Available on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, Switch 1/2, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Nowadays, we’re no strangers to games about decaying environments where you play as a protagonist who strives to clean up the world and bring about change. It’s a story that’s been told a thousand times, and it’s a story that needs to keep being told.
Wavetale is exactly that and more. It’s about loss, bravery, and, perhaps, “unfamiliar nostalgia” or (I’m not sure how else to describe it other than with “unfamiliar nostalgia”) anemoia— a term coined in 2012 by John Koenig, which means “Nostalgia for a time or a place one has never known.”
The game is set in the fictional world of Strandville, a decaying archipelago with large open seas. You play as Sigrid, who, after experiencing a “Gloom Storm”, finds that she’s able to stand on the water with the help of a mysterious shadow.
Together, you go on a journey to the different islands and use your net to wipe out the Gloom and unravel the mysteries that surround Strandville. You’ll meet various people who could use your help, and maybe piece together what exactly happened in the past. It’s a 3D platformer with easy-enough puzzles, and an option to customize your appearance! All in all, Wavetale is a charming game that takes about 4-5 hours, or less, depending on how much of a completionist you are.
The art style is charming, with almost scribble-like cartoonish facial expressions on the 3D cel-shaded models. The character designs have so much life breathed into them, and I loved seeing how the characters and locations looked as sketches in Sigrid’s journal. It really adds life to the game when you can see Sigrid’s own thoughts on her surroundings and her journey so far.
You learn more about the Dandelion, the Dirty Paws, your mother, the war, the origins of Gloom. You will also hear about the little stories between the NPCs you meet as well.
One thing Wavetale absolutely captures is the generational gap between Sigrid and her grandmother. The difference in perspective is extreme. You’ll witness how Sigrid feels as if her thoughts and opinions are always second-guessed or just flat-out ignored. And if you’ve ever had disagreements with the older generation, you’ll know this well. I was enraged on Sigrid’s behalf on several points, and it was refreshing to see a character voice out her anger instead of “being the bigger person”. She’s so believable as a character.
In fact, all the characters felt so real. Since most of them are fully voiced, it definitely helped bring all their characters to life. Even the occasional side character had their own story to tell. It’s always a mark of good writing when even the smallest roles get love from the writing team.
The different sides in the conflicts presented also felt realistic, and, unfortunately, also hit close to home. Whenever there’s a discussion on how the environment had gotten to the point it had gotten to, and whenever Sigrid’s grandmother talked about “how it used to be”, it made me so sad to think about how much of that is reflected in our real world. How many animals have gone extinct, how many cities have gone under the waters, and how many beautiful places have been damned by the greed of humanity? How much more until corporations are satisfied? The world of Strandville feels like a cautionary tale to me, especially with the unregulated rise of technology.
I, personally, loved the game. Other reviews have stated some issues with performance, but I didn’t really encounter any in my own playthrough. The gameplay was smooth, and I enjoyed surfing over the waters even though I have a fear of them (I don’t know why I keep choosing games that require me to explore the open seas). You can use your net in all sorts of ways to hit enemies. Yes, there’s some combat in the game. Nothing too hard, just a little bit of timing the hits and dodging to swing to different platforms or through rings, collect items, etc.
I will say, however, that it might be more worthwhile to just wait for the game to go on sale (it regularly does!). With its price, there are perhaps other games that might be a better purchase. But if wa sounds like something that interests you, this is definitely a game that deserves a chance to be heard.
