When Nintendo first unveiled the Wii, they praised its ability to offer unique and unorthodox gameplay experiences. Arika’s scuba diving simulation, Endless Ocean, falls firmly into this category.

Tossing out any semblance of objective-based gameplay, Endless Ocean gives you a quick diving tutorial and sets you free to explore the sea at your own whim. And exploration is really what the game is all about. You pick a location on the map and dive. While under, you can examine all manner of sea life and add them to your log, make friends with a dolphin (which you can later train), or just enjoy the view.  Although it may seem like a shallow concept initially, the first time you come across a whale, journey down to the abyss, or discover the ruins of an ancient sunken city, it all comes together. There’s a definite satisfaction when you find a new creature or hidden location.

“Admiral, there be whales here!”

In addition to the raw exploration, there are some completely optional assignments you can take on, including giving guided diving tours or taking photographs for magazines. These are fun for a while, but it’s the drive to discover the sea that will keep you coming back to Endless Ocean.

A good part of this ‘drive’ is because of the excellent underwater visuals. Other than some occasionally awkward animations, all manner of sea life are beautifully rendered. The star of the show, however, is the lighting. Beams of sunlight streak through the surface of the water to wondrous effect and diving at night via light may be even more impressive.

Underwater, Endless Ocean is one of the prettiest games on Wii.

Once you leave the water though, visuals take a definite hit in quality. The main character’s walking animation is very stiff and the boat and shoreline are downright bland compared to what you’ll find below the surface. Luckily, you do spend most of the time underwater.

The above water visuals are a different story.

Like the graphics, the gameplay features a few quirks. First and foremost are the controls, which aim to be as simple as possible by using only the Wii remote. You navigate by pointing at the direction you want to go and holding the B button. The method is functional, but would most likely feel better with just a standard control stick movement scheme. It’s especially strange using the pointer to walk around the ship. It works, but can be a bit awkward at times.

The game also features an annoying dive zone limitation. This means that you cannot move outside of a certain area without getting back into the boat and moving it. In a game that tries to be all about freedom, it’s a strange limitation.

It’s worth noting that Endless Ocean features a cooperative online mode. In this, you team up with a buddy to explore the sea. The problem is that Wii doesn’t feature voice chat; therefore you simply swim in silence, provided with some canned text responses. In a game where you basically swim around and look at fish, voice chat would have been a great feature to have available.

It would have also been nice if the main game wasn’t completely text based also. Your boat mate, Katherine, basically does all the talking, so it shouldn’t have been that big of a deal to find one voice actor.

Other than that though, the sound is actually quite good. From the hypnotic inhale and exhale of the breathing device to the squeal of dolphins, Endless Ocean’s sound puts you right in the game. The music is also quite good and appropriately light and relaxing. The game also features a limited MP3 playback function, whereby you can play any music you put on an SD card. It’s a welcome addition, but very rough in that you can only play one song at a time.

Endless Ocean is a game that takes an original concept and does a pretty good job of executing it. While it certainly has its share of flaws, the overall experience is very positive and unquestionably unique. Especially considering Endless Ocean sells for $29.99, a full $20 cheaper than most Wii games, it’s definitely worth a try.

Gameplay: 7.5
Endless Ocean is simple, but satisfying and fun. It overcomes some minor control issues and general game design quirks to provide a formidable exploration experience.

Graphics: 8.5 
Endless Ocean features some of the best visuals the Wii has to offer… until you surface. Luckily the bulk of the game is underwater, where the various sea creatures and environments look great. Lighting is exceptionally good.

Sound: 8.0
No voice acting, but the sound effects and music are good. Custom MP3 playback is a nice, if limited, addition.

Difficulty: Easy
There are no threats and no mandatory objectives. No need to be afraid of these sharks.

Concept: 8.5 
A unique idea to be sure. Endless Ocean’s approach is relaxed and undemanding. It is a testament to how unconventional game concepts can be just as satisfying as the tried and true standards.

Multiplayer: 7.0
The online cooperative mode is enjoyable, but limited by Wii’s lack of voice chat.

Overall: 8.0
Endless Ocean is a charming and unique experience. Gamers with an open mind toward design will find a lot to admire here. It may even make you question what makes a game a game.