical score.
Abzu is a lovely, pleasant game, one well worth experiencing for yourself. It unfolds in unexpected directions, a relaxing exploration in a beautiful and mysterious world.
Abzu is a testament to where we are with video game development and shows how diverse the medium can and should be, even if it's not quite as emotionally resonant as it perhaps could have been.
Unique and visually striking, Abzu doesn't quite make the most of its underwater setting but remains a highly compelling adventure.
Like the hauntingly beautiful ocean that ABZU has players explore, the real thrill and joy of playing ABZU comes down to going deep beneath the surface to experience its sights and sounds it offers, and the personal and emotional connections that are bound to be found. ABZU may be short on deep, complex gameplay or a lengthy narrative, but is more than capable of providing one of the most stirring, surreal gameplay experiences that (I hope) players will experience this year. As long as you're willing, ABZU is absolutely an experience worth being swept up in and letting you take it wherever it goes.
A nice swim through a virtual world
Does beauty alone justify a game? Can the novelty of swimming through majestic oceans teeming with life overcome an otherwise fairly by-the-numbers experience that never quite achieves the creative heights it so earnestly aspires to? I suppose that's down to the player, but as much as I wanted to love Abzû, the end result fell just short of brilliance. It's worth playing for the incredible presentation, but don't expect something profoundly new here.
As spectacular as Abzu's ocean is, from the hundreds of species of marine life to the impressive seascapes, it ultimately feels a bit shallow.
This visually stunning game is a great concept that never really gets to the point the developers may have intended. With an overly abstract story, uncomfortable controls, and not much to do but look at things, there isn't much left for players beyond the casual type.
ABZÛ simply has to be seen to be believed, as it's a real achievement for the video game medium.
The game fails to satisfy the natural urge to explore a three-dimensional realm of seemingly endless possibilities.