Endless Ocean: Dive, Discover, Dream Reviews

• Mellow, interesting, pretty.

  
  By AU4X9XZLS5LI5 on 2008-01-23
  I bought this game for my 7-year-old since he loves learning about fish, but my action-game-addicted 12-year-old also loves it. The games has defined goals, but it is essentially an exploration game. You can't lose or die as far as I can tell. You spend most of your time swimmming around, looking at and interacting with various marine life while a soothing New Age score plays in the background. My younger one hates the music, but he can listen to his MP3s on an SD card while playing. There was a lot of reading for him at the beginning, so 7 is about the lower age limit on this game unless your younger child is precocious and reads very well or you want to help them with it.
  
  This is not an action game, but you "collect" information and specimens, photograph them and make friends with dolphins. You occasionally lead tourists on dives and interact with the cute marine biologist who can't swim. Missions, which usually arrive by e-mail accessed on board your dive boat, give some structure to the game, but they are laid-back and not time-limited so you can explore at a leisurely pace.
  
  The controls are simple, requiring only the Wii-mote and the graphics are good, though not jaw-dropping. The sea floor environments and lighting/water effects are well-rendered and the marine life is quite detailed.The whales and rays do present a certain "Wow!" factor and the ocean world seems vast.
  
  All-in-all, I would recommend this game as an experience. It is relaxing and will be intriguing to anyone who is interested in aquatic life. It's a welcome change of pace from violence and frenetic cartoon action and it is educational. I like that my kids spend time immersed in a virtual world that celebrates the wonders of our planet and focuses them on co-operation and co-existence instead of always conflict and violence. It may be a bit slow for those who like constant challenges or non-stop action.
  
  
  
  

• Dive, Discover, Dream - Exactly!

  
  By A19SE2ZAH016LT on 2008-01-25
  Absolutely beautiful game. The underwater visuals are incredible from the sea floor, hidden treasure, coral, caves, sunken ships, schools of fish, dolphins, manta rays, whales, and much more. Sunlight from above will also filter down below the surface. Day also turns to night and you can go night diving where you may find different types of sea life.
  
  Now, when you are on the boat, it's a different story. The visuals look incomplete. The boat, character, water and skyline all have a "unpolished" look to them. Also, your character apparently has something shoved up his or her rear as you walk around the boat "stiffly". But, this is all minor stuff as you will be underwater most of the time so, it's not a big deal. Again, the underwater world is absolutely a joy to the eyes.
  
  The music is nicely done and very relaxing, but you can load up your SD Card with .MP3 files and listen to your own music while on the ship or diving below. That is a very nice feature and I believe only the second developer to implement this feature on the Wii so far.
  
  You will also be able to customize your character by changing your diving wear and equipment.
  
  The game is totally laid back and you can pretty much do whatever you want, when you want. But you aren't completely on your own. There are definitely specific things to accomplish if you want to. You will receive emails from people wanting you to investigate a specific underwater location, find a special fish or hidden treasure, take photos or even to go along with you as a diving guide. Many of these result in rewards such as new equipment and gear. You actually should accept the first few email requests as it's the only way to get the underwater pen and camera and to unlock the Wi-Fi Connection gateway.
  
  You will help a dolphin early on in the game and he will then become your partner and you can go on dives together. The dolphin will actually help you find hidden items on the sea floor. You can also have the dolphin do tricks up above while you are on the boat. It looks like you can have up to 3 partners to play with. I've only found the dolphin so I don't know what the others will be.
  
  I haven't tested the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection feature, but you can have a Wii friend come over to your boat (or you can go to their boat) and you can go on dives together. Looks like that can be fun. You can communicate with various pre-set greetings and commands or use an underwater pen to draw or communicate (like a whiteboard). It would of been nice to have built-in voice chat capability.
  
  This is a refreshing addition to your Wii library and I think everyone should own this game. It's a very unique and refreshing experience.
  
  

• A great ocean simulation for kids.

  
  By A2MT3HE2N31ZKK on 2008-06-16
  Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RSQZQ8GAUQFLO I review games for the wii on youtube. This is an edited version of the original review I did for the game. To see the full version or to see more of my reviews go to www.youtube.com/wiiviewr.
  
  

• Endless Possibilities

  
  By A3EW2L59UBHQSG on 2008-03-02
  Throughout gaming history most every game has focused on some form of the following, getting the high score, collecting the most items or finishing the story of the game. ENDLESS OCEAN is a game that bucks that trend and instead asks you to play for no other reason than to have fun. That alone will cause many gamers to run for the hills screaming that the game is boring, but it isn't as long as you accept the game for what it is and not wish it to be like everything else.
  
  At the beginning of the game you can choose to be a male or female diver and you play the game diving into the ocean looking for new and exotic life as well as exploring caves and such. There are no time limits or goals, though you can choose to do the menial tasks your ships owner asks of you there is no reward or penalty for doing so. You are also encouraged to gather information on the different forms of life you encounter and take pictures of them. But the main point is to explore just for the fun of it and that's what I see as the genius of this game.
  
  With such an esoteric reason for playing there's got to be something to keep the more traditional gamer entertained and that's where the graphics come into play. Playing this game it's very easy to get lost in the world created because everything is so life-like and beautiful. From enormous whales and tiny schools of fish to seaweed swaying in the water, the graphics really impress. This is a game to show off how cool games can look on Wii. That is as long as you stay in the water. Things get more blocky and movements are noticeably jerky whenever you board your ship to save your game, receive instruction and talk to your ship mate.
  
  As is typical for Wii, controls are easy to learn and intuitive. Want to swim left? Simply point the controller to the left hand side of the screen. What could be easier than that? The simple controls and laid back game play make this a game that is perfect for every member of the family.
  
  Though it won't appeal to every gamer, this is a game that anyone with a sense of adventure and love of discovery will be completely enthralled by. Those looking for new kinds of games to play need look no further than ENDLESS OCEAN. Despite being slow by traditional standards and its uneven graphics, it's a game that's truly fun and unique.
  
  

• Not quite what I was expecting.

  
  By A4D5B7Q8A7PA6 on 2008-04-09
  I purchased this game primarily on the reviews which led me to believe I'd be getting a free-roaming scuba simulation with a little game tacked on.
  
  Really though that isn't the case. Your ability to free roam is limited to a small circular area of a few hundred square feet which you can't leave. If you want to roam further you have to move your boat which then moves the boundary to the new point. But to get the use of the boat you have to perform several tasks first - in fact to get use of several items you have to perform these tasks.
  
  Perhaps later in the game the boundary gets bigger - not sure. The mandatory 'teach your dolphin to somersault' sub-game turned me off so much I doubt I'll return.
  
  Very disappointed.
  
  
• fun and rekaxing
  By A213V02FJVUKUZ on 2008-01-23
  This game clearly states that you can't win,or lose. The point is to swim around and discover the ocean. I bought this for my son because it looked fairly easy to operate, turns iyt when I was playing it I had to fight him off because he had so much fun playing it. This is not an action packed game, so if that is what you are looking for, DO NOT BUY IT. For every one else I highly recomend the purchase. Have fun
  
  
• Endless Boredom
  By AJQF2XYYECS93 on 2008-02-08
  I don't even know where to start with this 'game'. It's not even a real game, there's no point to it, you just swim around and interact with sea creatures. You can't die or get hurt, you don't level up, you don't even run out of air. Find sealife pet it, poke it, feed it, get bored. Here's a Great White Shark, hmmmm, let me pet it. Hey, a Stingray, I'll pet him too, it worked out well for Steve Irwin. Ok, that was bad, I miss Steve a lot. I'm sure he'd hate this game too though.
  
  
• A gentle and lovely game...
  By A2ID0L8WBX15BK on 2008-02-28
  I'm 38 so I know that I'm outside the target demographic for most games, and that's been fine with me. I find most video games to be too frenetic and overall not nearly enough fun to justify the investment of time that it takes to master them.
  The Wii is the first console to actually attract and hold my attention, and this game is the first game I've ever really fallen in love with. I didn't know what this game was about when I first ordered it, but I thought the premise was interesting - basically you take on the role of an oceanic explorer on a boat in a fictional tropical sea.
  From the very first screen, I was hooked. The game is just beautiful to look at and it manages to walk that fine line - being entertaining and enjoyable to play while also being educational. It's a gentle, relaxing, utterly entrancing virtual deep sea dive.
  I bought it during an extremely stressful time in my life and playing this game every evening was the perfect way to relax and unwind before bed.
  I admit, I'm a sap - but when I first came around the reef wall and saw a whale coming towards me through the water? It felt a little....magical.
  
  I love this game and I hope that the folks who created it go on to create many, many more such games - for those of us who want more out of our free time than "Point, click, explosion."
  
  
• Expected better
  By A3VWWQT4XDSBGQ on 2008-06-03
  After all the rave reviews of this game I was somewhat disappointed with this due to one thing: actually getting in the water and swimming is gated by some annoying quest-like mechanics. One would expect to load up the game, go through a movement tutorial (this does happen) and then start swimming in various reefs from around the world. But no. There is a pointless choose hairstyle and skin tone step first. Then you have to walk around on a boat and talk to an NPC.
  
  I bought this for my kids (6, 4, 3) thinking it would be a fun and educational experience and it is now, but whenever the game wants to advance the "story" I take over and get through it as fast as possible so the kids can get back to scuba diving.
  
  
• Explore, Discover and Enjoy
  By A1ISAZK2OMBXBX on 2008-02-24
  Endless Ocean is a unique SCUBA diving game that takes a diversion away from the norm by promoting real-time exploration in place of action oriented game mechanics and therefore risks having many gamers feel like there is a lack of structure in the game. Just like the title suggests, Endless Ocean is about spending limitless time exploring the ocean and the game is full of just about everything you would expect to find in an underwater ocean environment.
  
  The gameplay consists of playing the role of a diver and completing leisurely tasks that involve diving and exploring. The Wii controls are very intuitive and work very well for this game. So, does the gameplay seem lacking in some way? No, not really for me because I am the type of gamer that derives pleasure from ambient worlds when they are created well, artistically, in a game, and as well I am a fan of exploring the depths of the ocean through SCUBA diving and learning true facts about many real species of animal life that reside in the ocean. As for those gamers looking to play and conquer for the purpose of progressing through action packed levels, this is not that type of a game and will probably disappoint on that level. However, if you are blessed with the ability to enjoy the zen of embracing ocean life through the use of a decent video game simulation then you have a good chance of actually enjoying this title quite a bit. One thing I will say about this game, to it's credit, is that it wholly promotes a respect for animal life and provides a great deal of real world information on what you'll find in the ocean. So it is an educational game for those interested in this type of information.
  
  The graphics in Endless Ocean vary from being simplistic and jaggy, to being very beautiful and realistic. For the most part the underwater realms of the ocean are very pleasing to the eye and full of aquatic life that is satisfying to look at and interact with. Dolphins, sea lions, penguins, all kinds of fish, lobsters, Manta rays, whales and much more, are all displayed and animated very convincingly and lend to a satisfying sense of exploring a realistic and living ocean environment.
  
  The game does indeed have a story along with many consecutive requests from various people, ranging from Katheryn (your partner on the boat), to various others requesting your services for photography, underwater tour guiding, artifact recovery and more. You can choose to be either male or female and customize your charactor to a small degree. You have the ability to navigate your boat to different locales on the map, check your email for requests and updates, wander the deck to check out various animals camping out on the boat, talk with Katheryn, sit back in a chair on deck and watch the sunset, train your various dolphin or Orca partners (partners you can decide to take on as you progress through the game) to do tricks and more. Most importantly, you can dive.
  
  If you are the type of gamer that likes to embrace the world around you and revel in it's ambience, then this should be a hit with you.
  
  If you are more inclined to feel you need constant progress by using skills to win your way through a game, then you probably will get bored with this game very quickly.
  
  In opposition to what has been stated in some reviews, it takes much longer than a few hours to see most of what Endless Ocean has to offer. I completed the main story in about 20 hours and still have quite a few areas that have not been explored. You can probably play 30 hours or more without feeling that you are redoing things or that you have seen everything. You could spend over 100 hours and still not have all of the animal life filled in within your encyclopedia.
  
  All in all, this is an above average SCUBA experience that wanders away from traditional gameplay in favor of promoting the exploring aspects of the real life experience and emphasizing the rewarding parts into an easygoing RPG structure.
  
  
  
• Mini Heart Attacks....not therapeutic
  By on 2008-05-18
  I'm 11 years old and this game is too creepy for me. I was hoping for a peaceful, relaxing game but I got nothing of the sort. It started off as 5 stars for me because it was very calm and nice. It quickly dropped to 4 stars because I had to explore an abyss. This wouldn't have been so bad, but as soon as I got down there, it started playing scary music. My mom's friend (Banana Pup...see reviews) was kind enough to explore it for me while I hid my eyes, listening to a play-by-play description of what was going on. Then I had to find a whale shark and came across some ruins and some creepy music. Immediately I got scared, my mom's friend took over, and my rating dropped to a 3. We found some artifacts on the ocean floor and when we came back up to the boat, instead of talking to Katherine, there was another cut away scene, looking down at me, like a bird's eye view, saying something like "you must atone to the sleeper." I had no clue what was going on, and revised my rating to a 2. Then I got an anonymous email titled "HE IS COMING"! Then it said something like "darkness and terror eat you up and turn your hair white"! That was enough for me to say I'm never going to play this game ever again. Then it was left as a one star game. I wasn't expecting any of this to happen. Every single review that I read NEVER said anything like that! If you don't like creepy games.....STAY AWAY!
  
  
• Endless Ocean, Endless Fun?!
  By A5EZ7OFOZ7YKI on 2008-01-24
  I just got this game the day it came out and I was really excited as I don't have the time and resources to actually go diving too much anymore. This game helps to fill the void, a little. It's great fun to discover new fish and spots. The change of seasons and day/night feature is really cool, and there is nothing like seeing something coming out of the dark depths and all of a sudden a Huge Whale brushes by you as you look on with amazement. The graphics are pretty good, just a little choppy. I am going to be getting the 480p cables and I hope it remedies a little. So far the only real big complaint I have is that I can't seem to get my own music MP3's to play on a shuffle, they will only play one song on repeat until I go back to the boat and physically change it myself. If anyone knows how please write it in a review! Overall if you are looking to do some hunting and killing and see some extreme action - then this is not the game for you, but if you are looking for a relaxing pick up and play interesting game, and if you have ever been diving or wanted to go out diving then give this game a try!!!!
  
  
• There IS a game here!
  By A3IBKT52IAR6EQ on 2008-03-03
  It's true: you can just swim around, if that is what suits you. But after you explore most of the map, you'll learn that there is indeed a goal. I won't spoil it completely, but it has to do with discovering a legendary creature called the Ancient Mother. Along the way--should you choose to swim with a goal in mind and not just swim--you'll encounter dozens of beautifully rendered sea creatures, hidden ruins filled with ancient secrets, sunken ships, and a chasm over 500 feet deep, each of which make for some truly thrilling moments.
  
  Somewhat less compelling is the personal story of your shipmate Kat, which is revealed in small segments. The presentation of this character is the main reason for my giving the game only four stars; her silent pantomimed "speaking" with subtitles is very dated. Still, she faces some interesting (if neurotic) personal issues that make one want to keep learning more.
  
  This is part of what I like so much about this game: my five year-old son can enjoy swimming around and finding cool-looking sea life, and I can enjoy the added challenge and excitement of finding new areas, creatures, and pieces of Kat's puzzle. And from what I've read, I have quite a task ahead of me; apparently one must find and "interact" with all 200 different sea creatures in the game--three times each!--to reach the conclusion.
  
  All this for thirty bucks. Let's hope there will be more "niche" titles like this in Wii's future and that this one will get the attention it deserves.
  
  
• Chill game for the naturally curious
  By A1ZYVDBSFNN116 on 2008-02-15
  Endless Ocean appeals with its mellow, self-directed pace, I get to learn about the animals every time I play, and it's a wonderful escape from February in Colorado. It's not a game for the shoot 'em gamer - but then, the Wii is supposed to appeal to a much wider crowd and this game fits in with that great.
  
  I've always wanted to be a marine zoologist, so I am probably right in the center of the target audience, but this is all the diving fun without the jellyfish stings or statistics. There's enough structure - with guided dives, photos to take, species to find - to keep me moving along through the plot and around the ocean world, but on the nights that I just want to chill I can just go dive whatever I want.
  
  I recommend Endless Ocean for people who don't want to shoot anything, don't want to raise their heart rate or stress levels, and find fun in exploration.
  
  
• Gloriously Relaxing
  By AK0IJY9S9Q84C on 2008-01-30
  This is pure stress relief in a video game. The underwater graphics are stunning and very detailed, the soundtrack is beautiful and there is a really sweet feel to the interaction with the sea critters. They love being petted, and it is a delight to see them react. This is a real treat for anyone who is an animal lover. I am amazed at the educational aspect of this game as well. Not only do you learn to identify fish, but their behavior seems very realistic.
  
  The best thing, though is being able to swim with the dolphins. What a treat. I highly recommend this lovely game experience.
  
  
  
• Addictive, but know what you're getting
  By A1INNIFY58JOZO on 2008-05-19
  Endless Ocean is a very unique experience compared with traditional games. It's not Super Smash Brothers; you don't fight anyone, there's no score kept, and you really can't die or meet with other bad fates. It's also not a scuba diving simulation; as a certified diver, I doubt I'd follow a large shark into a narrow cave in real life, but in the game, no problem. You don't have to worry about getting the bends, running out of air (even if you stayed down long enough, you're simply returned to the boat), or getting stung by jellyfish or attacked by aggressive sea creatures.
  
  What is addicting about the game is the exploration. There are several unique sites in the game, each of which has varying sea life; if the thought of seeing a humpback whale overhead during gameplay sounds exciting, this might be for you. There are numerous objects to find, previously undiscovered sites to explore, and a plot that develops over time involving your shipmate Kat. For the most part, you have complete freedom about where to dive and what to do; if you want to ignore the dive guide requests and photo opportunities, you can do so.
  
  The game starts a little slowly in order to orient you with the controls and the layout. However, within an hour or so you have quite a bit of freedom turned over to you (especially once the boat navigation opens). You can acquire dolphin partners, that if you want you can train from the back of the boat (a little silly, but entertaining occasionally). You also have a camera for underwater photography opportunities.
  
  My wife and I, both scuba divers, find the game captivating. Within three weeks, we have each logged over 20 hours of game play. A key part of the storyline can be completed in ~8-20 hours of play, depending on how quickly you decide to accept varying tasks. However, exploring everything, finding all artifacts, and identifying all of the sea life will likely take longer. Since the game doesn't keep a score or have one ultimate goal, fans of the game will likely play beyond the minimum anyway. Overall, we find the game a nice relaxing deviation from the typical frantic pace of most games.
  
  
• Immersive Experience, I'm Hooked! (No pun intended...)
  By AEHNMFVVN6ZB5 on 2008-01-28
  Endless Ocean is far from 'boring' as some gaming critics would have you believe. From the several hours I've already played, I felt like there was plenty to keep me busy (and I've barely scratched the surface). Yes, it's certainly not an adrenaline pumping adventure, but that's not a bad thing. It's an exploration experience... it doesn't try to be something it's not, and this works beautifully.
  
  The educational aspects of the game aren't forced down your throat either. (You gain facts on each creature as you meet and interact with them.) You can choose to read the descriptions at any time, or as far as I can tell, never at all. The animals and treasures you discover get collected back on your boat so you can read and look over them at your leisure. This is definitely a bonus if you're a junkie for collecting everything within a game. Adding to your collection of info and items also gives a sense of accomplishment after each dive.
  
  I think Endless Ocean offers a healthy dose of wonderment and fun. I look forward to discovering everything else the game has to offer... I've already experienced a lot but the game promises much much more. (i.e. night diving, finding/training more animal companions, exploring the rest of the island waters, completing its occasional objects, discovering hidden treasure, etc.)
  
  The game has its share of imperfections yet they are minor enough that they don't ruin the overall experience. My major disappointment is actually the price. While the discounted MSRP of $30 might lure in skeptics and casual gamers, I'm afraid it might have the opposite affect on other players. There's some kind of stigma attached to cheaper games... it's harder to take a title seriously when it's being undersold right from the start.
  
  I hope a lot of people will give this game a chance regardless of any prejudice. I recommend it to anyone (young or old, casual gamer or serious player) that is looking for a unique experience. Even if you're more inclined towards task-oriented action games, still give this a try. It's nice to have at least one game to come back to at the end of the day that offers you the opportunity to unwind and the freedom to play as you please.
  
  
• What an amazing experience
  By A3PGIRULVPBJ1 on 2008-02-14
  Even though I am a COD4 fan, I absolutely love this game/experience. It is such a relaxing alternative to the run and gun games and you truly get lost in this amazing world. Very highly recommended.
  
  
• relaxing
  By AFMMFKTGBT11J on 2008-05-30
  This game is very relaxing if you want a break from the norm of playing games. This is an educational and low key game. Not bad for me but for two kids 6 and 3 noway too young and there is alot of reading for them.
  
  
• If You Want Something Relaxing....
  By A2XJ9EN8RFHD7E on 2008-01-24
  Then this is the game for you. If you want action, look somewhere else. This is the perfect video game for after a stressful day of work....you swim around and interact with fish and explore the enviroment. The music is relaxing and the graphics are impressive for a Wii game. Very detailed...you can even see sunlight reflecting on the sandy bottom. Sound effects are relaxing too, as you always have the constant sound of breathing through a regulator.
  
  I have a 42" LCD tv but I'd imagine it wouldn't be as impressive on say a 27" tv.
  
  
  
  
• Relaxing, visually beautiful, and entertaining
  By A3T2PN691ACIL8 on 2008-03-09
  I am no "video gamer" but got this for myself in case my kids ever let me have a crack at the "Wii". I must say as a SCUBA diver this brings back memories, and there is a little bit of adventure, but this is the kind of game you can turn down the lights and just enjoy exploring the sights and the ocean life. There are occasional surprises, and the beautiful and fairly realistic scenery (on a high def TV) is worth it.
  
  
• This is NOT really a game, but an adventure of sorts.
  By A3BD7IAXM8BVTJ on 2008-03-10
  Let me start by saying I bought this for my non gaming wife, just so she could have something where you can't lose, you can't die, there is no challenge, no levels to beat, and time is virtually meaningless. All of this is achieved in Endless Ocean. A non-gaming game genre!
  
  With that said, SHE LOVES IT! I think she would easily give it 5 stars, but she's not writing this, I am. The first time (or two) I plugged in the disk I have to admit being disappointed. But when I reached a point where I was tired of action, strategy, and games in the fast lane I tried again. What I discovered is that Endless Ocean lets you immerse yourself in a relaxing, slow paced world, that is very enjoyable, even surreal.
  
  Ok, there is a little too much reading dialog at times (for me), but it does give some direction of "things to do, if you want to", and I think this is one of the things my wife likes about it. The dialog among other things, sort of provides missions to accomplish in order to give an additional sense of purpose (besides exploring) to the experience.
  
  You might have read that you can play MP3's (if you have an SD card) and that is true, however it plays the same song over and over so you better pick something soft and smooth, or even instrumental. I loaded a few songs from Enya which seem to go very well with diving. I know you can turn it off during a dive, but if you can change the song without being on the boat I haven't figured it out yet.
  
  So if you ever get in a NON-GAME mode, or you're not much of a gamer in the first place, you can spend hours exploring the ocean, interacting with sea life, and collecting artifacts with stunningly beautiful graphics. This is an adventure for all ages and even this gamer has logged a few hours under the sea. Actually I can't wait for my next dive. I'm no longer disappointed with this title, but it took my wife really liking it (and me feeling like I didn't need to conquer something) before I gave it the chance it deserves.
  
  
  
• Takes boredom to a new level!
  By AZV6Q51FY9NQ3 on 2008-04-03
  I read the reviews here on Amazon and thought that this would be a great game. I bought it, got home and played it.
  What a letdown, this game is boring and tedious. My kids won't even play it, there is no action, no danger, no nothing. They don't even let you have a harpoon gun! If you like to pet fish, then this game is for you.
  Petting fish is not exactly what I was looking for in a game.
  
  
• Mindless and numbing
  By A2VTGXADJ74J3D on 2008-04-20
  I bought this because I am a diver, and the other reviews were favorable. OK, the graphics aren't too bad, but there really is no purpose. There are no challenges relating to diving or the wildlife. The whole purpose, more or less, is to pet fish. That's right, pet fish. After a couple of hours I was ready to open a vein. So I had my 16 YO daughter try it. Maybe I was expecting too much, being a diver. It took her less time than me to lose interest. I would have rated 1 star, but it does make a nice coaster.
  
  
• Relaxing, fascinating, Great for kids....
  By AIWDGRTLV7IQF on 2008-04-21
  This is a wonderful Wii game. My son plays this as a relaxation tool, when he is stressed out. He enjoys learning about the fish, and can name dozens of ocean fish and their habits.
  
  In the game, you have a boat and diving gear. You start slow, searching for fish. The pace is slow, accompanied by mesmerizing music. The point is to swim around, relax, see fish, very much like real diving.
  
  
  As the game develops, you find clues for a larger puzzle, the history of the island. You find undersea ruins, tour caves, find sunken ships, and see strange creatures. Your photo journal fills with neat pictures of exotic fish and locations.
  
  All is done at a slow, swimming pace, and my 8 year old is in love with this game in part because after a stressful day of school, homework, sports, this game is a relaxing and yet interesting experience.
  
  
  
• ok
  By AOD36ZAJYTPE6 on 2008-07-14
  A nice non violent game I will let my granddaughter play. Its also cheaper than the real vacation.
  
  
• Completely Different
  By A4EI1SIUGE360 on 2008-01-29
  Games like this (and No More Heroes, Zack and Wiki etc.) are the reason why the Wii was built and why I picked one up in the first place: innovation. In a world of games where every shooter or strategy game is just like the last, games like this are few and far between. Thanks to the wii's technical limitations, small development firms can create such gems at budget prices for gamers.
  
  Endless Ocean is essentially about the feeling of diving. It may sound boring and frankly looks boring if you are watching somebody play it, but the experience is completely immersive. I thought looking at the data on fish or examining rock formations would turn me off eventually, but with every new discovery it becomes more engrossing. The addition of mp3s was one of the best choices for this title. The soundtrack by Hayley Westenra is quite suitable, but when you put on some epic music (like the intro from Ghost in the Shell: Innocence or Berserk) it becomes something completely empowering. The same goes for the boat. The music for the boat is absolutely terrible until you put your own track. The best comparison to this game is probably Rez (the classic PS2 and DC shooter). In that game you have the feeling of floating to the music, and although you are not shooting anything here, the feeling is quite similar.
  
  Lastly, although this may seem like a simple game, it will turn most children off. If anything, it is for adults who are curious about ocean life or simply seek a peaceful game experience. So buy Endless Ocean now. After all, make the most of your Wii. If you're just a Nintendo fanboy who bought the system for all the franchises, then I feel bad for you since most major first party titles have been released. If you are everybody else, you've come to the right place.
  
  
• Hypnotic and addictive!
  By A1CWRA2O73XWKI on 2008-01-29
  A peaceful, serene and strangely addictive diving simulation game, where you basically just "identify" sea creatures by interacting with them. The addictive part comes from the way you collect these identified specimens in your "encyclopedia" each time you identify one. It's like collecting baseball cards: the desire to fill your collection is hard to resist. The visuals are stunning, and it's amazing how exciting it is to discover some new form of sea life around every corner.
  
  As others have noted, pretty much everything that takes place on the deck of your boat is of lesser quality and slightly silly. It's disappointing that there's no voice acting, just a character that "mimes" talking while dialogue appears on the screen. That shortcoming hardly seems fitting for a console game in 2008. It seems more like old Playstation 1 quality.
  
  However, once you're in the water, the visuals are beautiful enough to make you forget that minor complaint. The in-game music by Hayley Westenra is hypnotic and uplifting, making underwater vistas take on an almost spiritual quality. At one point, when I found an elusive manatee in a secret sunlit cave, the music suddenly changed and I was practically ecstatic for a few minutes!
  
  Even my daughter, who's only three and a half, enjoys finding sea animals (with my help) and interacting with them. Overall, I recommend this game to anyone of any age who wants a unique, pretty, and relaxingly open-ended gaming experience, with some cool surprises along the way. I've logged over 15 hours on the game so far, and there's still more to discover.
  
  
• Refreshing and well done
  By ATRBUUULLLIMF on 2008-02-07
  As a certified SCUBA diver, I must say this is the best attempt to capture real life SCUBA diving in a video game. One does not need to concern themselves with the technical aspects of diving to enjoy this game. Those are left out. You don't even have to worry about dying. What this game does capture is the mental zone of being in a completely different world that reminds you that there is another planet down there. Did I mention that this game is only like $30 bucks? This is a great game for parents and their kids. I also commend Nintendo on the route they have decided to take with their game content.
  
  
• Not for everyone
  By A21MA6WQ37ZT9M on 2008-05-04
  As a fan of the virtual fishtank I expected to find a lot more fun from this game. The characters are lame and the discovery process is flat. The protagonist (aka you) in the game is a pony-tail guy who's supposed to be a trained diver with no knowledge of the ocean. Huh? Except for the trained diver part, I couldn't relate at all. Your sidekick is all smart about the ocean but acts like a ditz. Moving around the boat (and moving the boat around) is tedious. Swimming around and looking at fish is enjoyable for a while, but it does get old.
  
  

• Wii Hip Street Cheer Pom Poms - Pink/Silver
• SanDisk SDSDG-2048-A11 2GB SD Gaming
• Manhunt 2

• Winter Sports The Ultimate Challenge
• Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel
• We Ski
• Carnival Games
• Official Nintendo Wii Wheel