By Joseph Walter
As a man who lived and breathed Nintendo as if it were his single form of nourishment, Tim had been acquiring the more obscure games he could find for the shiny new system, and Endless Ocean was one of them.
Oh how he begged me to get it! "Dude, we can swim together! It'll be awesome!" Whether in class or at lunch, I'd hear a variation of that sentence almost daily, as he was always trying to lure me into this apparently mesmerizing experience... but, as an ignorant fool, I declined.
It's only now, over a decade later, that I finally heeded his advice and took the plunge... and good Lord Jesus, he was right. What a fool I was!
But it was only after Endless Ocean's title screen glowed to life that I was truly made aware of the severity of my foolishness.
I can't think of another title screen that so fully enraptured and immersed me into a virtual world. To say I was emotionally overwhelmed is an understatement.
When I finally recovered from this religious experience, I exasperatedly contacted Tim and, with tears in my eyes, demanded to know one, single thing: "WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN ME ABOUT THIS TITLE SCREEN?!?!?"
So what's the big deal? Let's dive into it so you can see for yourself!
Fading in at the exact moment the words "Endless Ocean" appear on screen, you're immediately hit with chills and, at least in my case, tears. Everything just clicks.
The ethereal, angelic theme coupled with the beautiful visuals is an overwhelming combination, and it you only find yourself being further entranced as the screen transitions to the world beneath the surface of the ocean, showing us the lovely sea-based friends we'll soon be swimming and exploring with.
And again, there's that song.
Hayley Westenra's "Prayer" is a remarkable piece of music, and as it continues to evolve, it evokes increasingly strong emotions thanks to its impressive composition and performance. Still, it's the beauty of how it dances with the masterfully executed visuals that is key: together, they create a genuine sense of wonder and tranquility.
The reason I finally bought Endless Ocean after all this time was the hope that I could have a game that would act as a way to calm me down after a crazy day, and it does exactly that.
From the moment the title screen started, I knew I had made a wise choice.
Even after my worst, most hectic days, I know that Endless Ocean will transport me to a place of peace, and even if you never end up playing the game yourself, I hope that its title screen brings you some of the same tranquility it brings me.