Umihara Kawase

by Studio Saizensen, KOMODO

The Developer Says...

Umihara Kawase is a girl who uses a fishing hook as a grappling hook. You’ll need quick reflexes to swing your way through the branching surreal environments. Use your brains to figure out the best way through. They say fish is brain food—you’re going to need it!

Players Like...

❤ Detailed Fishing Line Mechanics

Players control a young girl who wields an elastic fishing line as a grappling hook. The line's physics-based properties are the core of the gameplay, allowing for a unique style of movement and traversal. Players can tighten, stretch, and swing the line to propel themselves across gaps, scale walls, and slingshot over obstacles. Mastering the nuanced timing and control of the fishing line is essential for progressing through the game's challenges.

❤ Branching Level Paths Encourage Exploration

The game's levels feature a non-linear, branching structure, with multiple exit doors leading to different paths and subsequent stages. This encourages players to experiment and explore, as they must find the optimal route through each level. The open-ended level design also allows skilled players to discover creative shortcuts and sequence breaks using the fishing line mechanics, adding significant replayability.

❤ Steep Learning Curve and Challenging Obstacles

Overcoming the game's obstacles requires a significant investment of time and dedication from players. Even basic traversal can be incredibly challenging, demanding precise timing and technique. The controls have a deceptive depth of nuance, and the game offers no hand-holding, instead relying on trial-and-error and repetition to improve player skills. However, this creates a deeply satisfying sense of progression as players gradually overcome the game's difficulties.

❤ Speedrunning and Optimization Potential

The fishing line mechanics and branching level design lend themselves well to speedrunning and optimization. Skilled players can discover complex techniques and movement sequences to navigate levels in record time. The game's Steam release includes leaderboards and a replay sharing system, further encouraging the community to push the boundaries of what's possible.

❤ Charming Aesthetic and Soundtrack

Despite the game's punishing difficulty, it maintains a whimsical and charming aesthetic. The surreal environments and anthropomorphic sea creatures create a memorable visual style, complemented by a lighthearted and upbeat musical soundtrack.

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