Under the Waves is a captivating love letter to deep-sea grief
In too deep
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Set in the depths of the North Sea,Under the Wavesis a narrative-driven adventure game set in the techno-futuristic 1970s from developers Parallel Studio and publisher Quantic Dream. Following its first announcement at Gamescom in 2022,Under the Wavesis finally coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and PC on August 29.
In this underwater adventure, you take on the character of Stan, a professional diver challenged with facing a life-changing loss and navigating a future unknown. To coincide with the game’s release, Parallel Studio, and Quantic Dream are partnering with Surfrider Foundation Europe, a non-profit association based around the enhancement of lakes, rivers, oceans, waves, and coastlines to support the message of ocean preservation which is echoed throughout the game itself.
Under the Wavesis designed to serve as a love letter to the oceans, alongside being a manifestation of isolation and loss felt when dealing with grief. The story will be brought to life through cinematic visuals, emotive storytelling, and an enchantingly peaceful soundtrack, as shown through itsoriginal announcement trailer.
Throughout the game, you will be tasked with traversing the abyss of the ocean to admire wildlife, salvage waste, and collectibles, and piece together Stan’s backstory before facing the difficult decision of whether or not you are ready to return to the surface - both figuratively and literally.
During the journey, you will also need to rely on your resources to craft equipment to continue exploring, emphasizing the importance of decision-making and persistence at a time when it would be so easy to give in and succumb to the pressure.
It’s safe to say whileUnder the Waves’initial focus rests on all things under the sea, the message this game portrays goes a lot deeper, perfectly sitting among some of Quantic Dream’s existing titles such asHeavy Rain,Beyond: Two Souls, andDetroit: Become Human.
For more on all the games announced this summer, check in with all of ourE3 2023coverage.
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Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she’s spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you’ll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.
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