Sword of the Sea Review
Sword of the Sea is a short, well crafted game following in the footsteps of its creator's previous wins. Playing casually you'll probably reach the credits in a few hours but there's enough fun and hidden extras that there's plenty more to do once you've finished your first play through.
Similar to games like Journey that laid the path, there's little in the way of formal story here. You're in a world that's vast but mostly empty and you learn about it through exploration. There are the occasional text boxes found throughout the world but the majority of storytelling happens through gameplay.
Sword of the Sea is a game about movement. Your sword, rather than being swung as a weapon, becomes a surfboard. You move about the world riding on your sword. Levels start as mostly sand, undulating like waves. Later you'll find water, stone, snow and lava. Each typically captured in one zone within the game.
As you move around you can perform a small number of tricks or special abilities. Each of these unlock naturally as you progress and by the end you'll be stringing together tricks and floating through the environments.
Environment design, both the sound a visuals are a clear strong point. Each area feels unique but part of the same world. You can feel that it's a world that was once lived in but has long been left silent. There's a blend of built structures and natural features blended together. As you move through the world, as the bearer of the titular 'Sword of the Sea' you transform those environments by brining back the sea and the life within it.
If you've played Journey or any of the other games created by the studio's previous team you'll have a good idea of what to expect. The game is unique but you can feel the continuity from previous titles in its design.
If you have a higher tier PS Plus subscription, Sword of the Sea is currently free so it should be mostly a no-brainer. If not I'd still recommend picking it up when you can.
