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stilgar · Oct 31, 2007

Already out in Japan, where it's named Forever Blue, and in 10 days in Europe.

System : Wii
Developer: Arika
Editor: Nintendo
Official site: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/rfbj/
Official 2007 teaser: Youtube

2 videos of guys playing online :

Part 1
Part 2

Boxarts :

Japan

Europe :

America:

Some pictures :

Release dates :

Japan : August 2, 2007
Europe : November 9, 2007 . Price : 30 euros
America : January 2, 2007

Famitsu score : 35/40

An extract of the IGN preview :

The Wii may not be exactly up to PS3 and Xbox 360 levels when it comes to visuals, but that doesn't keep Forever Blue from being one of the most stunning underwater recreations ever put to the videogame screen. Fish and your in-game diving counterpart are modeled and animate well, but the big stars are the colors and lighting for the surrounding environments. Everything is so vibrant that watching the game can be just as hypnotic as playing.

For those who do choose to be on the playing side of things, things couldn't be easier. Used primarily as a pointing device, the Wiimote handles all the controls on its own, without the use of the nunchuck attachment. Your diver follows a cursor that you aim around the screen. Continue to aim in any direction, and you'll eventually manage to turn yourself around. To swim, you hold down the B trigger, or you can tap minus to make your character go into a constant swim mode.

The control scheme makes movement around a 360 degree space relatively easy. I'm not sure if I'd want to battle alien sea life like in an Ecco the Dolphin game using this control scheme, but for the peaceful gameplay of Endless Ocean, it gets the job done.

Outside of the controls, Arika has provided all the tools to make your diving sessions a snap. You have a compass marking your current direction, along with an easily accessible map that clearly marks your position and grows in detail as you explore further.

The game also includes a mini paint program that lets you apply colored markings to the sea world; you can paint an arrow that points to a particular rock, for instance. A neat Wii-only feature to be sure, although I haven't found much use for this yet, as the markings disappear once your current diving session comes to an end.

While swimming is fun and all, it would be tough to justify paying full price for a virtual aquarium. Thankfully, Arika has filled the title with other diversions, some offering hints of actual gameplay.

You're slowly introduced to new areas of the sea as you play through missions. These require that you to travel to certain areas of the sea in a search for lost items, or simply that you take someone on a tour of the water.

Don't let the Mario madness hide this game

Mdk7 · Oct 31, 2007

\o/

Day one i guess...

And since i only listen to Crossover/Metalcore, any advice for the custom soundtrack is more than welcome and deeply appreciated! ^_^

Mudhoney · Oct 31, 2007

Mdk7 said:
\o/

Day one i guess...

And since i only listen to Crossover/Metalcore, any advice for the custom soundtrack is more than welcome and deeply appreciated! ^_^

Yah, it looks like you might want to go with straight up metal.

stilgar · Oct 31, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ

This is all you need for music.

NotWii · Oct 31, 2007

Hopefully they fixed up the load times for Europe and the Americas

FunkyMunkey · Oct 31, 2007

stilgar said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ

This is all you need for music.

Okay. That music was going through my head as I was reading the OP...

Freaky.

jesusraz · Oct 31, 2007

Mdk7 said:
\o/

Day one i guess...

And since i only listen to Crossover/Metalcore, any advice for the custom soundtrack is more than welcome and deeply appreciated! ^_^

Whenever I look at this game I always envisage listening to the Best of Enya...or perhaps something like Deep Forest or Enigma :/ Definitely looking forward to this one, purely to see just what the experience is like.

Mdk7 · Oct 31, 2007

Mudhoney said:
Yah, it looks like you might want to go with straight up metal.

Korn, Mudvayne, American Head Charge, ILL Nino, Killswitch Engage and so on are fine with me... but this game needs something moody...

A technical question: does anybody know how the mp3 storage works on Wii with the SD card? Because i've been playing Excite with my custom soundtrack made of heavy tunes and i wouldn't want to play Endless Ocean mixing Enya and Slipknot... :/

Bo130 · Oct 31, 2007

stilgar said:
America : August 2, 2007

Might want to change that. Otherwise, good thread, I'm still getting it sometime soon

Mudhoney · Oct 31, 2007

Tides
Red Sparowes
Pelican
Hammock
Earth
Grails
Do Make Say Think

might be good fits for this game

As for Enya, I think the game's default soundtrack is a lot like that already. I'm not sure.

Mdk7 said:
Korn, Mudvayne, American Head Charge, ILL Nino, Killswitch Engage and so on are fine with me... but this game needs something moody...

A technical question: does anybody know how the mp3 storage works on Wii with the SD card? Because i've been playing Excite with my custom soundtrack made of heavy tunes and i wouldn't want to play Endless Ocean mixing Enya and Slipknot... :/

Those bands aren't very metal to me but that's another discussion.

speedpop · Oct 31, 2007

This shit better get released in Australia or heads will roll.

Visualante · Oct 31, 2007

Bu bu but Mangod said it sucks.

Mdk7 · Oct 31, 2007

Mudhoney said:
Tides
Red Sparowes
Pelican
Hammock
Earth
Grails
Do Make Say Think

might be good fits for this game

As for Enya, I think the game's default soundtrack is a lot like that already. I'm not sure.

Those bands aren't very metal to me but that's another discussion.

Thanks for the advice! ^^

And those bands are crossover/metalcore to me btw.

stilgar · Oct 31, 2007

Bo130 said:
Might want to change that. Otherwise, good thread, I'm still getting it sometime soon

Thanks, fixed ^^

Aeana · Oct 31, 2007

Tim Follin's "Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future" soundtrack would probably go very well with this game.

usea · Oct 31, 2007

Mdk7 said:
And since i only listen to Crossover/Metalcore, any advice for the custom soundtrack is more than welcome and deeply appreciated! ^_^

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cHWj5Cu-Xrc

Bossman · Oct 31, 2007

I might buy it because of the online co-op. That could be kind of fun.

Scrubking · Oct 31, 2007

Did they fix the aquarium bug?

RSP · Oct 31, 2007

How does this game look on a big screen? 40"+ LCD or Large projection screen for instance.

Mdk7 · Nov 6, 2007

Has anyone already picked it up ?
I may get my hands on the game tomorrow...

No EU reviews yet apparently...

besada · Nov 6, 2007

I want more games like this. I want exploration and adventure games. I love shooting people in the face and all, don't get me wrong, but it would be nice to peacefully explore every once in awhile.

AfunkyArcadeStick · Nov 6, 2007

Oh wow...i've got to play this

ksamedi · Nov 6, 2007

Don't know what to think of this title. How much fish are there ot be seen?

underfooter · Nov 6, 2007

It's supposedly only going to be 29.99 here too.

Magique · Nov 6, 2007

FunkyMunkey said:
Okay. That music was going through my head as I was reading the OP...

Freaky.

Whu.. why did I have this too? Maybe it's the colours? o_o

:Motorbass · Nov 6, 2007

can't wait

Like the hat? · Nov 6, 2007

stilgar said:
Release dates :

Japan : August 2, 2007
Europe : November 9, 2007 . Price : 30 euros
America : January 2, 2007

sweet, I'll go out and pick it up right now.

but seriously, I will be getting this within 2 weeks of it's release.

TheJollyCorner · Nov 6, 2007

I definitely enjoy games like this.

I remember trying Aquanaut's Holiday for the PS1 back in 1996 or so, simply due to the novelty of it, and just got completely hooked.

I know I'll eventually get a Wii when my daughter gets a bit older, so this is one I'm really paying attention to. I just hope it's not ultra-rare in a couple years.

I'm really excited for AQUA (the new Aquanaut's Holiday for PS3) as well.

Ranger X · Nov 6, 2007

stilgar said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ

This is all you need for music.

Wow. It's now that i realise this song is one of the best Mario music ever. Quite easily. Kondo rocks.

Vic · Nov 6, 2007

We need to build up a collective GAF soundtrack for this game.

The kink in the wind and the way Part 1 from PSO and The downed Frigate Orpheon from Metroid Prime might fit with the game

CaVaYeRo · Nov 6, 2007

I'm anticipating this one, maybe because of its price.. maybe because I've played Wiki and Galaxy and those ones but not this, maybe because I want something relaxing with music abd BLUE.

The today's PR says it's 39, but most retailers have it at 29.

EDIT: I think we Europeans are getting the Alba cover instead:

Mdk7 · Nov 6, 2007

Vic said:
We need to build up a collective GAF soundtrack for this game.

The kink in the wind and the way Part 1 from PSO and The downed Frigate Orpheon from Metroid Prime might fit with the game

Thanks to a friend of mine (Vai Kiavikone!! ;d ) i found something terrific for this game:
Waiting for Cousteau by Jean Michael Jarre.
It's 46 minutes long and is PERFECT for Endless Ocean.
A sample here, enjoy! http://content.ytmnd.com/content/e/2/d/e2d971129bad515485996dec52d4580b.mp3

GaimeGuy · Nov 6, 2007

stilgar said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ

This is all you need for music.

wtf: stop reading our minds.

Joe Molotov · Nov 6, 2007

Vic said:
We need to build up a collective GAF soundtrack for this game.

I'll be listening to Enya - Sail Away on loop.

Rolf NB · Nov 6, 2007

"diversions, some offering hints of actual gameplay"

Doesn't sound like a game I'd want to play. But I got to say, it turned out looking nice.

Darkpen · Nov 6, 2007

stilgar said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcPSbkS9TQ

This is all you need for music.

:lol :lol

rollingstart · Nov 6, 2007

America : January 2, 2007

you mean 2008, right?

Amir0x · Nov 6, 2007

heh, this game has custom soundtrack, right?

Man I can think of plenty of legitimately great underwater sounding music to put there. Donkey Kong Country has a great underwater track too! Click

tapedeck · Nov 6, 2007

CaVaYeRo said:
I'm anticipating this one, maybe because of its price.. maybe because I've played Wiki and Galaxy and those ones but not this, maybe because I want something relaxing with music abd BLUE.

The today's PR says it's 39, but most retailers have it at 29.

EDIT: I think we Europeans are getting the Alba cover instead:

Now Im gonna be dissapointed when she's not on the cover. =(

peetfeet · Nov 6, 2007

If this aint as buggy as the Japanese version i'll be picking this up for some mellow time...

alex1893 · Nov 6, 2007

already pre-ordered it, should be shipped tomorrow.

As for the soundtrack, I'll try Henyk Goreckis symphony no. 3, especially the 27 minute first part fits quite well, I think. Some samples here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000013YW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Bleda · Nov 7, 2007

Amir0x said:
heh, this game has custom soundtrack, right?

Man I can think of plenty of legitimately great underwater sounding music to put there. Donkey Kong Country has a great underwater track too! Click

Yeah I was thinking about exactly that song, it will fit perfectly.
The 30 pricetag is a great surprise, I was expecting it to be 50. I'll probably pick it up.

ant1532 · Nov 7, 2007

Amir0x said:
heh, this game has custom soundtrack, right?

Man I can think of plenty of legitimately great underwater sounding music to put there. Donkey Kong Country has a great underwater track too! Click

That, dire dire docks from SM64, Underwater by Ghostface Killah, and various songs from Life Aquatic is going to be in my soundtrack for sure if I get this.

CreatureX3 · Nov 7, 2007

Ocarina of Time - Water Temple

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-kSyMUuU8o

Amir0x · Nov 7, 2007

ant1532 said:
That, dire dire docks from SM64, Underwater by Ghostface Killah, and various songs from Life Aquatic is going to be in my soundtrack for sure if I get this.

Yeah I'm going to whip together a fantastic underwater soundtrack for this game. Great track but Ghostface btw, love that shit.

I am definitely getting this 100%, no doubt now that the price is $29.99.

Vic · Nov 7, 2007

Vic said:
We need to build up a collective GAF soundtrack for this game.

The kink in the wind and the way Part 1 from PSO and The downed Frigate Orpheon from Metroid Prime might fit with the game

Downed Frigate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LudFV61zsaw

Kink in the wind, but it might be too sci-fic for this game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4gssOovV3A

Great Rumbler · Nov 7, 2007

I think this game calls for some Music For Airports.

Vic said:
Downed Frigate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LudFV61zsaw

This one too.

Vic · Nov 7, 2007

Actually, Revolution to the origin part 1 fits the submarine theme better than Kink http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlJzR3s4KjI

speedpop · Nov 7, 2007

Mdk7 said:
Thanks to a friend of mine (Vai Kiavikone!! ;d ) i found something terrific for this game:
Waiting for Cousteau by Jean Michael Jarre.
It's 46 minutes long and is PERFECT for Endless Ocean.
A sample here, enjoy! http://content.ytmnd.com/content/e/2/d/e2d971129bad515485996dec52d4580b.mp3

Damn this is pretty unreal. Will have to track it down.

Great Rumbler said:
I think this game calls for some Music For Airports.

And yes I agree as well.

Mdk7 · Nov 7, 2007

The game is out in Italy, available at Mediaworld.
Too bad i'm stuck at work till 6 o'clock. T_T

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