Game Review: The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human - Uncover What Happened to Humanity

Today’s review is slightly different, since the game in question, The Last Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, is not an app but a PC game instead. It was a very pleasant surprise and I couldn’t wait to start playing it. Needless to say, I got so engulfed in it that I nearly forgot my purpose which was to review it. I kept telling myself “just a little further and I’ll stop” and before I knew it I had defeated 3 bosses. Considering it is an indie game by YCJY Games, I think it ranks really high in terms of enjoyment and gameplay.

Plot

The game takes place in the distant future when the spaceship Argo9 gets sucked by a black hole, and when it returns to Earth, every remaining human civilization is gone. In this post-apocalyptic world, our hero, the sole navigator of the Argo9 and last human alive (probably), must find out what happened while he was gone. His journey for answers takes place under the sea were the only evidence of humans having existed are the sunk cities' ruins with the improved technology and the holo-tapes that hold messages of the people long gone. In your quest you will come across dangerous creatures and explore unwelcome territories. Are you ready to solve the mystery behind humanity’s end and what led to a new ice age for Earth?

Gameplay

The game begins soon after the Argo9 crashes on the iced Earth and sinks into the sea like a submarine (it’s probably a futuristic technology that allows spaceships adjust depending on the environment). You can change the control buttons from the main menu if you want, and I suggest you check them out before hitting play. The main actions you can take apart from moving in all directions are aiming and shooting which is done with your mouse.

When the game starts you’ll need to go deeper into the sea, and the lower you go, the more ruins you’ll come across- and of course some strange looking fish and dangerous plantation are all around you. Honestly, even though you’re navigating a submarine, it looks tiny compared to your surroundings and even the fish. Additionally, there are Holo-Tapes which hold information important to find out what happened to humanity, as well as to help you make prepare your next move and even warn you about enemy creatures (e.g. huge clams that you really don’t want to get close to). So try to read all of them carefully.

In the game you will have to navigate through mazes and open mechanical doors by aiming and shooting at the mechanism that lies at the ground. You can also shoot against seemingly innocent fish that can prove to be deadly if you’re not careful. At some points you’ll also come across some floating devices. They seem hostile when you first see them and in my case I started shooting at them but then found out their purpose is to upgrade your defense, or provide you with more weapons. Speaking of which, the first weapon you get is the Harpoon and later on you get more such as the Saw which allows you to cut through seaweed that block your way and open a path. To fire you use the left mouse button and by pressing and holding you increase the fire range of the shoot.

The bosses are not hard to find since they usually hide at the deeper ends, and each one is harder to deal with than the previous. There are 10 boss battles in total, with the first being The Worm, and if you’re wondering how dangerous a worm can be, wait until you actually see it. It is huge with a round mouth full of sharp teeth and it appears from the ground and digs its way above and below you to grab you. You need to shoot it non-stop when it comes out and also pay attention to the ground movements to predict where it will surface to be able to avoid it. But that’s not your only worry; hordes of smaller worms are continuously released from its mouth, and you have to shoot and avoid them until they’re gone. Another difficult boss is The Fathers, a team of two large seahorses that require lots of patience and good preparation in order to beat them. The Parasite was the hardest for me to deal with and I suggest you keep yourself calm while fighting it. I don't know why most bosses shoot babies or other creatures from their mouth but it's funny (as long as you can defeat them that is). The life bar of the boss appears at the bottom of the screen, and when you defeat it, a sketch of the boss is transferred on the “Boss Gallery” that you can find on the main menu.

A map is also positioned at the top right of your screen to help you find your way. Checkpoints are rather rare, and sometimes you’ll have to return to a previous one to save the game. Some areas are really large and confusing to explore but the game follows a pattern so it's hard to get lost. As you progress you’ll notice that the environment changes (mainly the colors and sea plants) and it really gives a sense of uniqueness considering you’re underwater. More dangerous creatures also appear to make things harder for you. I really enjoyed exploring and discovering hidden upgrades while also admiring the beautiful environments. It is probably my favorite part of the game.

Graphics & Sounds

I absolutely love the 2D pixelated graphics and the nostalgia they create with the stunning designs. The colors are equally gorgeous and capture both the beauty and danger of the sea. You will notice that on small figures (fist, Argo9, e.t.c.) the pixels are smaller whereas in larger figures (bosses, machinery, e.t.c.) the pixels are bigger. The music is soft and calm, yet exciting and provides the perfect balance between fear for the unknown and awe for the majestic abyss. When you're fighting a boss, the music becomes creepier to match the situation you're in. The recorded messages are only in written form and that’s to be expected as it would feel strange to have voices in a pixelated game.

Price & Requirements

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human will be available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and can be purchased through Steam or Itch.io. For the first week of its release on Steam (January 19-25) it will be available for the discounted price of $8.49 for the base game and $12.74 for the deluxe edition. After the first week, the price of the base game will be $9.99 and $14.99 for the deluxe edition.

Update: The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is now available on GOG, Steam, Itch.io, and Humble.

Conclusion

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is a game that manages to capture your interest right from the start by letting you know only the basics of the surrounding world, and intriguing you to discover the truth step-by-step, all by yourself. It also takes on issues that we are dealing with in the present, such as the climate change and disasters that humans bring to themselves. It’s simple yet challenging, and doesn’t take long to bring you face to face with the creatures that roam in the depths of the sea. Exploration covers also a huge part of the game and is important for uncovering the secrets of the past. All in all, the game is a gem among indie games and it’s worth giving it a try if you like pixelated, Metroidvania-like games.

The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human screenshots above, trailer below

About the developers:

YCJY Games was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2014 by Josef Martinovsky and Christopher Andreasson. Their previous project was the game Keep Walking EP. To learn more about YCJY Games, you can visit http://www.whycjwhy.com.