If you're just going to leave valuable resources lying around in strategically placed caches, I'm going to clear them out. I'm trying to save the world, not earn a halo; the next player can just man up and find their own. In this Tides Of Tomorrow Review, we look at how the game introduces a massive feature: the ability to see the actions of previous players and experience a world shaped by their behavior.
The Ghostly Legacy of Previous Players
The standout feature for this Tides Of Tomorrow Review is the "second sight" style power. This allows you to watch a ghost version of a predecessor for a short time to learn from their path. NPCs also react to these ghosts, referring to previous players by name and adjusting their help or hindrance based on that player's history.
If a predecessor was a picture of virtue and helped a specific faction, you will find people more inclined to return the favor. Conversely, if they committed crimes or started trouble, you will have to find much harder ways to complete your objectives. This creates a truly reactive environment where your identity is shaped by those who came before you.
At the end of each game section, you receive a The Walking Dead-style report outlining your choices and their impact on the next player. You are even categorized based on your playstyle; during my time, I was tagged as a tree-hugging survivalist. This ranking unlocked specific dialogue options while blocking others that required a more "troublemaker" reputation.
A Flooded World: Tides Of Tomorrow Review
The game takes place on a flooded, failing remnant of our world where different gangs control structures looming out of the sea. You must navigate the tensions between several key factions:
- Marauders
- Reclaimers
- Mystics
The storyline carries a heavy "Captain Planet" vibe, where plastic represents the ultimate evil and saving whale-like creatures is a major plot point. The dialogue can occasionally feel like an elder relative lecturing you on being in harmony with nature. While the cast relies on familiar tropes—the badass woman, religious zealots, and the selfish crime lord—their impact on my decision-making felt genuine.
The Threat of Plastemia and Ozen
All characters are dealing with the effects of plastemia, a horrifying disease that causes people to slowly morph into multicolored, plastic mannequins. To combat this, you need Ozen, a drug that is in extremely short supply. You can buy, steal, or scavenge it, but there is a catch: you need it to stay alive, too.
A meter acts as a ticking timebomb of illness, though it serves more as an atmospheric element of dread than a strict countdown. I was quite reckless with my Ozen consumption regardless of the moral implications, yet I still succumbed at what felt like a pre-ordained moment for the story.
Gameplay Mechanics and Player Interaction
I expected the novelty of the vision power to wear off, but it is cleverly woven into puzzles and encounters. You can use it to scout guarded areas, guess moves in Rock, Paper, Scissors, or even time a dodge in a boxing match. Sometimes, watching a predecessor is essential to avoid a lethal mistake.
Players can also interact using an emote wheel, allowing you to point or dance to assist others. This makes it possible to indicate secrets or puzzle solutions to those following in your footsteps. Some of my favorite moments involved small, satisfying impacts, such as setting laws for tiny nations or renaming the Tidewalkers.
As we conclude this Tides Of Tomorrow Review, it is clear that the impact on the world stays with you. Whether I was repairing bridges for future players or hoarding Ozen for myself, the mechanic remained surprising throughout the journey. While I wasn't quite curious enough to jump into a second playthrough, I will definitely be there on day one for the developer's next project.
