What makes it more interesting is the magic abilities you learn in the game. I mostly used the bombs because they were most effective against flying enemies. Then there is a block with your shield on ZR and a slot on B to use one of your items. You have one attack on Y, which swings your sword. The combat is also very simple and Zelda-like but has a few quirks that made it enjoyable. Some puzzles in the later game are a little bit more obscure, however, thinking about them before you attempt them will usually lead to the solution. For example, pushing blocks around or onto a button to open a door, or lighting braziers to open doors. What I mean by this is that they are mostly what you’d think of if you thought of a video game puzzle. Nevertheless, if you do mess up there is always a reset button to very quickly attempt the puzzle again. It takes just a little bit of thinking before you attempt the puzzle to find out the solution. The puzzles are numerous and normally pretty simple. I found there was just the right amount of collectables to keep the hunt for them entertaining and not a grind. This means that if you want to find all the game’s secrets and collectables, you have to do a little bit of backtracking. They are used to unlock new areas and find collectables in places you couldn’t get to before you had that specific item, for that specific area. The items may be quite generic but I like that they are used in a sort of metroidvania way. For instance, in Oceanhorn you gain a bomb, bow, an ancient flute, a fishing rod and Trencher Boots (that help you jump large gaps).
Items are also typical of tradition Zelda games. Each cave has a number of enemies to beat and puzzles to solve before you eventually find a golden key, which then unlocks a golden chest giving you a new item. You have a sword and shield to start with and enter various dungeons and caves in the hopes of unlocking new items to help you in your adventure. The game is in every way like a Zelda game. Will our silent hero have the power, cunning and wits to overcome his trails and take down this power? The Game However, the story gets a little darker when the hero realises it is not just Oceanhorn that is hunting his family, but something much more evil. Being the valiant hero, you set out into the Uncharted Seas with your sword, shield and your mother’s sacred amulet, hopping from island to island in the search for your Father.Īlong the way, our hero will find people who need his help and interesting puzzles that he will have overcome to be reunited with his long lost Dad. Your father has gone to fight Oceanhorn, an ancient corrupted machine that has haunted your family for generations. Much like classic Zelda games, you play as a young, silent protagonist who is searching for his missing father. Sail away with Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, a charming action-puzzle game inspired by Legend of Zelda greats like Wind Waker and A Link to the Past. So I must have enjoyed it enough, for what that’s worth.*A copy of Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas was provided to me by the game’s publisher FDG Entertainment.* Even still I strangely enough find myself checking in on a third installment. The story kind of ends abruptly and there seems to be a subtle amount of lore that doesn’t have much depth. The task isn’t easy but not ridiculously hard either, and I would say I experienced a certain amount of satisfaction for finding them all. But I don’t remember it being all too exciting. For completionists there are bloodstones to collect, like 100 of them, and I anticipated getting a cool reward for them. The cities were pretty big and were fun to explore at first because you often thought something cool could be found.
But it ended up feeling hollow in the end, especially the overview world exploration, and for a console game it’s kind of meh. Also the water area was pretty cool with underwater segments to explore. That was probably the standout part of the game for me. I do remember one giant fortress that you have to use a grapple hook to reach the upper levels and secret areas in a puzzle-like fashion. And it certainly has a light, refreshing vibe compared to more serious modern games.
It was fine for a phone game, quite good and expansive even compared to other offerings at the time with fun enough gameplay.
#Oceanhorn 2 how long to beat trial#
Beat it on Apple Arcade during the free trial when it first launched about a year and a half ago.