Call of the Sea, a lesser-known puzzle game with a great story
I played Out of the Blue Games’ Call of the Sea last week, having only heard of it recently despite its 2020 release, and had a blast. The game boasts a ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, but I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t tipped into ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ with its immersive storytelling as well as challenging and fun puzzles.
It’s the 1930’s, and Nora Everhart, voiced by VA veteran Cissy Jones, has a mysterious illness that has been passed down through generations. Her husband, Harry Everhart, disappeared a few months prior while in pursuit of a cure for her progressive illness. She receives a mysterious letter directing her to an island off the coast of Tahiti. There, our mystery unfolds.
The puzzles challenged me in a way that reminded me of the Portal games; I found myself quitting the game, frustrated and not knowing what I’m missing, and later re-opening it, suddenly realizing the solution. The puzzles are also assisted through Nora’s notes and her narration that provides simple nudging; the notes allow you to not have to memorize every symbol you see which is a great feature that not all puzzle games possess. This makes for an investigative feel to the puzzles, and great satisfaction when you solve them.
Nora’s notebook also contains logs, detailing her discoveries and thoughts on them. What helps to really immerse you in the game and story, is Nora’s commentary, both written and verbal. She comments on nearly everything you stumble upon, and verbally puts the pieces together of the story being told through the environment. You can interact with almost every object you find, and I found myself getting attached to characters I would never meet or see.
Harry’s letters are scattered throughout the environment as well, helping to further paint the picture of what occurred on the island. I won’t spoil the game, but as you move through this mysterious island, the thought of “If he could, he would” continuously permeated my mind as I saw what Harry had subjected himself to just to find a cure for Nora.
I highly recommend this game; it’s a bite-sized adventure with challenging but enjoyable puzzles, a gorgeous and immersive environment, and a protagonist you can empathize with an easily get attached to.
Solid 5 out of 5 stars.
You can find Call of the Sea on all consoles and PC.
