Endless Ocean Luminous

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Endless Ocean Luminous
Endless Ocean Luminous Cover.jpg
Cover art
Developer(s) Arika
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s) Akito Kitamura
Producer(s) Shinji Watanabe
Akira Kinashi
Shinya Saito
Programmer(s) Hitoshi Hirashima
Artist(s) Jun Hosoba
Composer(s) Shinji Hosoe
Ayako Saso
Takahiro Eguchi
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
ReleaseMay 2, 2024
Genre(s) Adventure, simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Endless Ocean Luminous [a] is an adventure simulation game developed by Arika and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. As the third game in the Endless Ocean series, Luminous marks the first installment since 2009's Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep for the Wii.

Contents

Similar to previous entries, the player takes the role of a scuba diver tasked with encountering and documenting marine life. Additionally, the game features online multiplayer that allows groups of up to 30 players to explore together. The game was announced in a February 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase and released on May 2, 2024 to mixed reviews.

Gameplay

Endless Ocean Luminous tasks the player with exploring the Veiled Sea, a fictional, unexplored region, in order to encounter and document marine life. [1] [2] The game itself has over 500 species to learn about, including creatures that are deemed mythical or extinct such as the Mosasaurus. [3] Outside of marine life, the player can also explore underwater structures such as temples and shipwrecks. [4] Luminous features a new mechanic for the series in which the region will change with each dive the player goes on. [5]

Unlike the multiplayer modes in previous installments, the game allows groups of up to 30 online players to embark on dives together. [1] [6] Players in groups can share their findings and communicate between one another via emotes. [7]

Development

Endless Ocean Luminous is the third game in the Endless Ocean series after Endless Ocean (2007) and Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep (2009). The game was developed by Japanese video game company Arika and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. [6] [8] Luminous was first announced at the end of a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase in late February 2024 and was given the release date of May 2, 2024. [9] [10] Music and sound effects were created by the music production company SuperSweep, including Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, and Takahiro Eguchi. [11]

Reception

It was released to a score of 61/100 on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating mixed to average reviews.

Andrew Webster of The Verge gave Endless Ocean Luminous a positive review, describing the gameplay as basic but fun nonetheless. He described the game as at its best when played alone and exploring with no goal in mind, and considered the story mode and Mystery Board "mundane." [26]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: フォーエバーブルー ルミナス, Hepburn: Fōebāburū ruminasu, lit. "Forever Blue Luminous"
  2. ↑ Based on 63 reviews.

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References

  1. 1 2 Mills, Steven (February 21, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous lets up to 30 players scuba together on Nintendo Switch this May". Destructoid . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (February 21, 2024). "Nintendo Wii Game Endless Ocean Getting Switch Sequel". IGN . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  3. ↑ Fanelli, Jason (February 21, 2024). "Endless Ocean: Luminous Dives Onto Nintendo Switch In May". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ↑ Lennox, Jesse (February 21, 2024). "Nintendo fans can dive into Endless Ocean Luminous this spring". Digital Trends . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ Welsh, Oli (February 21, 2024). "The Wii's extremely chill scuba-diving series is, unexpectedly, back". Polygon . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Maker, Connor (February 21, 2024). "You'll be able to dive into Endless Ocean Luminous on May 2". VG247 . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ Troughton, James (February 21, 2024). "New Endless Ocean Coming To Nintendo Switch With 30 Player Multiplayer". TheGamer . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ Bueno, Daniel (February 21, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous Comes to Switch in May 2024". Siliconera . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ Robinson, Andy (February 21, 2024). "Endless Ocean is coming to Nintendo Switch with support for 30-players". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (February 21, 2024). "Endless Ocean: Luminous Is Coming To Switch In May". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ @super_sweep (May 2, 2024). "本日発売、Nintendo SWITCH フォーエバーブルー ルミナス 弊社サウンドスタッフ、佐宗・細江・江口がBGM・効果音担当させていただきました。" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "Endless Ocean Luminous - Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  13. ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean: Luminous review: chill underwater adventure runs out of air". Digital Trends . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  14. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 15, 2024). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1849". Gematsu. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  15. ↑ Watts, Steve (May 2, 2024). "Endless Ocean: Luminous Review - Hope You Really Like Fish". GameSpot . Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  16. ↑ Lloret, Alberto (April 30, 2024). "Análisis de Endless Ocean Luminous, el juego de submarinismo que no sabía que necesitaba". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  17. ↑ Plant, Logan (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous Review". IGN . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  18. ↑ Tiraxa (April 30, 2024). "Cette exclu Switch signe le retour d'une vieille licence qui aurait mieux fait de rester dans l'ombre". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  19. ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean: Luminous Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  20. ↑ Schmid, Lukas (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous im Test: Hilfe, sie haben dem Spiel die Seele geklaut!". PC Games (in German). Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  21. ↑ Minor, Jordan (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous Shallow sea dives". PCMag . Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  22. ↑ Mejia, Ozzie (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous review: Deep blue sea". Shacknews . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  23. ↑ Wood, Rhys (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous review - splendid Switch spelunking". TechRadar . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  24. ↑ Dellafrana, Danilo (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous – Recensione". The Games Machine (in Italian). Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ Scullion, Chris (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous is a One-Trick Seahorse, But a Pleasant One". Video Games Chronicle . Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  26. ↑ Webster, Andrew (April 30, 2024). "Endless Ocean Luminous is a simple, serene swim on the Switch". The Verge . Retrieved April 30, 2024.

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