Even the Ocean
| Even the Ocean | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Analgesic Productions (Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan and Joni Kittaka) |
| Publisher(s) | Analgesic Productions (Windows/Macintosh) |
| Designer(s) | Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan Joni Kittaka |
| Programmer(s) | Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan |
| Artist(s) | Joni Kittaka |
| Writer(s) | Joni Kittaka, Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan |
| Composer(s) | Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan |
| Engine | HaxeFlixel |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Mac OS X |
| Release | November 16th, 2016 (Windows/Mac) |
| Genre(s) | Platformer/Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Even the Ocean is an independent video game created by Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan and Joni Kittaka, who together form the independent game company Analgesic Productions, and released Anodyne in 2013. After three and a half years of development[1], the game was released on November 16, 2016 on Steam, Itch.IO, GOG, and Humble Store, for Windows PC and Mac OS X.
The game features action, platforming and story elements, and puts the player in the role of Aliph, a female Power Plant engineer working for the game's central city of Whiteforge.
Gameplay
Even the Ocean is played by moving and jumping through side-on view places, such as beaches, cities, and the interiors of the world's mechanical and dangerous Power Plants. The game features an energy bar mechanic that allows the player to gain more Light or Dark energy in order to jump higher or run faster.
Gameplay varies from cutscenes where Aliph talks with other characters in the game, to exploration of smaller towns and areas, to action platforming sections set inside of Power Plants.
Story
The story of Even the Ocean follows the events of Aliph as she begins her first day of work in the area of Fay Rouge. She is accompanied by senior technician, Cassidy, who dies in a disaster at Fay Rouge. After Aliph returns to Whiteforge City, the mayor, Richard Biggs, assigns her and two other technicians to repair other Power Plants in the world outside of Whiteforge. As she continues her travels, Aliph learns more about forces putting her world at risk, and eventually needs to step in to try and save it.
Development
In March 2013, Even the Ocean began as two separate games, Even and The Ocean[1]. Eventually the two games were combined into the final game, Even the Ocean, and the game was released onto Steam, Itch.IO and other stores on November 16th, 2016. Regarding the mix of platforming and story, Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan has stated that "the different segments of the game arose from wanting the game to incorporate reading-heavy and platforming-heavy sections—to show their interesting contrasts to players".[2]
Music
Even the Ocean's soundtrack was composed by Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan. At the time of Even the Ocean's release, the soundtrack was made available as a download-only on Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan's online Bandcamp store and Even the Ocean's Steam store page, with the 88 songs in the game, as well as many bonus tracks, consisting of outtakes and unused songs. The total runtime, including the bonus songs, is almost six hours.
Reception
Danielle Riendeau of VICE.com's Waypoint Gaming Blog placed Even the Ocean at the #1 spot of her Top 10 Games of 2016 list[3], citing "its intricate level design, its quirky and colorful world, its characters and their awakening as citizens of a corrupt government".
Chloi Rad of IGN.com listed it on her list of 13 Awesome Games No One Talked About In 2016[4], citing that it was "all about balance — between the Light and Dark energy that fuel its world, but also the other contrasting forces that influence every facet of our lives. Nature and industry. Wealth and poverty", and that "in place of demanding difficulty, Even the Ocean instead provides a thought-provoking story with varied mechanics (like its interesting spin on an HP bar) that run gracefully parallel to its message.".
Chris Priestman of Killscreen.com finds that "Perhaps even more intriguing, though, is how this energy system affects the logic and culture of Even the Ocean‘s world."[5]
Even the Ocean was met with mainly positive reviews from players[6], holding a 97% approval rating on Steam as of December 30th, 2016. Within the first few months of release, the game has garnered many Let's Plays on Youtube.
References
- ^ a b "Even the Ocean (Narrative Platformer from Anodyne devs) OUT NOW!". forums.tigsource.com. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Even The Ocean is a Thoughtful, Politically Aware Platformer - Waypoint". Waypoint. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "The Dean's List: Danielle's Top Ten Games of 2016 - Waypoint". Waypoint. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ Staff, I. G. N. (December 27, 2016). "13 Awesome Games No One Talked About in 2016". IGN. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Even the Ocean wants you to find balance in life, out next week - Kill Screen". Kill Screen. November 10, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Save 15% on Even the Ocean on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
