Quantic Dream is no longer just a development studio. Although he is still in charge of creating narrative experiences such as Detroit: Become Human or Heavy Rain , a million-dollar investment allowed him to expand to be independent, continue creating games and be the publisher and distributor of other people’s projects.
Thanks to this, now Quantic Dream is supporting Parallel Studio, a small independent studio based in Paris, France, for the release of Under The Waves . With his experience, the distributor is helping the Parisian studio fulfill its vision.
I recently had the opportunity to play the first half hour of Under the Waves . The little I tried left a very good taste in my mouth. Not only is it another narrative game, but it has heart and is a master at generating sensations.
But first, what the heck is Under the Waves ? It is a third-person game focused on the narrative. Don’t expect a Telltale-style cinematic game where you just press a button to make decisions. Here you will have the opportunity to explore different scenarios, collect objects and interact with different elements to progress.
In Under the Waves you take control of Stan, a man starting a new job as a diver. This is how he allows himself to be trapped by the depths of the sea while he begins a new phase of his life in which he is forced to learn to master the heaviness of his loneliness.
Under The Waves it didn’t take me long to put myself in Stan’s shoes and throw myself into the depths of the sea. It was a quick process, but beautiful. Before entering the first underwater installation I couldn’t stop appreciating the beautiful sea that surrounded me. It wasn’t the most realistic, nor the most detailed, but I felt in there.
After being screened for a while, enter the underwater facility to progress. There I was able to learn about the mechanics of Under The Waves and its structure that leads you to explore different environments to interact with objects and progress. After walking very slowly for a while, I was able to swim, solve more simple problems, and even drive a submarine. All while appreciating the beautiful landscapes and a retro-futuristic art direction that is as adorable as it is engaging.
At the end of a day’s work, I took Stan to his new home: another submarine base. Before sleeping, he went over to the computer to reveal that Under the Waves will be more than exploring under the sea. This subject used the computer to communicate with an ex-partner, revealing that kilometers below sea level there is a story of pain, mourning and personal reflection. Under the Waves hides an enormous mystery and it will be necessary to let yourself be carried away to the depths to discover it.
What impressed me most about Under the Waves is its immense capacity to provoke sensations. As I mentioned before, in my first steps I was in awe and constantly moved the camera to appreciate all the details. Later, when I arrived at the base where Stan rested, a cozy feeling filled my heart; It was like I was resting for the first time after moving. Shortly after he made me feel devastated and immediately that changed to confusion. A true roller coaster of sensations in just half an hour.
If Under the Waves manages to maintain that ability to make people feel throughout the entire game, we will be in front of a magnificent game. When we talk about narrative titles, we often get obsessed with the story and forget how important a good setting is, and Under the Waves promises to be fantastic in this.
