Mute but not meaningless, the scenario of ABZÛ puts us in the shoes of a mysterious diver, who likes to evolve among all kinds of aquatic species. His encounter with a shark could well break this tranquility, but the obvious opposition between man and animal actually hides something more subtle. Even if it is touching and contributes to the poetic atmosphere of the adventure, the story of the game is however not essential. Without any dialogue or text, the narration is deliberately fragmented and extremely discreet. Far from being a defect, this additional touch of subtlety reinforces the extremely relaxing atmosphere of the journey. The game has a beginning and an end, but it constantly invites us to take breaks and make the most of the journey. Thus, meditation points are regularly scattered in the sets. By activating them, we can observe more closely the different animal species present in the surroundings, for an encyclopedic purpose since their name then appears on the screen, or just for the pleasure of following their movements. Better still, it is possible at any time to cling to the largest fish and marine mammals, in order to commune with them and take a short walk together. These two relaxing activities are an opportunity to admire extremely fluid and graceful animations, which greatly contribute to creating an enchanting atmosphere. But ABZÛ is also a real game, which asks us to go through different levels (completely devoid of loading screens) and occasionally solve some always simple puzzles. Not a hardcore gamer for a penny, and that's good, the creation of Matt Nava invites above all to travel, reflection and a change of scenery.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS
The multitude of aquatic species present (manatees, dolphins, whales, killer whales, rays, sea turtles, giant squid, fish of all kinds...), the artistic direction which finds the right balance between personality and realism, the colors to both vivid and pastel, and the magnificent soundtrack signed by the "journeyian" Austin Wintory form an extremely harmonious whole, which delights the eyes as well as the ears. Obviously, this Switch version is not the most technically accomplished, especially if we compare it to the PC version. However, while the graphics appear blurrier and more aliased when playing on the big screen, they instantly regain their luster when switching to handheld mode. The staircase effects then disappear, and the Switch screen displays beautiful bright colors. The icing on the hammerhead shark, the portable mode allows you to enjoy the adventure in new conditions.
If we often mention the possibility of “playing in the subway” to praise the nomadic nature of Switch games, here we will rather be delighted to be able to play under the duvet or in any other quiet corner of the house. A calm and cozy atmosphere is perfectly suited to this poetic journey, which benefits from being carried out in the greatest possible serenity. Incidentally, note that the Joy-Cons provide flawless handling, which was not the case with the keyboard / mouse pair on the PC version. We can still regret that this new release on Switch does not come with some specific bonuses. Even a simple digital artbook or a small making-of video would have brought a nice added value to this version. Finally, there is the question of the price, fixed at 20€. At first glance, it seems low compared to console standards. But for a game which is already two years old, which is a bit less beautiful than elsewhere, and which can be finished in two hours if you make the mistake of not hanging around, a little extra effort could have been made in terms of relates to pricing.
