FAR: Changing Tides – Review
Our Score: 8/10
As a child and his ship set off on a trip to find a new place to call home, FAR: Changing Tides is an emotive vehicle adventure. A gorgeous, flooded world awaits those who brave wild waves, descend into uncharted depths, and explore the ruins of long-forgotten civilizations.
FAR Away
Changing Tides takes the desolate landscapes of FAR: Lone Sails and transforms them into a stormy seascape. The world of FAR: Changing Tides provides a thrilling experience for longtime fans of the series as well as newcomers looking for a more difficult challenge. Toe, the new protagonist, awakens to find themselves alone in a flooded planet. They must overcome the elements in order to survive. What was once a familiar place is now an unwelcoming and even hostile one. Toe’s journey takes you through the remains of a once magnificent civilization in search of a new beginning.
FAR: Changing Tides’ lack of a clear narrative is one of its most appealing features. For the first time in the game’s history, there are no dialogues or in-game prompts directing players to specific locations. Instead, the story is told through the player’s exploration of the world. Which piques their interest and motivates them to keep going. In FAR: Changing Tides, the tale is shown, rather than told, which allows players to draw their own conclusions and shape their own experience, rather than having a pre-determined narrative path. In addition, the absence of in-game instructions and objectives enhances the overall immersion of FAR: Changing Tides.
The Turning Tides
Prior to starting the game, players should be aware that the gameplay can become monotonous. However, as this is the essence of the game, it cannot be called a defect. Players will experience a wide spectrum of emotions throughout their journey, which serves to amplify the tension that comes with being alone. No game is ever going to be flawless, and FAR: Changing Tides is no exception. It is tedious to zoom in and out when platforming or solving puzzles that necessitate a closer look. Additionally, gamers who are in a rush to obtain specific things may find the process of hooking and unhooking items to be awkward.
The audio and visuals serve as the glue that holds the whole thing together. As players navigate the waves in FAR: Changing Tides, they’ll feel at ease, but also fearful and hopeful as the sun sets and they set sail into the unknown. Similarly, the soundtrack is a perfect match for the game’s aesthetics and action. Playing the proper song whenever the player is in the appropriate circumstance. For some reason, the soundtrack of FAR: Changing Tides manages to be both scary and peaceful at once; it’s both soothing and eerie at the same time.
Final Verdict
It is safe to say that FAR: Changing Tides plays up to its atmospheric adventure billing. It’s a struggle for some players, but the lack of in-game instructions encourages players to explore on their own and find solutions to problems naturally. It is satisfying to solve the problems without the help of the game, which encourages players to keep progressing. Minor gripes can be discovered in its controls, but nothing that cannot be remedied with an easy patch exists here. Simply said, FAR: Changing Tides delivers a very unforgettable and immersive gaming experience.
