I'm glad the 1up review pointed this out. It's probably the only negative to the game compared to the first.

Blue World is a great sequel: There's lots more to see and do, with refinements all around, from graphics to gameplay. It's what anyone would expect, after all. But all of that comes part and parcel with some flaws. More background music would have been nice, as the game is oddly silent compared to the first, and keeps "epic" music cues to a minimum. Similarly, there's no longer a way to select music freely, or add your own via files from an SD card.  

So for those of you who played the first, what would you say of the comparisons to the first game? I would say they are different enough to complement each other.

If I were to pick one I would have to say that the sequel just goes OTT, improving just about everything but the first game actually has a few things over the sequel.

1. The Music

Not only is there better music from Hayley Westernra, you could listen to it whenever you wanted. Also with SD card support you get to play what you want, when you want.

2. Zooming (during normal swimming - not focus or zoom mode)

As in once you click on a fish, you can use the plus and minus buttons to zoom in. In the sequel, if you have a small fish, you cannot zoom in for a better look unless you bring out the camera and start fiddling about.

3. Focus mode

In the first game you could zoom into any and every surface in the game. It completed the feeling of immersion and allowed you to look at vegitation without having to pick spots.

4. The locations

Yep, the locations like the coral forest, the many caves of mermaids cave or marige atoll just top most of the locations in Blue world. Cortica by its nature is linear and by its nature the icy seas are devoid of colour and variety. Gatama atoll isn't exactly anything we didn't see in the first game either and the abyss in Blue world comes off as disappointing compared to the first game.

5. An uninterrupted experience

The first game was almost zen like. There were no interuptions and you could more easily appreciate the beauty and wow moments. In the sequel there is so much stuff to do you are always focusing your mind on something else, or being interupted by events or people talking to you etc.

However, if I were to list what the sequel has over EO1, the list would be much larger and more significant. Feature for feature the sequel wins hands down.

angrymonkey said:

gamingeek said:

What the hell is the point of having Craig Harris of IGN US review the game if he never "got it"? He gives it a lower score than the original.

At the very least it shows just how "not for everybody" Endless Ocean really is.

Heh. How dare this game exclude people that want to search and destroy in the sea. A very niche game compared to all those other games that are so everybody friendly.

gamingeek said:

Where's phisheep when you need him eh? He must have at least 500 hrs logged by now right?

Did you see his comment in the kotaku review? I think he's plus 100 hrs.

Pfft, for phisheep that's low

I'm at nearly 45 hrs already and still doing quests and treasure hunts. I'm not  even into the relaxing nothing to do stage yet, which made up most of the first game.

Mekere said:

60+ hours in the game and I'm not in the relaxing part yet.. too much to do.. dolphin to train, salvaging, marine encyclopedy...

I need some holiday

I think the training for the partners could use more motive, but I haven't got to the show part yet. Do you get Points for it to spend?

Mekere said:

Yep, not much though. A good show can give you around 5000 points.

For how much effort and time?

Iga_Bobovic said:

P.S. is it possible to play online with the whole world or is it only Euro region?

This is what I want to know.

We have 4 europeans with the game here and Bugsy is getting it too right?

We should exchange codes. Did you play the first game Iga?

Iga_Bobovic said:

gamingeek said:

Iga_Bobovic said:

P.S. is it possible to play online with the whole world or is it only Euro region?

This is what I want to know.

We have 4 europeans with the game here and Bugsy is getting it too right?

We should exchange codes. Did you play the first game Iga?

No, I always planned on buying the first one, but then the second one was announced so I waited for that one.

I actually wanted to steal the box of the first one and put the second one in there. That boxart is awesome.

You should try the first if you enjoy the sequel. It's a bit different, but its not like a normal sequel which makes the first redundent or anything, its all different locations and music and definetly  a great companion piece to this game.

Iga_Bobovic said:

I will pass. If I want a Zen-like experience doing nothing, I will just turn off my tv and just stare.

Hmm. Before I say anything - what kind of martial art are you into and how good are you?