It’s hard to imagine human life without struggle. I think we’ve all been there, we’ve all visited some dark corners of our minds. For some, these were just quick visits while others tend to stay in those corners much longer. Convincing those to get back out and allowing light to cast away the darkness isn’t easy; as their fragile self-image is easily destroyed by the monsters they created.
Find your light
Sea of Solitude isn’t just a game, it’s an experience, one you better play while you’re in a good mental headspace. You take control over Kay, a young woman who transformed into a monster and is left alone in a dark flooded world inhabited by huge monsters. Right from the start, you’ll learn that Kay is an extremely vulnerable character. She’s desperately looking for a way out but time after time, the darkness takes over and she has to start over again. Kay’s journey isn’t a happy one, it’s filled with dark emotions. Emotions of isolation, emotions of being left behind, depression, and self-doubt. Kay could easily drown in those emotions but it’s the light that keeps her going. The light of others, the light of friends, the light of her own resilience. In the end, it’s not about depression, it’s about recovery. It doesn’t matter how dark the world around Kay gets, she has to keep moving forward to reach salvation. To say it in the words of Charles Bukowski“What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire”.
This quote might even be the best way to explain a game like Sea of Solitude. Explaining what it does to you on paper is extremely hard but I’m sure it’s a game that won’t leave you untouched while playing. During its roughly six hours of adventure, you’ll come in touch with some dark but very natural emotions we all faced at some point in our lives. The only major difference is that you won’t feel the emotions, you’ll live them, making it harder to ignore. At the end of the game, you’ll have gone through an emotional rollercoaster and if it clicks the same way as it did with me, it’s probably an experience you’ll never forget.
Face your inner demons
The way Sea of Solitude is created is beyond beautiful. It reminded me most of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, visually speaking. When Kay sets free her light, the world around her gets colored back in, showcasing the true beauty of everything that’s around her. The soft colors in combination with the cel-shaded look really result in something truly unique, a world where you can lose yourself. When everything is reclaimed by the light, you can easily exit your trustworthy boat and start looking for hidden objects in the gorgeous world. At these points, the game feels like a typical platforming game with some light puzzle elements, but everything changes when darkness takes over.
“What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire”
Surrounded by darkness, the game takes a different direction. You’re no longer exploring a vivid world, instead, you’re often left alone in your boat in the middle of a monster-filled dark sea. As if this wasn’t bad enough already, the moments Kay leaves her boat behind in the darkness are truly thrilling. The darkness is filled with monsters, monsters who are constantly trying to steal away Kay’s last hope. Telling her she’s worthless, telling her she’s weak and waiting on her to make a simple mistake to devour her entirely. Sea of Solitude is filled with powerful metaphors like these. Monsters lurking in the water, waiting for your failure, a backpack where you store away all your corruption, setting free your inner light to destroy the biggest monsters. It’s easy to see that this isn’t just a game, it’s a very personal and emotional journey filled with beautifully crafted metaphors.
Open your eyes for something new
What’s still left to say? Sea of Solitude is a masterpiece and perhaps even the pinnacle of the EA Originals program. Spoiling the story too much would take away half of the experience so I’m not doing this here. The last thing I would like to point out is that this isn’t your ordinary game. Don’t be fooled by its cute artistic graphics, this is perhaps one of the darkest games you’ll ever play. If you’re looking for just another generic platform/puzzle game, this one isn’t for you. This game, or experience, is aimed at those who are looking for something new, who aren’t afraid to face their own emotions. It’s not a game that will make you happy, it’s a game that will help you understand what others or even you are going through. It’s a game that teaches you that although darkness might seem to be everywhere, there’s always a spark of light waiting for you to discover it, waiting for you to set your mind free from your mental prison.
Conclusion:
It happens rarely that games manage to connect with me the way Sea of Solitude did. It’s hard to explain on paper but this is far more than just a game. Sea of Solitude is a true masterpiece for those willing to face their emotions. It’s a truly unique experience and I recommend everybody to at least try it once they get an opportunity.
