Sea of Solitude is a tale about dealing with loneliness, told through the journey of a young woman named Kay. After awakening in the middle of a sea, storm clouds gathering all around and finding herself possessing the form of a monster, she sets out to find out why she is in this place, and to try to find a way out.



She is quickly met by the first of several denizens of this fugue plane who helps to light the way on for her boat. This initial introduction to one of the more important mechanics of the game quickly leads on to the basic platforming and puzzle-solving that you will be doing throughout, the light on your boat providing a safe beacon in the storms of the world - with the world darkening and the storms crashing in soon after leaving the safe haven it's light provides.

In this way, the game explores having that safe place that we all go back to when we are in difficult places, showing how things can change depending on our perspective of things. This is further explored as you slowly start meeting more and more of the other denizens of the strange city that you find yourself in. Each represents someone else or some stage within Kay’s life, each with their own approaches to Kay. These shift as you learn more about them or about Kay herself.



Sea of Solitude is naturally split up into different chapters that deal with different parts of loneliness, and the very many different ways that it can be expressed and handled. While all of these instances are handled well, each one following some very real examples of what that manifests as, the game can be a little on-the-nose with the symbolism and solutions to these problems. This is never anything done in poor taste (and the game does go out of its way to let the player know it should not be used for dealing with the issues, rather that if you are suffering from it to seek the appropriate help), but it would have been nice to see some more subtlety being used like other games touching on this subject matter have managed to pull off (Gris comes to mind as a contrasting take on the matter).

...the game can be a little on-the-nose with the symbolism...

There are multiple collectibles to be found that will keep the platform gamers out there entertained, split between messages in a bottle and seagulls to shoo away. The seagulls provide a brief look at the world in the immediate area as they fly away, giving a bit of info as you traverse the city. These messages expand the lore of Kay and her place in the darkened world, with many providing some more difficult-to-traverse platforming puzzles for you to get through yourself in order to discover its complexities.



Gameplay-wise, Sea of Solitude has some great and clever reuses of the areas below the waves. Increasing and decreasing the level of the waters, parting it, making it deadly, or even freezing it solid to build up new ways of navigating the city, quickly feels familiar but equally so much larger than it actually is. These changes of mechanics are never too abrupt and you will know what to do after some initial looking around, with checkpoints if you fail, never resetting you to frustrating distances to go over again. Though a note to the wise that I only figured out late in the game, make sure to hold jump while swimming!

Gameplay-wise, Sea of Solitude has some great and clever reuses of the areas below the waves.

While this familiarity is good to see throughout, some of the more sticky controls, especially when trying to board your boat again or mount certain ladders, can be frustrating. Equally so, the voice acting throughout the game goes through some ups and downs. Sometimes it will fit a scene and the emotions expected perfectly, while in others you may encounter a line that lacks the right emotions being conveyed. Fortunately, subtitles can help with this greatly, but I feel it may have been a missed opportunity to have the game be recorded in the first tongue of many of the voice actors, and rely on the subtitles to make sure things were consistent throughout.



All things said, I certainly enjoyed my time with Sea of Solitude. Kay’s journey through the abandoned city had the right tone, and the amazing visuals of the world changing around you seamlessly as her and the other denizens’ emotions fluctuate throughout, was always something to behold. At only a few hours in length, Sea of Solitude is a great self-contained story of dealing with loneliness in many ways and the trials of each. It's well worth a look at if you are into platformers or are just interested in a short tale dealing with these themes.



We’d like to use this opportunity to mention the SADAG: South African Depression and Anxiety Group that have helplines at 080 056 7567. Suicide, depression, and loneliness is a growing concern for many people around the globe, and can affect anyone. You’re not alone, and groups like these are willing to help, and most importantly, listen.