Info about Sea of Solitude:

Official game description:
When humans get too lonely, they turn into monsters…  
Sea of Solitude takes you on a personal journey of a young woman’s loneliness. Set sail across a beautiful and evolving world where nothing is quite what it seems. Meet fantastical creatures and monsters, learn their stories, and solve challenges. Explore a flooded city by boat, on foot, or by swimming through the water itself. Dare to look what lies beneath the surface, in a haunting struggle of darkness and light, and discover what it truly means to be human.
**Key features**
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*   **An emotional journey** — Sea of Solitude embarks players on a nuanced and intimate action-adventure, experienced through the mind of Kay, as she struggles to overcome her loneliness. Players must help Kay see below the surface and beyond, guiding her through her Sea of Solitude in this deeply touching tale of darkness and light.  
*   **A metaphorical world** — As her journey evolves, Kay’s dark and stormy environment begins to transform, with light and color shining into the world. Water levels rise and fall to reflect her own state of mind, transforming the flooded city landscape into new areas for the player to explore with new challenges to face.  
*   **Face the monsters within** — Encounter fantastical creatures, solve puzzles, and rid the world of tainted memories. Meet a variety of beautiful and terrifying monsters, each with their own struggles of loneliness to tell. Through confronting these monsters, Kay will not only learn more about them, but also herself and what it means to be human.  
*   **An EA Original** — EA Originals helps shine a light on some of the most passionate, independent, and talented game studios across the globe. Discover innovative and unforgettable gaming experiences from highly creative game makers who love to enchant and inspire.

Release date: Jun 4, 2020

Categories: Action-Adventure, Exploration, Puzzle Solving, Narrative Adventure, Atmospheric Horror (Light), Emotional Storytelling, Environmental Storytelling, Meditative Gameplay

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 80; verdict: Barely Playable; summary: The game faces significant issues on Linux due to its dependency on the Origin launcher, which is not natively supported. This creates a high level of friction for Linux users, as they need to go through additional steps and potential troubleshooting to get the game to run.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game suffers from significant technical issues, primarily due to its dependency on the EA App, which does not run natively on Steam Deck. This introduces additional friction and potential technical problems, making the game less accessible and enjoyable. Controller support is also reported to be poor, further detracting from the user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community generally finds the game overpriced at its current levels. Multiple reviews mention that the game is not worth the $20 price tag and recommend buying it on sale. Some reviews suggest that even $10 is overpriced and that $5 would be a more appropriate price point. This indicates that the community considers the fair base-game price range to be significantly lower than the current price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 4.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct references to the playtime for 'Sea of Solitude.' The first quote mentions spending 3-4 hours, which aligns with the typical playtime for completing the main story. The second quote specifies a range of four to six hours for the journey, which can be interpreted as the time to complete the game. The third quote mentions a playtime of around 5 hours when trying to collect all achievements, indicating a longer playtime for full completion. The fourth quote suggests a maximum playtime of 4.5 hours for a slow playthrough, reinforcing the shorter end of the playtime spectrum.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is initially enjoyable but becomes repetitive and tedious over time, leading to a decline in fun after a few hours.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Completion of initial straightforward mechanics and puzzles
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive gameplay mechanics; Simple and monotonous puzzles; Lack of intense problem-solving
  - Unlock drivers: Engaging story and atmosphere; Straightforward mechanics
  - Conditions: Short gameplay sessions; Focus on narrative and atmosphere
- Player Archetypes:
  - Casual Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of a relaxed and easy gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Casual, relaxed, and easy-going.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer
    - Reference games: RiME; INSIDE
  - Emotional Story Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Engagement with emotional and mental health themes.
    - Playstyle: Reflective and emotionally engaged.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: mental health players; artsy gamers
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Critical Comparator (no buy)
    - Motivation: Assessment of game mechanics and comparisons to other games.
    - Playstyle: Analytical and comparative.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: veteran gamers
    - Reference games: RiME


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Stunning Visual Design (weight 0.97): The game features beautiful and visually appealing graphics, with stunning environments and high-quality design. The art direction is praised for its depth and warmth, creating a breathtaking and attractive visual experience.
- Deep and Meaningful Themes (weight 0.44): The game explores deep and meaningful themes such as family, love, personal problems, and mental health. These themes are represented through emotional and symbolic storytelling.
- Comfortable and Engaging Gameplay (weight 0.41): The gameplay is described as comfortable, relaxing, and simple yet engaging. It plays smoothly and intuitively, with non-clunky controls that make it enjoyable.
- Emotionally Impactful Story (weight 0.39): The narrative is emotionally impactful and deep, providing an intense and compelling experience. It is described as an emotional roller coaster that is both challenging and resonant.
- Unique and Immersive Atmosphere (weight 0.21): The game offers a unique atmosphere with impressive visual and atmospheric design. The art style and environmental design contribute to a distinctive and immersive experience.
- Short but Impactful Experience (weight 0.17): The game is described as short and simple, yet impactful and engaging. It provides a memorable experience despite its brevity.
- Well-Executed Mechanics (weight 0.15): The game mechanics are well-executed and highly rated. The gameplay mechanics are smooth and contribute to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- Excellent Sound Design (weight 0.14): The game features good sound design with an incredible soundtrack and immersive sound effects. The music and sound effects create a captivating atmosphere.
- Engaging Collectibles and World (weight 0.1): The game features engaging collectibles and a captivating world. The collectibles and world design add to the overall enjoyment and exploration.
- Impressive Water Effects (weight 0.07): The game includes well-crafted water effects that are visually impressive. The water design contributes to the overall aesthetic and immersion.

Common complaints:
- Game is very short (weight 0.37): Many players have noted that the game is quite short, with some mentioning it can be completed in around 2-3 hours.
- Poor storyline and character development (weight 0.37): The story and character development have been criticized as banal, childish, shallow, and lacking depth.
- Repetitive and simplistic gameplay (weight 0.36): The gameplay is often described as repetitive and simplistic, with some players finding it tedious and lacking depth.
- Poor voice acting (weight 0.34): The voice acting has been criticized as mediocre, uninspired, and occasionally cheesy, with some players finding it hard to listen to.
- Lack of depth in narrative and gameplay (weight 0.26): Both the narrative and gameplay have been criticized for lacking depth and nuance, with the narrative being described as simplistic and direct.
- Clunky controls and poor camera (weight 0.19): Players have reported issues with the controls and camera, describing them as clunky, poor, and sometimes having their own will.
- Requires EA App (weight 0.18): The game requires the use of the EA App and an EA account, which has been a point of contention for some players.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.16): Many players feel that the game is not worth its full price and recommend it only with a significant discount.
- Poor optimization and animations (weight 0.12): The game has been criticized for its poor optimization and shoddy, repetitive animations.
- Confusing and frustrating combat (weight 0.1): The combat mechanics have been described as awful, frustrating, and confusing.
- Gameplay is mostly navigation (weight 0.1): The gameplay has been described as mostly navigating to destinations, with simple platforming and finding paths.
- Linear and simple gameplay (weight 0.07): The gameplay is noted to be very linear and simple, lacking complexity.
- Collectibles lack purpose (weight 0.07): Collectibles in the game have been noted as poorly implemented and lacking purpose.
- Achievements are bugged (weight 0.07): Some players have reported issues with achievements not loading or being bugged.
- Puzzles lack challenge (weight 0.07): The puzzles in the game have been noted as not challenging and lacking depth.
- Lack of Russian localization (weight 0.06): There is no Russian localization for subtitles, which has been a point of criticism.

Gameplay feedback:
- Narrative-driven adventure gameplay (weight 0.37): The game emphasizes a strong narrative and story-driven experience, focusing on interactive storytelling and character-driven elements.
- Exploration and interaction mechanics (weight 0.28): Players engage in exploration and interaction with the environment, creatures, and symbolic elements, enhancing the emotional and metaphorical aspects of the game.
- Story follows Kay's emotional journey (weight 0.19): The narrative centers around Kay's journey of self-recovery and addressing sensitive topics, providing an emotional and psychological focus.
- Simple and light puzzles (weight 0.16): The game features simple and enjoyable puzzles that are light and not overly challenging, contributing to the casual gameplay experience.
- Collectibles and message bottles (weight 0.14): Players can collect items such as message bottles and seagulls, adding a layer of exploration and discovery to the gameplay.
- Avoiding monsters and task completion (weight 0.14): Gameplay involves avoiding monsters while completing various tasks and navigating through different sections of the game.
- Basic platforming and exploration (weight 0.12): The game includes basic platforming sections and light exploration mechanics, contributing to the overall casual adventure experience.
- Easy difficulty level (weight 0.1): The game is designed to be easy, making it accessible to a wide range of players without posing significant challenges.
- Use of flares for navigation (weight 0.07): Players use flares to guide their way through the game, aiding in navigation and exploration.
- Boat navigation sections (weight 0.06): The game includes sections where players navigate a boat, adding variety to the gameplay mechanics.
- Not an open-world game (weight 0.06): The game is not open-world and becomes more linear as players progress, limiting the scope of exploration.

Performance notes:
- Frequent bugs and glitches (weight 0.14): Players have encountered various bugs and glitches, ranging from minor issues to significant gameplay disruptions.
- Optimization problems (weight 0.08): The game has been criticized for poor optimization, with some players experiencing fluid optimization while others report significant issues.
- Rendering issues (weight 0.05): There have been reports of significant rendering issues affecting the gameplay experience.
- High system requirements (weight 0.04): The game has been noted to have high system requirements, with some players referring to them as 'Potato PC requirements.'
- Technical issues with EA App (weight 0.04): Players have reported experiencing technical problems specifically related to the EA App.
- Unclear gameplay message (weight 0.04): A specific glitch where players could not get rid of a bottle message until finding a new one has been reported.

Recommendations:
- Worth playing for the experience (weight 0.22): Many players find the game worth playing, especially if purchased on sale. It offers a unique experience that justifies its price, particularly when discounted.
- Buy on sale or with EA Play (weight 0.22): Players recommend purchasing the game on sale or through an EA Play subscription. This makes it more accessible and affordable, enhancing the overall value.
- Emotional and artistic experience (weight 0.2): The game is highly recommended for players seeking an intimate, artistic, and emotional experience. It offers a deeply emotional and immersive story, making it ideal for those who enjoy artsy games with heart.
- Recommended for narrative game fans (weight 0.14): The game is highly recommended for fans of narrative-driven and story-driven games. It caters to those who enjoy deep, immersive storytelling.
- Beneficial for mental health (weight 0.11): The game is highly recommended for players dealing with anxiety and depression. It is seen as beneficial for mental health and emotional intelligence development.
- Emotional impact caution (weight 0.08): The game is recommended with caution due to its strong emotional impact. It is suggested for players looking for an introspective and emotionally engaging experience.
- Potential for a sequel (weight 0.08): Players express a willingness to purchase a sequel and hope for future installments. This indicates a strong interest in continuing the story and experience.
- Recommended for light gaming (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for those looking for a light and less intense gaming experience. It offers a more relaxed and personal journey.
- Directors Cut on Switch worth it (weight 0.04): The Director's Cut version of the game on the Nintendo Switch is considered worth the purchase. It offers additional value and an enhanced experience.
- Avoid collecting items (weight 0.04): Players suggest avoiding the collection of items to fully enjoy the game. This tip aims to enhance the overall gaming experience by focusing on the narrative and emotional aspects.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Players are disappointed due to the game's mediocre gameplay, poor controls, and terrible story with subpar voice acting. The narrative is often criticized for being shallow, overly dramatic, or not addressing deeper themes, making the game feel rushed and not worth its price.
- Frustration (weight 0.15): Frustration stems from technical issues like bugs, poor controls, and the requirement to use the EA App. Players also find the gameplay mechanics tedious and repetitive, with additional annoyance from the game's handling of sensitive themes like mental health.
- Appreciation (weight 0.1): Players appreciate the game's artistic merits, including its unique visual style, emotional soundtrack, and thematic depth. The game's realism, personal impact, and successful execution of its goals are also highly valued.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment comes from the game's beautiful art, animation, and emotional narration. Players also appreciate the relaxing gameplay, beautiful atmosphere, and the overall positive experience of escaping into the game's world.
- Joy (weight 0.06): Joy is derived from the game's sublime artistic direction, emotional impact, and engaging gameplay. Players enjoy the story, beautiful art design, and the unique blend of gameplay elements.
- Reflection (weight 0.04): The game's themes of self-reflection, solitude, and personal experiences resonate deeply with players. The emotional storytelling and personal themes encourage players to reflect on their own lives.
- Engaged (weight 0.04): Players are engaged by the game's emotional story, beautiful visuals, and effective narrative. The game's artistic approach, themes, and emotional depth keep players invested.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): Engagement arises from the interesting narrative, atmospheric gameplay, and dark exploration of inner balance. Players enjoy the story, themes, and interactions with various creatures in the game's world.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): The game's emotional impact and heavy, somber themes evoke sadness in players. The personal connection to the story and themes often leads to a deeply emotional experience.
- Empathy (weight 0.03): Players feel empathy due to the game's emotional narrative and personal connection to mental health themes. The story resonates with their own experiences, fostering a sense of understanding and compassion.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the game's unique allegorical representation, emotional depth, and intriguing story. The visual style and character development also captivate players' attention.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is caused by the game's horrid mechanics and the requirement to provide an email and install the EA app. These issues lead to a terrible overall experience for some players.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Players feel disappointed due to the oversimplified story, repetitive gameplay, and lack of challenge. The unengaging story and poor gameplay mechanics contribute to this sentiment.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Hope is inspired by the game's intended message and the potential for a sequel. Players also find hope through personal beliefs in overcoming depression.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players feel gratitude for the game's impact on their lives and the remarkable work done by the developers. They are thankful to the creators and publishers for bringing such an experience to life.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is evoked by memories of watching others play the game as a child and replaying the game after years. These experiences bring back fond memories and a sense of longing for the past.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): The gameplay experience and captivating, relaxing soundtrack provide a sense of relaxation for players. The game's atmosphere and music help players unwind and escape from stress.
- Reflective (weight 0.01): Players feel reflective due to the game's emotional impact and story. The themes and narrative encourage introspection and contemplation of personal experiences.
- Overwhelmed (weight 0.01): The game's emotional impact can be overwhelming for some players. The depth and intensity of the story and themes evoke strong emotional responses.
- Connection (weight 0.01): Players feel a connection to the game through the relatability of the character's experiences. The emotional narrative and themes resonate with their own personal journeys.}