In Sword Of The Sea you ride a magical blade across shifting dunes of golden sand. It looks like a combination of the jetbike desert-crossing of Sable and the meditative hiking of Journey. Which makes sense when you learn the art director from the latter game is leading the team. I like the look of it. Surfing is cool and so are swords, so I’m happy to see it’s coming out in just a couple months, as announced at last night’s State of Play show by PlayStation.
It’s due out on August 19th this year, say developers Giant Squid. You might know them as the creators of peaceful ocean diving game Abzu, or the speedy running and slick archery of The Pathless. To my shame I have played neither of these. But then, neither of them has you kickflipping across a mysterious fantasy landscape on a giant medieval weapon. I think maybe this is the one for me, yes.
When the game was first announced in 2023, the sword you ride was described as a “snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one”. As for the story, it seems as mystical as the game looks.
“You are the Wraith,” explained creative director Matt Nava in a blog, “resurrected in a desolate world and tasked with restoring life to it as you explore submerged ruins and the vibrant, varied cultures within. Surf through sinking tombs, mysterious shipwrecks, and petrified battlefields – and bring giant shoals of fish and creatures back in the process. But beware- this land is also home to massive leviathans that will stand in your way.”
