Summary
Nintendo fans got a pleasant surprise at the February Nintendo Direct. A sequel to the Nintendo Wii’s long-dormant ocean diving franchise,Endless Ocean, was announced for the Switch asEndless Ocean: Luminous, a multiplayer deep-sea adventure in a procedurally generated environment. For those who experienced the franchise, this brings back fond memories of exploring the depths, hunting for artifacts, and interacting with the water’s inhabitants.
The franchise hitting the Switch is an opportunity to update the franchise for a new generation of explorers. It can draw from what made its predecessors memorable, while also taking inspiration from current technologies and Nintendo’s most popular franchises. Here are a few ways to make that happen.
1Treasure Collecting
New Riches To Find Every Day
A highlight ofEndless Ocean: Blue Worldwasfinding hidden treasuresbeneath the waters via sonar. These could be collected and appraised for money to buy cosmetics and upgraded equipment.
Treasures can easily be incorporated intoEndless Ocean: Luminous. A constantly evolving ocean opens the potential to discover new items every day. It would make for fun quests to follow with fellow divers and special treasure-hunting events can be scheduled within the game itself. Rare treasures could be programmed to only be available on certain days, creating more incentive for regular visits.
2VR Support
Nintendo Proved It Could Work
Virtual Reality is becoming more streamlined and offering unique experiences, ranging from arena-based fighting games to first-person shooters, as well as calmer meditation games. Nintendo even dipped its toes into Virtual Realitywith its Labo cardboard headset.
Endless Ocean: Luminousmay be an opportunity to revisit VR. While the Switch isn’t as graphically advanced as its competition, the bright colors and diverse wildlife of the game’s ocean environments may help to create an immersive, meditative experience. It doesn’t have to be mandatory for the main gameplay, but it could be a fun side activity.
3Return To Nineball Island
A Private Home Base
The central base of activity inEndless Ocean: Blue Worldwas Nine Ball Island, where the team of L & L Diving Services could rest and relax, as well as plan their next expeditions. Personal Islands for divers inEndless Ocean: Luminouswould unlock customization options akin toAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
Divers could customize their island homes with multiple options for furniture and entertainment. With online connectivity,gatherings could also be hostedas a break from quests, which might involve playing music on the guitar or a round of volleyball on the beach.
4Pointer Controls
Fewer Buttons Means More Players
Endless Ocean: Blue Worldon the Wii had twopossible control options: the classic controller or the Wii Remote on its own. All one had to do was point in the direction they wanted to go, hold down a button, and the diver would swim in that direction. This was a fantastic way to make gameplay accessible to casual game players.
Endless Ocean: Luminousshould focus on inclusivity with pointer and gyro controls via the Joy-Cons. Modern controllers have multiple buttons for multiple functions, making venturing into games intimidating for those with little experience. Making the control scheme simple can open the door for both gamers and non-gamers alike.
5Coral Garden
Build A Garden Under The Sea
Endless Ocean: Blue Worldhas a side quest that involvesbuilding a coral gardento attract new marine life to the region. This would be a breathtaking addition toEndless Ocean: Luminous. Just like the Chao Gardens inSonic Adventure 2, it would be a great way to include a pet-sim type of element.
Given thatEndless Ocean: Luminousis focusing on a social, online experience, players could show off their coral gardens to fellow divers, as well as share pieces of coral found in their adventures. It would create a true collaborative element whereEndless Oceanplayers create something new and beautiful.
6Pet The Fish
Interacting With Aquatic Life Is Always A Plus
Everyone who plays video games asks two important questions. The first is “Does it runDoom?” The second is, “Can you pet the dog/cat?”
An immersive aspect of the Wii’sEndless Oceangames was the ability to interact with aquatic life, petting them and feeding them.Endless Ocean: Luminouswould be remiss to not include this feature in the game. It would add another element of immersion, helping divers to connect with the ocean’s diverse species. The ability to befriend the creatures and be followed by them would be a huge plus as well.
7Address The Reality Of Climate Change
It Could Open Players' Hearts To A Changing World
TheEndless Oceanfranchise has alerted players to the beauty of the Earth’s submerged ecosystems. They have offered both educational and entertaining opportunities to discover life that they may not otherwise come face to face with in real life.
Endless Oceanmust now address the reality of humanity’s current climate emergency. It should demonstrate how animals’ behaviors and habitats are impacted by rising water temperatures. It must also draw attention to coral reefs that are becoming bleached by exceedingly warm waters, killing whole communities within the oceans.
