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The game takes place across multiple levels that have each fish starting off in their own location and having to make it to the end of a level, inching closer to freedom. The indie game has a lot to love, but also some things that just didn’t work well.
10 Love: The Pixar-Like Graphics
Some indie games may struggle to provide the most aesthetically pleasing experience but I Am Fish’s visuals are top-notch. The game hits the player with these beautiful looks almost right out of the gate when the players move the goldfish out of the pet store and onto the rooftops of the beautiful town in level 1.
It’s also fun to see each fish’s goofy reaction to things, which is very reminiscent of watching a Pixar Short on the big screen. The graphics for the game can really keep the player engage with what is happening and encourage them to keep going.
9 Don’t Love: The Controls
This may be the least surprising element of a game made by the same people who developed I Am Bread, but I Am Fish has some very unique controls. Because of this, it makes the game harder to handle as a whole.
While the developers at Bossa Studios give people two options for controls (normal and “Bossa-style”, with the latter being harder), both have their own downsides. The normal version is a lot easier to maneuver the fish around, but having to use the control stick to build and slow momentum is a system of trial-and-error that can get frustrating.
8 Love: Each Fish’s Power
In the opening levels of the game, players take on the role of the goldfish as it maneuvers its way through various pathways and obstacles. There isn’t much special with the goldfish outside of the usual fish abilities to swim around and occasionally jump out of water.
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But the three other fish (a blowfish, a piranha, and a flying fish) each have their own unique ability that makes advancing through their sections a lot more interesting. With the blowfish’s ability to roll, the piranha’s bite, and the flying fish’s soaring ability, the unique power mechanic in I Am Fish is solid.
7 Don’t Love: Sparse & Saveless Checkpoints
One thing that will be clear quickly to players is that I Am Fish has very long levels. This is because of how few of them there are (only 13 in the main story). The levels can even feel longer than they are because of a focus on precise movement.
Luckily, there are checkpoints along the way that will keep players from reliving parts of the level. The only issue is that some of these checkpoints are few and far between in later levels. Another frustrating element of the checkpoints is that they don’t save the game, so players need to beat a level before logging off.
6 Love: Level Design
There are some impressive details throughout each level of I Am Fish that keep the experience fresh. A great example of this is the different modes of transportation the fish can take along their journey. This can range from a janitor’s bucket to a block of ice.
There is even one level where one of the fish is unfortunately swallowed by a human and the player must use get the human to the next checkpoint. The platforming is impressive too, with each section blending well into the overall environment. Some of the platforming ends up becoming rather satisfying if pulled off well.
5 Don’t Love: Lack Of Direction
There will be times where I Am Fish will feel like an open-world game for players to explore anywhere they want. But that is probably not the case as the game will let the player know if they have strayed in the wrong direction.
While checkpoints do serve as an indicator to follow, sometimes the checkpoints are out of sight. This makes it very difficult to figure out where to go. There are also some puzzle mechanics in the game that aren’t at all explained, which may make the player feel stuck with nowhere to go. Establishing objectives or an on-screen arrow might’ve improved this.
4 Love: The Bread
The reason why I Am Fish could be an ambiguous sequel to I Am Bread is that the whole adventure begins with the fish being fed pieces of bread from a loaf that can sometimes be seen moving around. In addition, there are pieces of bread that are scattered around each level for players to collect.
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These can be a lot of fun to gather as they challenge the player to attempt paths that are far more challenging to execute. While the bread does contribute to unlocking a secret level, the nice part about collecting them is that they are totally optional to the main plotline.
3 Don’t Love: The Stars
At the end of each level, the game grades how well the player does with that level by awarding them a specific number of stars. There are probably a few different factors such as the number of deaths and quickly completing the challenge.
While they are also optional to learn when it comes to beating the main plot, they are needed to unlock the secret and they are incredibly frustrating to earn because of the need to be fast. Some random moments that aren’t the player’s fault could happen in a run and could ruin a chance at a good star rating. It doesn’t work for a game that is about being careful with movement.
2 Love: The Finale
Without giving away too many spoilers for those who haven’t played it, the finale of this game is a culmination of everything the player has learned throughout the game. Specifically, this uses the skills of all four fish as they work to escape one final situation.
While the final level does suffer from a lack of direction and can be frustrating to keep all the fish together, it is incredibly satisfying being able to have all the abilities in the arsenal at once. Plus, the ending sequence is so wild, it needs to be seen to be believed.
1 Don’t Love: The Seagulls
While there aren’t many encounters that need to be dealt with in this game, there is one “enemy” that shows up a few times that can make an already difficult navigation borderline impossible. On some levels, there will be seagulls that will be lurking around for the fish.
While players could try to be as slow as possible to avoid being caught, it is incredibly hard to avoid notifying these birds. They will then come flying down and bash into your bowl a bunch, sometimes making it hard to advance forward. If players aren’t quick enough to escape, the bowl can shatter and the fish will die. These sections will make the long levels feel longer.
I Am Fish was released on September 16, 2021, and is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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