Finally, Sea of Solitude is making a return with a new director’s cut version available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. Developed by Jo-Mei Games, it was originally launched back in July 2019 on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One to mixed reviews. Screen Rant’s own review delved into the game’s more artistic value but noted that it was not a game for everyone. It was a nominee in the “Games for Impact” category at The Game Awards 2019 and winner of the “Most Significant Impact” category at Games For Change 2020.
Sea of Solitude is an adventure game that dives into heavy topics, specifically focusing on mental health issues and how those can be explored through the medium of a video game. The story follows that of Kay, a girl who finds herself in a strange world with a monster of her own making, one formed from her own feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. The game was the second to be included under EA’s new indie game imprint at the time, EA Originals.
Announced during The Game Awards 2020, Sea of Solitude: The Director’s Cut will be coming to the Nintendo eShop on March 4th, 2021. A demo will be launched at the same time that allows players to play through the first chapter for free. Additionally, a boxed version will also be available for a limited time directly from Quantic Dream, who will be publishing the game in place of EA.
The Director’s Cut will receive many notable upgrades, taking advantage of the Switch hardware through features such as gyroscope integration. The Director’s Cut will also contain a rewritten script, adjusted cutscenes and animations, and a new cast of voice actors to better convey the original vision behind the title. A new customizable photo mode will be added as well, allowing players to save snapshots during their journey.
The Nintendo Switch has been a popular platform for more artistic indie games lately, so it is a solid choice for a game like Sea of Solitude. It will be interesting to see just how much the new changes improve upon the original experience though. Common complaints directed at the original included its short length and straightforward gameplay. However, the core narrative and its handling of more serious topics were praised, including in Screen Rant’s own review.
The new changes appear to be mostly related to the narrative side, so whether or not the game is able to remedy some of those complaints remains to be seen. Regardless, it is nice to see Sea of Solitude made available to a wider audience. Perhaps if the reception is positive enough, the upgraded version can be brought over to other platforms.
Source: Quantic Dream