Customer Reviews

Endless Ocean: Blue World

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Ever since I watched those old 80's Jacques Cousteau documentaries, the idea of one day snorkeling myself never left my mind. So far I never had the opportunity to dive but I often catch myself daydreaming about underwater excursions. Until I can add a check-mark beside that item on my before-I-turn-forty-list this game offers an excellent substitute.

Dive & Relax. Leave the world behind you and become on with the underwater realm.
The locales are beautifully designed, the fish, whales, dolphins and the rest of the marine life move in a very realistic fashion. The missions are pretty simple and most have an educational parameter but it is mostly about exploring at your own pace. Well, you do have to mind the oxygen level...
The underwater sounds are very well made and placed whereas the background music is a soothing companion. All in all ENDLESS OCEAN: BLUE WORLD is an excellently designed and produced diving-simulation game.

This is a game that will bring you home early, it will put a smile in your face and it will relax you like no other game.
I cannot emphasize this enough: this game is DIGITAL MASSAGE. It soothes your nerves, relaxes your body and puts you in a very easygoing mindset.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

I'd love to go diving someday, but I'd probably not get to do more than a day of diving on a vacation. This game is about as close as I'll ever to living a worldwide underwater documentary.

This is a game that builds your underwater imagination and gives you true adventures. Movies and video games teach our kids that there is no adventure without stuffing every moment with action and explosions. Instead of shoving entertainment down a kid's throat, this game brings back memories of exploring the woods behind my house when I was younger and creating my own experiences. Those who've already been brainwashed into modern movie ideology might find it too dumb because of it's lack of violence or their type of "action", but imaginative kids will have exciting trips into underwater worlds!

It's fun to play, and the only violence is when a shark or something attacks (and you subdue them in a non-violent way). I could swim for a few hours in the area I'm in now and not cover the same ground twice! The little bad I can say about the game is really irrelevant compared to the good!

The good:
-large areas to explore with lots of stuff to find.
-goals and freedom. A better non-violent sandbox game than animal crossing! (ok, low violence)
-while the graphics won't knock your socks off, they're great wii graphics.
-I like the relaxing music. A lot of people say it's new-agey, but I think of new-agey being all synthy and blobus. But it just seems to be relaxing music that fits the pace of the game.
-$30. I mean really, this is a full game being released at a budget price.

The bad:
-The story isn't so amazing.
-No spoken text.

The not sure yet:
-There's some fantasy in the special tool you have to heal and calm fish and the story has some supernatural influences. At first I thought I thought the stuff took me out of the reality of the game, but the story and the tool are starting to grow on me.
-You don't swim very fast. But this both relaxes you and adds more tension to when you're low on air (even though there isn't much of a penalty to run out of air).
-Haven't had time to try the multiplayer, but I hope to soon! I'm sad that you can't complete the game co-op online, but it still sounds cool.

A small note is that I was concerned because the box's ESRB rating says "mild suggestive themes" for playing with my nephews and nieces. I looked it up on the ESRB website and the mild suggestive theme is: "And a collection book containing information about constellations and legendary Greek gods includes the following passage: 'Apollo, god of the sun, was deceived by the raven, who acted as his messenger, into believing that his lover had been unfaithful to him.'" So there seems to be no real "suggestive themes".

I've only had this for today, so I know my review is only based on the beginning of the game. I promise to update in a week or so when I'm much deeper into it. But, I do suggest you pick this up while it comes with the free wii speak since the wii speak is currently $16 alone. $30 for both is a steal!

Had the game for a few weeks now. I'm still playing and enjoying it. My 2 1/2 year old boy loves watching me play. He seems to especially like sharks and whales. I got it for my nephews and nieces too and they just excitedly told me about the sunken castle they found... I will do multiplayer online with my my relatives soon and let you know how that goes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first Endless Ocean, but found that once I had explored all the areas on the map, the game became a bit repetitive. The sequel corrects most of the gripes I had about the original. Improvements include:
- No more having to repeatedly "touch" or feed new creatures in order to have their names appear. Simply hitting the 'A' button when a creature is selected focuses on the creature and shows its name.
- A more expansive storyline. Still a bit simplistic, but more interesting than the original.
- A much larger world to explore. I am several hours into the game, so I don't know just how much more there is to be revealed, but already there are far more diving locales, than the single one in the original. You can also go exploring on the shoreline. This is how you discover new marine mammals, as opposed to having them randomly pop-up on your boat in the original.
- More to do. There are side quests, and special requests that are separate from the main storyline.
- Some dangers are present. Diving is an inherently dangerous pursuit, something not apparent in the original. It took forever to run out of air in the original, and there were no creatures that posed any danger. Now you need to plan your dives more careful, as air doesn't last as long (though you can earn money to upgrade your gear and get longer dive times). There are encounters with dangerous creatures that you can calm with your "pulsar" tool. Coming into contact with them hastens the use of your air. This adds some more excitement value.

I have not yet tried the Wii Speak feature, nor cooperative online play. I don't believe either feature is necessary to enjoy the game, though they may be nice extras.

In summary if you liked the original, I expect that you will like the sequel even more. If you like role playing and quest driven games, you will probably enjoy this. It is a nice way to unwind, as opposed to the typical more frantic game. This is a single player game that all ages can enjoy.

Our ten year old daughter loves this game!

It encourages reading skills (both content and expression), map skills, compass use, tracking characters and plot to the conclusion, identification and classification of various ocean life, geography, myths and legends, and more...

She has both Endless Ocean games and loves them both. She was particularly engrossed in Endless Ocean 2: Blue World. So much so that she cried when she thought it was done after solving the Song of Dragons... Thank goodness you can keep going after that! She wants to know when more Endless Ocean games are coming out.

Over the past two years of owning both Endless Ocean games, she took up swim classes and begged us to go to Discovery Cove in Orlando, FL so we could all swim with the dolphins. So she completed several sessions of swim classes and we went to Discovery Cove. She got to swim with the dolphins and snorkel through the "river" there and the artificial reef full of different kinds of fish and stingrays. Seeing her swim with the dolphin at Discovery Cove and the look of SHEER JOY on her face was worth the price of this game a thousand times over. It's one of my best family vacation memories and it's all because of these two Wii games.

As a former teacher (my husband still teaches), I love the learning opportunities and quality family time that you can have with this game if you choose to explore it together. Yes, you can play the game alone, but if you want to be involved with your child's play of the game, there are opportunities to do that together that are very rewarding. We have looked up different countries (information, photos, maps, etc.), mythical gods, various fish and marine mammals, etc. on the internet while she has played the game. She just pauses the game and we stop to look things up.

I ***HIGHLY RECOMMEND*** this game. Our game came packaged with the Wii Speak, which I believe sells for $16 separately. This is a tremendous bargain on an already fantastic game.

The first Endless Ocean game was my favorite Wii game, so when I heard there was a sequel I knew I just had to get it. This one is unbelieveable, even 5 months after purchasing it.
Improvements from the first one:
-You dive into real rivers and oceans around the world. In the first one, it always annoyed me that every sea creature could coexist in the same environment on the same map. No more. Now you have to go to the Artic if you want polar bears and to the Pacific if you want coral reefs.
-You can go on land. It always seemed odd to me when penguins just showed up on your boat in the first one, but now if you're close to land in this one you can go up and walk around.
-You can buy things and earn money. I like that in this one you can buy a new bikini or tank instead of waiting around for a reward. You also earn money from taking pictures or finding treasure.
-You can get attacked. Swimming by a great white shark in the first one always seemed a little bland since it didn't attack you or even look at you. Now, if you're in the Artic and a Greenland shark comes your way, you better get out you're pulsar or you're toast.
I could go on and on, but let me just say that if you loved the first one, you HAVE to get this one. Even if you didn't have the first one, buy this one if you love diving, animals, or the ocean.

When I bought this game I had gone out planning to buy "Wii Sports Resort," but saw this next to it on the shelf and decided to give it a go (the excellent price-wii speak included for $30, and the salesperson's opinion-he liked the original, and heard good thing about this one-influenced my decision). After playing the first night it left such an impression I even had dreams about it...If you have any inclination to get this (I had only the slightest, admittedly), you will not be disappointed.

Con's:
1. This isn't so much a "con" as a warning,-this is truly a one person game (the wii-speak aspect not included, since I have yet to use that). Watching others play this game is not that fun,it's not a "party/social game" in any respects, just FYI.

2. The controls: I read in a review that the previous title used the nun chuck and if I can imagine how that worked I think it might be better...I found myself clutching the wiimote within an inch of my life during some parts, and getting back and forth between the directional controls and tools was a bit unwieldy.

3. As other reviewers have said, it's a shame they didn't add voices to the story narrative.

Pro's:
1. Really beautiful, and once you give it a chance (35 min or so) totally entertaining and captivating.

2.Good mix of soothing (tranquil exploring type stuff), thoughtful (how the heck do I get past these whirlpools? what's in this cave?), and normal 'action'- (here comes another shark!)

3. Good graphics,the "zoom in" spots are especially cool.

4. Large "world" of exploration. So far, not repetitive or boring at all.

Basically, if you are willing to give this game a chance (like I said, it starts slow-especially if you typically play games with a partner) you will hopefully be as thrilled as I am. If you are harboring any restless intellectual curiosity re:deep sea environs, you should find this especially fun.

As soon as I saw that there was going to be a sequel to "Endless Ocean", I got my pre-order for it in right away, and I'm glad that I did!

This game is just what I was hoping it'd be: it offers improvements on the graphics seen in the first game, but the game play itself is just as tranquil and soothing as it was in the first "Endless Ocean". There's no waiting around or need to "unlock" anything before you get introduced to the cool and intriguing sea creatures you're hoping to encounter. I opened it and started playing yesterday, and, after logging about two to two and a half hours of playing, I've already encountered a leafy sea dragon, a whale shark, a weedy sea dragon, a tiger shark, batfish, humpbacks, West Indian Manatees, Manta rays, humphead wrasses, and California fur seals, just to name very few of the beasties I've "swum" with.

The game now offers the option of using the Classic controller, in addition to the traditional Wii remote, and the tutorials for each are very thorough, and make game play very easy. I don't know if I've just gotten better with navigating through the water without so many superquick flips that disoriented me in the first game, or if the creators just opted to make the controls less hyper-reactive, but either way, it's definitely an improvement.

I do wish that the game creators had opted to add a few human voices in with the new characters, as opposed to just sticking with the captioned speech bits, but they didn't, and it's really not a big deal. I have to say, while I'm mentioning cons, that I found the opening credits listing creators, editors, CGI folks, etc., to be quite self-indulgent, but the graphics have been improved enough that I can forgive them for doing it, since you'll only be subjected to it until you save your game for the first time! ; )

Really, if you liked the first one, I honestly can't imagine that you wouldn't love this one. If you've never played the first one, and are looking for a different, non-violent, soothing game play experience, at the release price of thirty bucks, I just don't think you can go wrong. And, for those of you that're able to score the box that includes Wii Speak (which is the one that I got), you can either look at it as having gotten a thirty dollar Wii Speak for free, or as having bought a Wii Speak and gotten a pretty sweet brand-spanking new game for free. It's a win-win, either way!

Have fun "diving"!

When we finally decided to get a Wii for the fitness programs, I wanted a few "just for fun" stuff, too. I was browsing Wii games and stumbled upon Endless Ocean Blue World. Just as other reviewers, I have always wanted to snorkle or scuba dive...and my absolute dream is to swim with a dolphin. But, since I haven't been able to do that yet, Enless Ocean Blue World sounded like a decent idea.

I popped it in and was pleasantly surprised to hear a beautifully relaxing song playing in the background. The visuals are equally as peaceful. Another reviewer said it was like a "massage". I agree wholeheartedly. I'm a massage therapist and give and receive many relaxing massages. This was the next best thing. The lights in the house happened to be off when I started the "game" and I found myself feeling so very peaceful...I didn't want to stop.

I can also agree with others that this game isn't for most teens. No blood, no violence, no increased blood pressure and heart rate. Just beautiful scenery, peaceful audio, and a go-at-your-own-pace story/game line. So far I've made friends with a dolphin, taken a ride on a whale shark, fed hundreds of tropical fish, started an album of beautiful photographs I've taken of my adventures, and all while living on an island on in the South Pacific. And I've only just begun!

All right, let me start off by saying that I loved the first Endless Ocean game (Endless Ocean: Dive, Discover, Dream). This one is every bit as good as the first one and better. This is a very good game that has plenty to do. In other words, you will always have some goal in this game to which you can aspire. Some have said that this game has a "slow-moving" story, but what you have to understand is that the storyline isn't really important in a game like this. This is just a free-exploration game.

Parents and kids will both love this one - and this game is fun for gamers of all skill levels. My only real criticism is with the story's characters (which, as I said, isn't really important). I love the story line, but the characters are rather... over the top. They're quite melodramatic, and the Japanese developer's concept of Americans is rather amusingly stereotyped.

That being said, the gameplay makes up for that. Some of the people who are familiar with the first Endless Ocean game were probably curious about this ones ESRB E-10 rating. I have to say that that rating is indeed merited; unlike in the first game, several sharks and other species are actually a danger in this game, and extremely young children might find that frightening. I think it adds a level of depth (if you'll pardon the expression) to the game without making it difficult.

You will be able to explore the oceans of the world in this game - where the first game took a limited view of a fictional island chain in the South Pacific, this game lets you dive into waters from the Red Sea to the Arctic Ocean, and even into a tributary of the Amazon River. The task of salvaging items in this game is defined very well, and unlike in the first game, it actually has a purpose and is more lucrative (meaning you earn the game's fictional currency for items you salvage). You can also train dolphins (a process which is much more streamlined than in the first game), take clients on guided dives, take photos and send them to fictional magazines, and even dive with a partner online and use the WiiSpeak microphone (not sold with the game).

The graphics are just as stunning as in the first game, and the soundtrack by Celtic Woman was just as great as Hayley Westenra's songs from the first one. The game is highly educational, giving you (or your kids) the opportunities to learn interesting facts about different species of marine life. Even if you've never played the first game, I would highly recommend this game. It stands completely on its own and is not in any way related to the first one except in title (the controls are also similar, but they are simple and are explained at the beginning of the game). This game is an enormous improvement over a game that was already good. "Blue World" is bigger, better, and generally a great deal of fun. If you buy this game, you will quickly become an addict.

I generally concur with most everything that has been mentioned in the other glowing reviews, I just wanted to add my own personal perspective. I'm 33 and have a high-stress job, and I use my Wii to unwind after a hard day at the office. However, I don't always feel like jumping into the gore-fest of Resident Evil 4, nor do I always have the mental focus for a strategy game or something that requires intense concentration. I was initially skeptical about Blue World and thought the concept sounded ridiculous, but I decided to take a chance on it anyway. What I have found is a game that is oddly addicting and very hypnotic. It is such a great way to relax and unwind that I find myself sticking it in nearly every day. It's a total brain massage. There's enough of a linear storyline to keep me interested in progressing forward, but the game allows you to go at your own speed without being rushed. I never thought that just swimming around interacting with animals and collecting treasure would be quite so fun. I was amazed that what generally look like pretty simple maps are actually filled with lots of little nooks and crannies to explore that you won't find unless you just get out there and explore. I'm not always in the mood to identify every variety of sea slug or flounder, but there are occasionally times that the completionist in me wants to work on finding all ~300. If the game were entirely pointless and one's time and effort were not rewarded it would not be able to sustain my interest as a diving simulation alone, but there are enough unlockables and equipment upgrades and new missions/maps available that it's enough of a motivating factor to keep me interested in accomplishing everything. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the online play is pretty poor. You can't save your progress or accomplishments in multiplayer mode? Lame. I suspect no one is buying it for that purpose though, I was just expecting it to be a cooler feature. Be forewarned that there you must know someone who owns the game and you must exchange unique in-game codes if you plan to play together. It's a bigger pain than it's worth, trust me.