Sea Fantasy Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, & PC)

Fishing has often been a potential side quest or minigame in most games. However, developer METASLA has opted to shift gears and make the virtual activity a full-blown action RPG. In addition, they have crafted a pretty original story to go along with your extracurricular endeavors as well as a minigame that will make your experience fuller. But is Sea Fantasy the right game for you? Let’s find out in our Sea Fantasy review below.

Teach a Man to Fish

If you hate fishing but don’t mind virtually indulging in the art of baiting and catching fish, then jumping into Sea Fantasy might be the special treat you need. It’s the perfect game for gamers looking to extend their time fishing in games like Stardew Valley who want just a touch more of the action in a more vast open world. 

To ease you into the unnamed world of the game, you are initiated via a touching story about the near end of the earth. An apocalypse launched by a war between humans has left the world in a state of survival. This has resulted in 70% of the Earth’s water being submerged. Thus, opening up the opportunity to catch fish for survival. 

Moreover, the story goes that the Black Dragon might once again return to destroy the world. This is a bioengineered weapon whose weakness is said to be the SeaAZ marine life swimming in the aquatic waters of the world. To stand a chance against the Black Dragon, you’re tasked with catching as many fish as you can. There are hundreds of SeaAZ you can bait. So, you’d better get moving.

Big Fish, Big Bait

Your character, aptly named Rod in the most fitting and charming way possible, wields a fishing rod as his go-to fishing instrument. At first, you begin to bait fish in the aquatic waters around your mom’s home, where you currently live. The fishing technique isn’t too difficult. It merely requires that you align your rod marker with the shadows of the fish you can easily spot swimming in the waters. 

To spice up your fishing spree, though, METASLA has added an additional minigame. This requires you to perfectly time your fishing with the fish’s gauge that appears on the screen. If you time correctly, you will drain the fish’s health effectively and reel your catch in with ease. However, if your time is less perfect, your health meter begins to drain out, and the fish might get away.

It’s an interesting way to make fishing exciting, given you’ll be spending most of your time going out into the deep seas anyway. But the challenge only gets bigger and better the more you play. For instance, you’ll begin to spot different kinds of fish species that require different techniques to catch. Say, some species require a bigger bait, others a stronger rod, and so on. 

Fortunately, you have a handy crafting tool to create better equipment and acquire more resources for more challenging fishing quests.

Cast a Wide Net

The added load will require some form of help, which you receive from a new buddy called Axel. So, you’re now a duo band of Rod and Axel, parading around the world of Sea Fantasy, donning the most adorable names, and going on fishing adventures far beyond your homestead.

It helps, too, that you’re both gifted differently. Rod thrives on the fishing side of things, while Axel is more apt at clearing obstacles on your path. Together, you venture off into unchartered waters with the help of your earned in-game currency in exchange for boat rides. You don’t have to walk anymore but can catch a boat ride into deeper waters with more treacherous fish species and more diverse biomes to explore. 

There are indeed quite varied regions you’ll come across in the world of Sea Fantasy, whether forested biomes or hostile underground caves. You’ll explore underwater and run into new skills and abilities to reel in and catch more valuable fish.

Troubled Waters

This comes with the threat of falling prey to the bigger, more vicious species that call for stronger equipment and defense. However, no matter how treacherous the unknown seas are, your only defense mechanism is to fish. There is no fighting or combat in Sea Fantasy whatsoever, which can be a breath of fresh air for a genre that is rampant with fighting mechanics.

Instead, you only need to sharpen your fishing skills so you can take on even the bigger bosses you come by. To soothe your fishing troubles, though, you’ll get treated to a vast, charming world. The environments in Sea Fantasy are truly breathtaking. They use a pixel art style. Some gamers may find it distasteful, but the game expertly uses it to its fullest advantage.

The pixel art is simply stunning, with incredibly detailed biomes and intricate environments. Each new area you visit will feel distinct from the other, all while providing more content to sink your teeth into. For instance, you will stumble onto lots of secrets hidden both on dry ground and deep seas.

It’ll push you to explore some more, even as you juggle between side quests and fishing the higher-up species. And soon, the story will climax with the fight between the Black Dragon and your ally, the Green Dragon. On account of avoiding spoilers, I won’t tread too deep into that. Only the climax doesn’t disappoint, building up in ways that will leave you feeling satisfied with the roughly ten to 20 hours put into completing the game.

The One That Got Away

Despite all the pros, Sea Fantasy does suffer some cons worth mentioning. For one, the translation can be offputting. It’s clear that METASLA aren’t native English speakers as not only are some of the dialogues misspelled, but others are simply way off. 

This can be irritating for some gamers who would rather have a more seamless story. Yet the translation bugs can be sparse enough to ignore. In any case, the developers are aware of this issue and hopefully will get right on to fixing it as soon as possible. 

Another bug is the fishing mechanic, which can sometimes fail. Your rod can fail to catch fish, or the fish can disappear after being caught, among other bugs. I have to add, though, that these aren’t too frequent to detract from your overall playthrough. 

Generally, the fishing mechanics are pretty solid. You just ought to be aware that a few bugs may be possible during your run-through. Overall, the performance of Sea Fantasy is pretty top-notch. It maintains a steady 40 fps and nearly runs without a hitch. 

Fish in the Sea

As for the price, Sea Fantasy is currently going for $13.49, though only until January 13, 2025, after which the price will jump back to $14.99. It’s a pretty fair price, given the amount of content you gain.

Not only is the main storyline engaging, but it lasts for roughly ten hours. 

Almost always, you have something keeping you busy, and no one activity, whether fishing or the minigame, lasts any longer than it should. 

Furthermore, the main quest allows for several traversal options, including boarding a submarine to explore the underwaters. You can even head over to the dungeons and stand a chance to gain more rewards. Besides, updates are rewarded at a steady pace, ensuring your playthrough remains rewarding. 

Meanwhile, you can jump back in again, especially for completionists, who can take on side quests and spend roughly 20 hours, making a price of less than $15 worth it.

Verdict

There’s plenty to love about Sea Fantasy, which just dropped on January 7, 2025. Since launch, Steam users have been pouring praises at the game for its ultimately fun fishing expeditions. Although often a minigame or side quest in most games, METASLA decided to turn virtual fishing into a full-on action RPG, and we’re all the better for it. 

The fishing mechanics are solid enough to carry you smoothly to the shore. All along, you’ll be enjoying the intriguing story of Rod and Axel as they attempt to stop the Black Dragon from resurrecting and destroying the world. 

Graphically, Sea Fantasy is a delight, with its charming and incredibly detailed pixel art. Even the character sprites look stunning, with intricate detail and charming animations.

Exploring the world is certainly made more engaging by the striking art style as well as the accompanying compelling story. And the fishing expeditions you get to remain fun ways to catch the most exotic fish species and increase the value of your inventory. 

Still, there are a few hiccups the developers need to iron out, including some bugs with the translation and fishing rod mechanic. However, these are never too rampant to cause frustration or ultimately ditch the game. 

For the price of $13.49, Sea Fantasy on Steam definitely delivers beyond expectations. It’s a worthwhile experience for any gamer looking to jump into some virtual fishing.