Sword of the Sea is what happens when Matt Nava strides back into Journey's shadow
Charge up a jump and then complete sick tricks with a few quick inputs, or unleash a bubble of sonic energy to smash nearby vases, uncovering bits of currency in the shattered pieces. The protagonist moves in whatever direction you push, stopping immediately when you let go of the analog stick. There are giant chains to grind, a hover ability in some areas, and half pipes generously positioned around the environments. Control prompts pop up when you're first introduced to an ability, but the text fades quickly and you're left alone in the desert. There are no waypoints in Sword of the Sea , but the environment tells a clear story, inviting you to solve puzzles in the mysterious temples dotting the landscape. Find glowing orbs on the rooftops and hidden down secret passageways to unlock the buildings' secrets, opening up new areas. Your Yahoo privacy setting is blocking social media and third-party content You can Allow your personal information to be shared and sold. Something went wrong. Try again. You can update your choice anytime by going to your privacy controls, which are linked to throughout our sites and apps. This page will now refresh.
I played about 20 minutes of Sword of the Sea at Summer Game Fest, but I wanted to surf its dunes for a lot longer. It's the kind of game that makes the real world fade away, no matter how chaotic or intrusive your immediate surroundings are. It's built on rhythm and vibes, and it encourages a meditative flow state from its first frames. Learn the controls and then forget them; play with pure intuition and it'll most likely be the right move.
'The game is about surfing, and it's really about the process of learning to surf and getting comfortable with surfing, and then trying things that are a little bit beyond your abilities, failing, and then figuring it out and actually accomplishing them,' Sword of the Sea creator Matt Nava told Engadget on the SGF show floor. 'And in the process, you kind of realize that surfing is all about harnessing the power of something greater than yourself. You're not paddling — the waves carry you. The zoomed out camera, the little character; in a lot of games, they're right on the character, because the character is the focus. But in this game, it's about how the character is a part of the environment, that is the focus. And I think that's a constant in a lot of the games that we've made.'
Nava is the creative director and co-founder of Giant Squid, the studio behind Abzû and The Pathless . Even with these two successful games under his belt, Nava is still best known as the art director of Journey , thatgamecompany's pivotal multiplayer experience that hit PlayStation 3 in 2012. Nava has spent the past decade attempting to build explicitly non- Journey -like games with Giant Squid, and while Abzû and The Pathless both have his distinctive visual stamp, they're the opposite of Journey in many ways. Where Journey was set in a dry, desert landscape, Nava's follow-up, Abzû , took place in an underwater world. After that, The Pathless was mostly green, rather than dusty orange.
With Sword of the Sea , Nava let go. He dropped all preconceptions of what he should be making and mentally said fuck it . He finally allowed himself to manifest the game that came naturally to him.
'In this game, it's very much taking on, accepting and proclaiming that this is me,' Nava said. 'I did Journey . I'm doing orange again. And I'm going back to the desert because I have way more ideas that we couldn't do in that game … It's like I've been living in my own shadow for a long time in a weird way. It's like, why am I doing that? I should just be who I am and continue to explore the art that is my art.'
Sword of the Sea is a specific and special game, and even though it's set in an orange desert, it doesn't feel like Journey . The game also includes music by Austin Wintory, the Grammy-nominated composer behind Journey , Abzû and The Pathless . Together, Nava and Wintory form a formidable foundation.
'A lot of video game scores, they just make a music track for the area,' Nava said. 'If you're in the town, you hear town music, and then it just repeats. But that's not how it works here. The music advances as your story advances, it reflects where you are on your surfing adventure, what you're learning how, how far your character has gone on this character arc. And so that's where the music of a video game like ours should be.'
As Nava and I chatted, someone sat down to play Sword of the Sea on a nearby screen, and when I glanced up, I saw that they were gliding through an area I didn't find in my runthrough. A giant animal skeleton was half-buried in the sand, bright white vertebrae dotted with gold gems for the player to collect. There are a lot of secrets to find in Sword of the Sea , Nava assured me. The best way to find them is to just let go and play.
Sword of the Sea is due to hit PlayStation 5 , Steam and the Epic Games Store on August 19.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson are 2025's newest 'it couple': Why fans are rooting for the co-stars and their 'budding' romance
Pamela Anderson and her "budding" romance with Liam Neeson have captured the public's attention. (Image via Getty Images/Yahoo Canada Illustration) Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson are, without a doubt, the most buzz-worthy couple of 2025. Fans spotted the pair's undeniable chemistry while promoting their new film The Naked Gun — there were flirtatious moments on the red carpet, alongside plenty of laughter, smitten smiles and seemingly intimate body-language. The press tour for the reboot of the Leslie Nielson comedy has generated buzz — not for the film itself, but for letting spectators fall in love with the idea of 72-year-old Neeson and 58-year-old Anderson finding love. According to People, the pair are enjoying the 'early stages' of a 'budding romance.' Advertisement 'It's clear they're smitten with each other,' an anonymous source told the magazine. Social media has gone into a frenzy at the prospect of Anderson and Neeson being the real deal. (Images via Getty Images/X/Yahoo Canada Illustration) Although the source said the relationship began after filming the movie, Neeson has been effusive of his feelings for Anderson. 'With Pamela, first off, I'm madly in love with her. She's just terrific to work with,' Neeson said in an October 2024 interview. 'I can't compliment her enough, I'll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She's funny and so easy to work with." Anderson reciprocated, calling the British actor a 'perfect gentleman.' Plenty of press tours rely on the chemistry of stars to sell tickets. You don't have to think too far back to the likes of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell seemingly leaning into rumours of an on-set affair while doing press for their 2023 film Anyone But You. And you can forget (or perhaps forgive) Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for purposely leading audiences to believe they 'fell in love' through their film, A Star is Born (2018). Advertisement So, what makes fan fascination with Neeson and Anderson any different? It turns out, plenty. Neeson and Richardson (pictured in 2008) were married for 16 years prior to her death in 2009. Musician Tommy Lee and Anderson (pictured in 1996) made headlines for their sometimes tumultuous relationship. (Images via Getty Images) Aside from being a revered and celebrated actor, Liam Neeson's personal heartbreak has endeared him to fans. In 2009, Neeson's wife, actress Natasha Richardson, died after sustaining a head injury while skiing. The couple had been married for 15 years and shared two sons who were in their early teens at the time of her death. Richardson was a beloved actress in her own right, and a member of the Redgrave acting dynasty. Her role in the '90s film, The Parent Trap, as Lindsay Lohan's lovable bridal designer mother Elizabeth James, cemented her as a sentimental touchstone for millennials who viewed her death as the loss of a pseudo-mother figure. Questions about dating over 40, marriage, divorce or anything else? We want to hear from you. Email us at relationship-questions@ and your question could be featured in an upcoming article. Even though he previously denounced dating, the prospect of Neeson finding love again is heartwarming, but it's whom he's "smitten" with that fuels interest in his personal life. Anderson's past contains its own heartache. She's been a misunderstood public figure and in many ways, a modern-day Marilyn Monroe. Anderson's past contains its own heartache. She's been a misunderstood public figure and in many ways, a modern-day Marilyn Monroe. After experiencing sexual abuse during her childhood, she was catapulted to fame as a sex symbol. Her tumultuous romantic relationships made headlines, as did her private home video with ex-husband Tommy Lee which was stolen and sold without her consent. However, unlike Marilyn, the dismantling of a toxic Hollywood star-system has allowed the mother-of-two to rewrite the narrative assigned to her. In 2023, Anderson debuted a new look that included minimal makeup and high-fashion designer clothes. (Photo by) The former Baywatch star has shed all remnants of her former image, opting for a high-fashion, minimalist, fresh-faced aesthetic. Through her autobiography and documentary, the public has been able to see Anderson as a woman who has struggled with depression for "decades," a dedicated mother and artist who leads a "lonely" and "solitary" life. While there's shame in how she was treated by the media (and rightfully so) the public's embrace of the real Anderson includes rooting for her to find happiness, which might come in the form of a romance. While there's shame in how she was treated by the media (and rightfully so) the public's embrace of the real Anderson includes rooting for her to find happiness, which might come in the form of a romance. Advertisement And while we all know that romantic relationships aren't the be-all and end-all of life, it's touching to see people find love in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. Prior to Neeson and Anderson, the internet rallied behind actors Meryl Streep, 75, and Martin Short, 76, who began a relationship while filming the TV show Only Murders In the Building. Streep had separated from her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, while Short's wife of more than 30 years, Nancy Dolman, died from cancer in 2010. Meryl Streep and Martin Short have become one of the internet's favourite couples. (Photo by JC Olivera/WireImage) While the internet can be an ugly place, the support for Streep and Short, as well as Neeson and Anderson, is wholesome. If we were to speculate why, it could be that aside from being beloved celebrities, these couples are examples of people finding love later in life and shining a spotlight on a demographic of people often excluded from traditional dating narratives. Many people are led to believe that women over 40 or post-menopause have somehow lost their appeal and are no longer desirable. It's not uncommon for men, particularly male celebrities, in their 50s, 60s or 70s to suddenly appear on a red carpet with a woman in her 20s or 30s on their arm. But having Streep and Short, Neeson and Anderson as examples of age-appropriate couples helps shift the discourse around what sex and romance can look like for people in their later years — even if its done unintentionally. They represent hope that no matter what twists, turns and heartbreaks you may suffer, good things can come to good people at any age. Love is still possible after loss and often when you least expect it. Let us know what you think by emailing us, commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Quack, pray, love: Willie and Korie Robertson are carrying on the 'Duck Dynasty' legacy after patriarch Phil's death
The Robertsons infamous motto "faith, family and ducks" has been put to the test during this season of life. Faith, family and ducks: This simple motto turned the Robertsons into household names and reality television stars on the A&E series Duck Dynasty. But in this season of their lives, those priorities are being tested like never before. When Phil Robertson, the beloved patriarch and spiritual cornerstone of the family, died at age 79 in May after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's late last year, it marked a profound moment of loss for the tight-knit Louisiana clan. Phil's death came just days before the premiere of A&E's Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which brought Willie, who is Phil's son, and his wife, Korie, back to television after an eight-year hiatus. The family loss didn't cast a shadow over their return, but instead, became a way for them to honor a legacy, hold each other close and find new strength in old roots. "It's good and bad. There's sadness, of course, but also so much joy in what he accomplished," Willie tells Yahoo about his father. "Without [his] faith, our family would've fallen apart." One thing's clear: While the dinner table may look different and the spotlight may come and go, the Robertsons remain grounded in what matters most. Their foundation is as strong as ever. Branching out The Robertson family skyrocketed to fame thanks to the hit reality series Duck Dynasty, which premiered in 2012 and ran for 11 seasons. It centered on Phil and his wife, Kay Robertson — affectionately known as Miss Kay — alongside their four bearded sons and extended family, as they built a duck call empire. The 2025 reboot, which premiered on June 1, shifts its focus to Willie and Korie's branch of the family tree, including their six adult children and a growing number of grandchildren — at least eight so far, with more on the way. Willie and Korie are parents to Rebecca, 36; John Luke, 29; Sadie, 28; Will Jr., 23; Bella, 22; and Rowdy, 22. "[Sadie] may have had the baby while we were talking," Willie jokes on our Zoom call. "Someone might've gotten pregnant while we were talking!" With the season finale on Aug. 3, Willie and Korie are taking stock of how far they've come and how much life has changed behind the scenes. "It's been really fun getting to do this as a family," Korie tells Yahoo about making the new series. "We're so grateful to get to do it with our grandkids. ... They're kind of the stars — in our minds, at least." Willie agrees, though he admits he's ready for a break from the cameras. "TV's hard. It's a long journey, and we've been doing this for a while," he adds. Willie says he was worried for his youngest children and his daughters and son-in-laws, who were not used to being on camera. 'It's tough to [film] all that, especially for those with young families, putting this much time into it,' Willie continues. 'It's a lot of time and effort." Still, returning to reality TV has had its rewards — from watching the next generation grow together to sharing big milestones, like Sadie and her husband Christian's gender reveal for baby No. 3 in the finale. And, of course, celebrating life the Robertson way: big and joyful. Returning to television as grandparents, not just parents, also gave the couple a different perspective. "We were a lot younger back then," Willie says about filming the original Duck Dynasty. "You're older now, and your kids are adults. Back then, we were teaching them everything. Now we're watching their personalities come out and how they handle work — it's really interesting." Phil and Miss Kay are still very much part of the revival's heartbeat. "One special moment [with Phil] was in the first episode, where we had the last clip of Dad giving us a thumbs-up. At that point, he was already deep in Alzheimer's," Willie says. Phil's impact stretched far beyond the bayou. "The man lived at the end of a dirt road, never used a cellphone, never touched a computer and still impacted millions," Willie says. "There's a video of him saying, 'Don't cry at my funeral. I know where I'm going.' So there was a sense of pride. His funeral wasn't doom and gloom — it was a celebration." "It really was a celebration of life," Korie says. "Reading the comments [online] afterward [about Phil], it was inspiring. Behind the scenes, it's been beautiful to see the family come together. All the brothers supported one another, taking care of Phil and Miss Kay. It's exactly what the Bible means by honoring your father and mother. They've done that well." They confirmed Season 2 will feature an episode reflecting on Phil's legacy. As for Miss Kay, Willie says they're taking it day by day amid her ongoing health challenges. "Her health is up and down, but she's amazing — she keeps bouncing back. I think a lot of what she's going through is tied to grief and depression from losing Phil. ... But somehow, she keeps coming back — funny and feisty as ever." Faith first As the family rallies around Miss Kay, they continue to lean on the one thing that has always grounded them. Faith remains at the center of the Robertson household and of the revival. "That's a big part of why we're still in entertainment," Korie says. "The first time around, we saw the impact — people telling us how meaningful it was to see a family of faith on TV.' Korie says she believes entertainment fundamentally shapes our culture. 'That's why we do the podcast, write the books [and] came back to television. Our prayer is always to be a light in the world,' she says. Willie jumps in: "And to show that you can have faith and still be normal. You don't have to be a preacher. We're not trying to convert everyone. We just live our lives and show it through how we love each other." The couple's own relationship — they've been married for 33 years — has been tested plenty over the decades. In this season of loss and joy, they've leaned on each other more than ever. "Korie's a good partner," Willie says. "You have to work at a partnership and put time into it. Especially when life gets busy, like ours.' Willie says their family motto — faith, family and ducks — has meant more now than ever. 'We've seen it in our own families. When the marriage starts breaking down, it affects everything,' he says. 'That's why we say faith, family and then work — in that order. If your relationship with God isn't right, it'll show up in your marriage. If your family's struggling, that'll show up at work." Korie says that at the start of each year, she likes to pick a theme to represent the 365 days ahead. She didn't anticipate her choice for this year's word would hit so close to home. "My word for this year was unity. That's been my prayer — for our family to stay unified, and for Willie and me to stay unified too,' she says. That, in the end, might be the heart of the revival — not just of a show, but of a family choosing to show up for one another. In joy and in grief, with love, laughter and duck calls, the Robertsons are still doing what they've always done best: sticking together.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
This movie ruined my career and ended my dating life. 30 years later, it's seeing a resurgence on Netflix.
William McNamara opens up to Yahoo about "Copycat" — the film that derailed his career — and how it's suddenly finding a new life 30 years later, thanks to Netflix. In high school and into college, I watched my VHS copy of 1988's Stealing Home approximately 876 times. William McNamara, with his tousled hair and Hollywood-approved cheekbones, played a teen whose relationship with his childhood babysitter defined his coming of age. Back then, McNamara was on a path to leading man status. The heartthrob graced the pages of fan magazines, made a movie with the Coreys (Feldman and Haim), shared the screen with rising star Reese Witherspoon and was cast as golden-age icon Montgomery Clift. He even dated Brooke Shields. Everything was coming up Billy — and then he sort of vanished. Blame Copycat — or at least he does. In the 1995 psychological thriller starring Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter, McNamara played a clean-cut sociopath. Perhaps too well. 'It ruined my career,' he tells Yahoo. 'I was on the leading man trajectory — the good guy roles. All of a sudden … casting agents said, 'No, I saw Billy in Copycat. He's too edgy. He's too dark. He's too comfortable in that role. There's no acting. That had to be him.' After that, the parts McNamara got offered changed, and his leading man status faded. It also killed his dating life. Women 'saw the movie, and my character disturbed them,' he says. So you can imagine the whiplash he felt when, 30 years later, Copycat landed on Netflix and rocketed to the platform's global Top 10 the week of June 16, charting in 46 countries. The film that derailed his career was suddenly back. Stunned by its resurgence, McNamara talks to Yahoo about the film's surprise second life, the toll it took on his career and his hope for another shot. The comeback McNamara had no idea the Jon Amiel-directed film landed on Netflix until his social media started blowing up in June. 'I was getting 100 new Instagram followers a day and all these [direct] messages,' he says. 'I go on IMDbPro's STARmeter, and usually I'm between 5,000 to 10,000, which is not bad for a '90s star, by the way. I was (No.) 165, above Angelina Jolie. I thought it was a mistake. Then a couple of people started texting: 'Hey, Copycat is trending.' The whole thing 'blew my mind,' he says of Copycat getting 6 million views in a week on the streaming service. It also 'tells me that I make an impression on people. I have a supporting role in Copycat. For that many people to look me up [says something]. They should give me another shot today.' The killer role that changed everything McNamara was cast against type as Peter Foley — a soft-spoken, button-down shirt-wearing guy who's secretly mimicking infamous murderers. 'I didn't suspect at all that I would be asked to do a serial killer role,' he says. 'I thought he was interested in me for the detective role [that went to] Dermot Mulroney.' At his two meetings with the director, he didn't read lines. They talked, which McNamara says felt more like 'a psychiatric tour of my life' than an audition. Finally, an offer followed. 'My agent at the time said, 'They want you to play the serial killer,'' he recalls. 'I was like, 'Really? I don't know if I could do that.' He said, 'This is an important film. … It's Warner Bros. You need to do this.' I thought, It seems difficult, but at the time, I was not a superstar. The money was very good, and [so was the opportunity to work] on a big studio movie with Sigourney and Holly and Dermot and Harry Connick Jr. … It was like, 'OK, I gotta do it. I gotta just figure this out.'' McNamara prepared extensively for the role, working with forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz, who consulted on the highest-profile criminal cases like Jeffrey Dahmer, and FBI profiler Robert Ressler, paying them out of his own pocket. 'I did an interesting, definitely unique portrayal of a serial killer, and everybody liked it,' he says. 'I got letters from Warner Bros. and [Regency Enterprises founder] Arnon Milchan, so it seemed everything was good and my career was taking off. Then I was walking through [L.A.'s] Westwood … and two UCLA girls recognized me: 'Hey, we just saw your movie.' I thought they meant Stealing Home, my big movie everybody recognized me from, but they said, 'No, Copycat.' It turns out they had participated in a test screening of the yet-to-be-released film. 'I said, 'How was the movie?' and they replied, 'Not too good. You didn't score well,' he says. He thought it was a joke until the next day, when his agent called. 'He said, 'I've got good news and bad news,'' McNamara says. 'Good news: They're not going to fire you. Bad news: Your movie didn't test well. But it's not just you. … They've hired Frank Darabont to rewrite the script, and you're going to reshoot for 21 days.' A surprise acting coach and men in black Being told reshoots are needed is something 'no actor wants to hear,' McNamara says. But, 'it wasn't really all my fault.' McNamara says he based his character on what he learned through his research, but his performance wasn't 'Hollywood' enough. 'Most serial killers are not movie stars or wildly entertaining people,' he says. 'They're cerebral and very introverted. It wouldn't be exciting to follow the real Jeffrey Dahmer around. You need Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs. … It didn't translate. It was unique — nobody had done this particular portrayal of a serial killer — but it was not Hollywood. I learned that lesson.' Leading up to the reshoots, McNamara was feeling 'panicked.' His mentor, actor Roddy McDowall, offered to have 'my friend Tony coach you' on the script. 'Tony' turned out to be Anthony Hopkins. 'I brought all my research,' McNamara says. 'I handed it to [Hopkins], and he throws it away. He said, 'That got in your way. No more research. You want to keep it simple, stupid. We're going to memorize your lines backward and forward, and then we're just going to make it a joyous occasion. You're not a serial killer. This is a comedy, and you want to have fun.' It changed my whole perspective on acting.' While he was Hopkins-trained, the pressure was on. The first day back on the set, McNamara arrived, and there were seven or eight men in black suits with their arms crossed. ''They're here for you,'' he says Amiel told him of the FBI look-alikes who turned out to be studio execs, including then-Warner Bros. chairman Terry Semel. 'If you don't knock it out of the ballpark today, they have somebody waiting [to replace you].' McNamara delivered, but when the film was released to largely positive reviews, he immediately felt a shift in the roles he was offered. 'Before Copycat, I had done a lot of movies playing the leading man, the straight and narrow guy,' he says. 'My agent would [try to get me] edgier roles, and it was, 'No … he's too soft. He's too boy next door. He doesn't have any edge.'' When Copycat came out, 'All of a sudden, I'm not on the leading man track anymore because of this dark, edgy guy I played,' he says. 'I started being offered not B movies but [also] not A+ movies to play the bad guy. But for lots of money. I had two mortgages. I had a house on the beach in Malibu. I took the money, basically.' McNamara's career path veered from the high-profile good-guy leading man roles to more supporting turns in film and television. However, 'I continued to work,' he says. 'I work all the time. I'm very lucky.' His professional life wasn't his only disappointment. McNamara's romantic life suffered too. 'I was a single bachelor and did well with the girls back then,' he says. 'After Copycat came out, [it changed]. [I'd ask a woman], 'Hey, can I get your number?' And she's like, 'Yeah, um, I don't know. I just don't get a good vibe about you.'' He recalled telling his therapist, 'Something really weird is going on. Every girl is rejecting me. She said, 'Do you think it might be your role?'' They deduced that Copycat viewers didn't consciously recognize McNamara from the film because his role was supporting, but they subconsciously associated him with his creepy character who drugged drinks and kidnapped and tortured his victims. Luckily, he was able to turn the 'Billy McNamara charm' back around. (For the record, he's never married, but is currently in a relationship.) Coming soon: His dream role With new fans discovering his old movies, McNamara says he'd love to see Stealing Home, 'which didn't get the right amount of attention at the time,' and the 'zany and funny' 1994 film Chasers get their due. As for his future dream role, it's one 'I created for myself,' he says. McNamara wrote, directed and produced 10 episodes of The Trouble With Billy, a comedy series in which he also stars, about an exaggerated version of himself. It's about a former '90s heartthrob's quest to finance his dog's life-saving heart transplant. (McNamara's an animal activist, making headlines for his efforts.) The series, which is being shopped around, was created 'out of desperation because for years, I've always wanted to do comedy [but was told], 'You're not funny. You're a dramatic actor,'' he says. He's had fun leaning into the washed-up actor vibe. "[I was told], 'Don't ever show [the series] to a girl you're interested in because it portrays you in a very bad light, like a loser.' But I've never been homeless. I've never lived in my car. They don't do heart transplants on dogs. I have not been abducted by aliens,' he laughs. 'I'm proud of it. It's pretty good.' Solve the daily Crossword
