Ranked gold in the latest issue of Famitsu, UO offers a surprisingly fresh and engaging gaming experience. We weren't expecting much based on the previews from a few months back but SCE have themselves another sleeper.

At the outset, the protagonist UO (fish) is sent on a mission by an old turtle creature. Upon entering the game proper, movement is controlled by maneuvering the left thumbstick and UO swims through the depths with ease. Fins flip realistically and UO's tail wags while swimming. A targeting cursor may be spotted on objects or fellow fish to perform actions. For example, underwater gates may be pushed by swimming into them and prey may be gobbled up by wagging the right thumbstick. UO has to eat continually to keep up its strength while keeping watch for predators that are on their own feeding forays. As if the inherent dangers weren't tough enough, fishermen also plunk their appetizing baited lines into the water to snatch hungry fish.

Animation quality is excellent with fish that move like fish, prey that squirms like prey, and predators that swoop through the water like...true predators honed in their killing craft by years of experience. When UO dashes through the depths, little air bubbles follow in its wake and lighting effects differ depending on water depth and murkiness. Special.

The Asian version of UO includes a bonus cellphone strap and a pinbadge.

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