The Therapist Gamer

Proteus is a game with no real objective other than to explore and enjoy the scenery.  The soundtrack and sound effects are based off of the environment and your actions, which makes for an ever-changing ambiance.  I was intrigued when I first heard of Proteus, and when it was free on the Vita with a PS Plus subscription, I was excited to try it out.

 

You start in the ocean with an island in view.  As you explore the island there are a few things that trigger events which ultimately lead to the progression of the seasons.  Each new season has new sights to see.  You can probably see most of the island in 20 or 30 minutes, which you'll re-explore as the seasons change.

 

One cool feature is that you can take screenshots within the game (in addition to the Vita's screenshot feature) to create "postcards."  These postcards can be looked at later, and will actually transport you to the exact moment in the game where you took it; the island is randomly generated each time so this gives you the chance to revisit particularly beautiful or interesting scenes.  It's basically just creating save points with big thumbnails.

 

I've heard nothing but high praise for this game and much of it is deserved.  I've never heard anyone complain about the one thing that most bothers me - the game itself is not really much to look at.  It's true that graphics don't make or break a game, and there are plenty of examples of ugly or pixelated games that are awesome.  But the primary objective in Proteus is simply to explore and discover, and my motivation for that got low pretty quick when all I'm seeing is things I could easily draw myself in MS Paint.  If the game looked like a current-gen game or even as good as something like Skyrim then I'd be all over exploring the island just for the sake of it.  I think the art style is one of the game's strong-points but it's also it's greatest weakness.