Endless Ocean Luminous is one of the most relaxing experiences on Nintendo Switch and it’s also quite the beaut. While it might not be the most exciting underwater adventure game, especially with the likes of Subnautica available on the system, this is still a dive everyone should try.
Luminous is the third entry in a rather niche series for Nintendo. Starting on the Wii, Endless Ocean has always been an unknown Nintendo gem, and this scuba adventure is no different. All players need to know is that this is a game where you dive into the ocean and scan all kinds of life forms. There’s no oxygen meter, nor can any of the sea creatures hurt you, all you have to do is swim and it feels surprisingly great.
Just swimming around in Endless Ocean Luminous is a treat and there isn’t even a lot to the controls. You can move around, ascend, descend, and propel forward but that’s all you’ll ever have for swimming. Granted, scanning sea creatures and collecting items also require additional button presses, but these are simple and don't have any complicated minigames.
The main appeal of Luminous really is exploring a vast ocean filled with all sorts of life and it’s up to you to register all of them. Be prepared to see a lot of fish, as the game’s ocean is massive and it won’t be easy to register everything from the get-go. Looking for specific fish can be tricky, as they can hide in the background with other creatures, requiring thorough investigation from the player.
When players start out Endless Ocean Luminous, they might think this is a linear adventure, given how short some of the early-game tutorials are in Story Mode. However, once you get a break from the story, you’re free to just pick Dive and explore the ocean whenever you like. If we’re being honest, most of the game’s appeal comes from freely exploring the ocean, as the story isn’t exactly brimming with life.
Luckily, players will be spending a ton of time freely exploring this seemingly endless ocean (ha!) as moving past the story requires a certain amount of sea creatures registered. This might be annoying for those who want to get the game’s story over with, but it’s not a deal breaker. You’ll be spending most of your time in the game’s free dives anyway, though progression could have been handled better.
Players might not be thinking about progression too much, however, as the game’s graphics are gorgeous. Developer AKIRA was able to get a lot out of the Switch here, as this is easily one of the handheld console’s best-looking titles. Creatures look great, the ocean’s environments are stunning, and the “pop-in” is handled marvelously since the ocean technically “covers” whatever location is coming next. Imagine an underwater New Pokemon Snap, that’s the quality we’re talking about here.
Registering sea creatures and finding lost items will reward players with money that can be used to customize your avatar in Endless Ocean Luminous. Unfortunately, you can’t change the core design of your helmet or suit, (no Samus Aran scuba suit here), but different colors can be chosen to add some variety, even if some of the better colors have to be unlocked. We definitely appreciate having something to unlock in the game, but these rewards should have had more thought put into it.
Despite how limited they are, it’s good that Luminous has unlockables for players to strive for, because they’re going to be seeing water a lot. Although the swimming mechanics are fun and exploring the ocean is relaxing, playing it too long can feel a bit repetitive. Luckily, this is on the Switch, which makes this game perfect for short bursts of relaxation, as we don’t recommend too many long sessions.
Thankfully, Luminous has some pretty great music that plays throughout your dives, so this is something you’ll wanna play with earphones on. Hearing these sweet melodies coincide with the realistic ocean sounds adds to the immersion and relaxation.
Multiplayer is expected to liven things up, as you will be able to join your friends in dives and explore Endless Ocean Luminous together. While we weren’t able to try this option out for our review, the experience looks beautiful and it should be a worthwhile experience. Just make sure you have a good internet connection, since the Switch’s online capabilities can be pretty hit or miss.
If there’s anything preventing us from fully recommending Luminous to anyone, it’s that this is a rather limited experience in comparison to other underwater games. It’s more ABZU than Subnautica, and while this is a beautiful game with incredibly relaxing gameplay, fans can probably get something more substantial with the Subnautica titles. Granted, those games are more about survival and crafting, but Endless Ocean’s more simple gameplay fits a much more niche demographic.
