Nintendo's upcoming Endless Ocean for Wii offers players a unique underwater experience. Unlike Ecco the Dolphin, the game doesn't feature any combat and relies on a more laid back and open-ended approach. Players use the Wii remote to direct a diver while navigating through the fictional Manaurai Sea. Native sea life will swim by, giving players the opportunity to interact with them in numerous ways, ranging from snapping pictures to feeding them snacks. Making friends with the fish unlocks encyclopedic information, and Nintendo used real life creatures as inspiration, adding some marine education to the experience.

Players will earn more advanced diving gear as they move into deeper waters and complete missions like reaching certain areas, searching for lost items or taking visitors through an underwater tour of shipwrecks and ruins. Luckily, sailing out into the blue won't be a lonely ride, since a dolphin accompanies them. Over time, the dolphin can be taught a few tricks and perhaps other companions will join the adventure.

In addition to taking players out to unexplored waters, Endless Ocean will make full use of the Wii's technology by being the first game to offer custom soundtracks. Users can copy MP3s onto an SD memory card and have their own tunes play in the background instead of Endless Ocean's soothing music. Additionally, the game will have full online support, so friends can get on each other's boats and start cooperative dives. Communication comes in the form of basic messages mapped out to the controller's D-pad. Unfortunately, the game will keep its own friends list separate from the main Wii system. Although this allows players to store up to 42 friends, it also means people will have to exchange long friend codes in order to connect.

Although Endless Ocean has plenty of water to explore, its gameplay lacks depth. Players looking for a relaxing experience to explore the sea without worrying about time limits or accumulating points can look forward to finding it in this underwater paradise.