Nintendo’s refreshingly different underwater voyage is back for a second dive beneath the waves, but is this new expedition worth chartering or does it end up being something of a damp squib? Strap on your oxygen tanks and get those flippers working because we’re about to find out in our Endless Ocean 2 review.
With so many video games focusing on the wholesale slaughter of humans, aliens and other nefarious forces it comes as a real shock to sit down and play a title like Endless Ocean 2: Adventures in the Deep. It’s essentially a diving simulation at heart and although it does feature the odd encounter with hostile forces of nature, you’ll spend the vast majority of your time simply chilling out and soaking up the considerable ambiance.
Just like its forerunner, Endless Ocean 2 does a sterling job of replicating a vast underwater world teeming with life. There are countless breeds of fish to identify and this actually becomes an addictive element in itself; very much like an aquatic Pokémon. The dizzying range of different locations is often mesmerising; sunken ships, massive reefs and colossal trenches all feature at some point.
Read our Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero Nintendo Wii review
Throughout the course of the game you’ll be able to find items which when returned to the right person on dry land can facilitate a vital equipment upgrade. New to Endless Ocean 2 is the multipurpose stun gun; not only can this handy device be used to cure poorly fish, it also serves as a valuable deterrent for those moments when the serene atmosphere is broken by the appearance of aggressive underwater predators.
Indeed, the threat posed by sharks and other unfriendly beasts is one of the key areas where Endless Ocean 2 differs from its predecessor; such moments are incredibly tense largely due to the fact that for so much of the game you’re in such a relaxed mood.
Just as was the case with the first game, Endless Ocean 2 makes use of the Wii’s Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to allow you to team up with a friend and chart the depths together. Thanks to the wonder of progress these multiplayer sessions no longer have to take place in complete silence; Endless Ocean 2 supports the Wii Speak peripheral and this obviously allows you to communicate with your partner, discussing fresh discoveries and planning new expeditions.
With more ocean to explore, additional dangers and improved online functionality thanks to the inclusion of Wii Speak, Endless Ocean 2 is definitely a step up from the first title. It’s still something of an acquired taste and won’t quench the bloodlust of hardcore FPS fans but it does offer a strangely compelling experience which has the power to both entertain and relax in equal measures.
Preorder Endless Ocean 2: Adventures in the Deep from Amazon now
