Under the Sea Winds

Under the Sea Winds was one of the first entries that caught my eye in this year’s competition because I love marine biology and jumped at the prospect of playing a science-influenced interactive fiction game.

Unfortunately, I have more criticism about this game than praise. I do, however, want to start by saying that its overarching concept is fantastic.

You're about to embark on a scientific journey of discovery sought out by Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Carl Linnaeus, Sigmund Freud, and Rachel Carson.

The opening sequence was especially intriguing. You are a university researcher who seeks to gain funding to cover your travel costs as you complete your research on eels. After some discussion, you defend your request and earn approval!

Following in the footsteps of many brilliant minds who came before you, your goal is to uncover the connections between eel reproduction and their migration patterns.

Gameplay
Taking place over several days, the gameplay is centered on the protagonist’s work at the two locations they received funding to visit: Sweden and Bermuda.

The first portion of the game takes place at a site in Sweden, while the remaining gameplay is split into two sites at Bermuda. Sounds exciting!

The problem is that rather than immersing the player in a rich setting of marine life and scientific exploration, the meat of the story is conveyed through readable content while the gameplay consists of semi-shallow puzzles that lead the play around from Point A to Point B without feeling meaningful.

Consider Sweden.

We investigate an eel named Åle living in a well in someone’s backyard. Due to miscommunication, no one is home, prompting you to sneak into the backyard in the name of science. In a neighbor’s yard, there is a boy watching us, and it becomes apparent that we will need his help with obtaining the eel.

I understand the appeal of having a local kid help a bumbling protagonist through creative and endearing puzzles. It does not come off that way here. I kept thinking, what stake does the little boy have it this? Why would he suddenly have all this insight to help this adult put together a contraption to catch an eel in someone else’s backyard?

I imagine “stranger danger” would be a factor. You, a stranger, trespassing on someone’s backyard, trying to interfere with a well labeled with a historical marker. Some of the puzzles seem simple enough for the protagonist to figure out. Instead, we must involve the boy, even if we already sense what we need to do.

I do want to acknowledge that there is deeper meaning to the boy than what is easy to overlook. The gameplay provides a link to a Reddit/Wikipedia article for some backstory.

We learn that Åle is based off a real eel of the same name that lived in a well in Sweden after a boy placed it there during the 19th century. Åle is said to have lived for 150 years. While some debate the accuracy of Åle’s age, there are recorded cases of eels living long lifespans. So, it’s possible.

My point is, I can see how the inclusion of the boy in the game serves as a reference to historical events, but that does not make the gameplay experience less clunky and restrictive. Plus, interactions with the setting were sometimes counterintuitive.

> OPEN DOOR
This is Sweden. Home to humanity's highest levels of civic achievements, you can't just barge in!

But apparently you can steal the planter off the porch, climb a wall into private property, and interfere with the well in the homeowner’s backyard.

To be fair, we do get some marine encounters via the Bermuda boat puzzle and collect a few samples on a beach.

Sargassum, the seaweed abundant in these waters seems to serve insects and fish who nip at it.

Still, it lacks the depth I was expecting.

Also, the walkthrough was initially a link to a video tutorial. As much as I appreciate the author taking the time to make it, readable hints would be nice. Please. Plus, the video is just over 8 minutes long at normal speed, though some of that is due to the author mistyping something and then retyping it. Thankfully, there is now a simple text walkthrough available.

Story/Characters
I already outlined the game’s story, but there is one other plot element besides collecting data for your research.

Visuals
Evoking oceanic imagery, the game uses different shades of blue for most of its backgrounds. I especially liked the turquoise background for the boat puzzle because it gave it a nautical look. That said, the light blue text on this background was difficult to read.

Also, the game’s itch.io page has some awesome visuals including photographs and maps.

Final thoughts
Under the Sea Winds seems like the author's first game, so I don't want to be too harsh. It feels like a completed game, though one that needs a lot of refinement. There are occasional spelling and grammar errors, and the gameplay is too rigid to enjoy any exploration or puzzle solving.

That said, I could tell a lot of time, effort, and heart went into its creation. And research. I also genuinely learned more about eels. Learning how environments with lower threats of predation, such as a well, can result in a longer lifespan thanks to a reduced production of stress-related compounds in the body. That makes sense.

I hope Under the Sea Winds is merely the first of more works by the author.