So where is the sequel?

[Broso]

I just finished the game with the secret ending and man that leaves some questions open to be answered. It even said "To be continued...".

This game certainly is not perfect, but in regards to the artwork, the music, the atmosphere and the story it is incredibly good! Especially if you consider that most of it was designed and developed by two people.

Now the initial release of this game dates back around 5 1/2 years and it doesn't seem like anyone is working on a sequel. I think that is very unfortunate.

I guess Derek and Alec are too busy with other projects. But let's be honest. This is one of the most beautiful games ever made. Most other projects could only pale in comparison to this. I really hope that Derek and Alec get back at continuing this masterpiece of theirs soon.

[SomeUnregPunk]

I doubt it... from what I read, it wasn't a successful enough venture for them.

[CarameloSatan]

There's a discussion in the official forum...
It seems that they'll not make a sequel

http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=4331.0

[breversa]

I believe the closest thing to a sequel is a work in progress mod started by False.Genesis here : http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=4349.0

You may also have a look at some other mods, such as the Sacrifice prequel (http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=1031.0), or Labyrinth (http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=4319.0). :-)

Mods lists are here : http://www.bit-blot.com/forum/index.php?topic=702.0 or here : http://aquariawiki.ryanballantyne.name/wiki/index.php/List_of_Mods

Happy underwater exploring ! ;-)

[Broso]

I guess that's something.. But I really wish for something that has the same touch of inspiration that the original game has.

[breversa]

I'd love to myself : I rank Aquaria as one of the best game ever, a real masterpiece made by only two people, with much more enjoyment than any 200-people AAA-studio game… but Alec Holowka and Derek Yu seem to have no plan for making a sequel themselves. So unless you can dig up a heap of cash and manage to hire them both (would they event agree ?), your best bet is to link up with the modders, and why not team up with them ?

For the record, Andrew Church started the iOS (then Android, IIRC) port by himself (and maybe also *for* himself), and it turned out to become a full-fleged game for those platforms. So why not a fan-made sequel ? The editor is here, and the code is open-source… maybe it only needs your ideas and will ? ;-)

[Arthur]

Alec said that he's busy with another project, just like Derek, he says that the probability of having a "Aquaria 2" is very low, but I also want a "Aquaria 2", I've unlocked the secret final by reaching the 3 Naija's Memories, it is really a incredible game, but looks like it will not have a sequel.

[Broso]

I am very sad that this game did not get the attention that it deserved. It is one of the few very good games that we have seen in the past decade. I can't stress that enough.

Letting this go uncontinued would be an unforgivable mistake.

[Nax_o]

Perhaps kickstarter would help them with the funding? Aquaria is easily in my all time top 10 games. Few games cause this much interest such as aquaria.

[Sharza]

I think the problem with Aquaria was mostly advertising. I believe it has flown under too many people's radars to become a major success. Or it was just a matter wrong place wrong time - there wasn't as big an indie-game hype as there is today. Also the gameplay is very oldschool, people only start to get back to that as of now (at least I've got the feeling they do, no numbers to make it really grasp-able)

[Nax_o]

Aquaria was introduced in a time when Indie was truly Indie. Nobody knew it. It would have been a smash hit if it would have been released during the times when greenlight was made.

Such a shame. Just started playing it again. I'll probably play it all again through again just for the fun. It is a truly wonderful adventure to which time has been very graceful.

[Broso]

I wonder if the creators even realize what they have created. They probably can't look at it the same way outsiders can.

I can't stress enough how much I love the atmosphere established in this game. It's incredibly well done. Then there is the artstyle and beautiful music complementing each other so well.

All of it manages to evoke deep emotions like only so few other games are able to. Not trying to use the talent which created this to create another game like it seems like such a waste...

[Nax_o]

There are so few people who know about Aquaria but the ones who do know are most likely very deeply moved by it.

How could you not be if you completed the game?.

Screw the murder of Aeris in Final Fantasy 7 -> Naija and her fate is far more interesting. And it just screams bloody murder that i am not able to find out what happens next.

Hell, a good portion of the 'all time top 10' games that i would include on my list contains sequels and cliffhangers i dont care a jot about but Aquaria would really need more story IMHO.

[Sharza]

Originally posted by Virsalus:

I wonder if the creators even realize what they have created. They probably can't look at it the same way outsiders can.

I guess that could be true as well. As an artist it's always difficult to have confidence in your work. Maybe that's only my experience although I hear a lot of people that create - whatever it is they create - have the same problem.

As you said though - they can be proud of their work.

[Sharza]

Originally posted by heikkito:

There are so few people who know about Aquaria but the ones who do know are most likely very deeply moved by it.

How could you not be if you completed the game?.

Screw the murder of Aeris in Final Fantasy 7 -> Naija and her fate is far more interesting. And it just screams bloody murder that i am not able to find out what happens next.

Hell, a good portion of the 'all time top 10' games that i would include on my list contains sequels and cliffhangers i dont care a jot about but Aquaria would really need more story IMHO.

I only started playing again - for some reason during my first playthrough I didn't finish it completely although I had gotten as far as the Abyss. That's why I just started over two or three days ago. Might have had to do with me re-installing my computer or something along those lines and in the process losing the savegame.

[Nax_o]

The Abyss is one of the darkest and most foul places ever in a game...

...or not really. But the fact that Naija goes through all that makes it really nasty in your mind and puts you on the edge of the seat. Replace Naija with the Doom guy or the ship from R-Type and it would just be another slaughter fest where crowd control would be key to success.

From a design/story point i have to say the devs really nailed it in the the lone, young female protagonist on this -> We have come a long way from the days when Eidos thought 'What if we make the hero a female' and made polygon breasts on Lara Croft instead of having the generic Indiana Jones hunt for artifacts. Also the fact that Naija does not have any 'hip and pop' dark angst stuff for the MTV generation makes it a character that really stands up from the crowd. e.g. Prince of Persia series is a good reference here.