Here at Level Select we try to do things a little differently, and with this in mind I have decided to review games in a completely different way to everybody else.

Rather than play the game continuously until it’s completed and the controller is ripped from my sweaty hands, I’m going to play the games the way normal people do. There’s the initial five minutes when the game is purchased, the marathon session when evening falls and finally, the dipping in and out until the game is completed, frustration leads to the discs demise or boredom points you towards the next eagerly awaited title.

First off the blocks then we have Endless Ocean.

The initial five minutes:

After coming very close to sending the Wii to eBay and replacing it with a shiny new Xbox 360, I can safely say that after my first few minutes with Endless Ocean the Wii will stay. The whole atmosphere of the game comes as a very welcome relief to the endless list of killing, jumping and driving games that seem to be the mainstay of games publishers everywhere.

So far I have literally just jumped into the sea, tickled a few fish and gotten back on the boat, but I can’t wait to put my scuba gear back on and discover what else there is down there in the big blue.

Come back on Monday, after the marathon session, to see if eBay will still be short one Wii (hardly used).

Now that the initial hysteria has died down and some actual gaming has taken place what do I think of Endless Ocean?

Breathtaking!

When I finally managed to pull the Wiimote out of my daughters hand (she played it for almost 3 hours non-stop. So, parents, it comes highly recommended for a quiet Saturday afternoon) I got down to business.

As you progress through the game you are rewarded with extra equipment and given underwater tasks to perform. Each new bit of the game, whether it be fish, locations or assignments seem to appear at just the right moment giving you that feeling of accomplishment. New underwater locations, like the White Hall, almost take your breath away with their beauty and each new creature you encounter adds to the realism and the desire to continue exploring.

Due to the very nature of diving the games pace is slow, but never boring, and after a gaming session ends you feel relaxed and refreshed. I have often found myself drifting into an almost meditative state while diving and becoming genuinely immersed in the environment.

At this point I feel it is important to mention the name of the artist that provides most of the musical accompaniment to your experiences - Hayley Westenra. This New Zealand born singer has a truly fantastic voice and I can highly recommend listening to her other work.

So, after the marathon session eBay is still short a Wii and I am left playing one of the best games on the Wii at the moment.

Tune in over the coming weeks to see how long Endless Ocean can cast it’s watery spell.