Let me tell you something about Grand Blue that most beginners won't discover until they're twenty hours deep and wondering why their experience feels incomplete. Having spent considerable time with both character campaigns, I can confidently say that choosing between Emily Hartwood and Detective Carnby isn't just cosmetic—it fundamentally shapes your journey through this atmospheric horror adventure. The developers made a bold choice here, one that I initially appreciated but eventually found somewhat problematic in execution.
When I first started playing, I went with Emily's campaign because her backstory intrigued me more. What surprised me was how different certain puzzle sections felt compared to when I later replayed as Carnby. There are at least three major haunting sequences that are completely unique to each character, tied directly to their personal histories. Emily encounters spectral manifestations related to her family's tragic past, while Carnby faces supernatural phenomena connected to his unsolved cases. These moments aren't just reskinned content—they're genuinely distinct experiences that made me appreciate the narrative depth the developers attempted to create. The true ending, which only unlocks after completing both campaigns, provides a satisfying conclusion that ties together perspectives from both characters. I'd estimate it takes about 12-15 hours to complete one character's story thoroughly, and roughly 8-10 hours for the second playthrough if you're familiar with the game mechanics.
Here's where things get complicated though. While the dual-campaign structure initially feels innovative, the execution suffers from what I'd call "second-playthrough fatigue." The game reuses approximately 70% of content between both campaigns, meaning you'll be retreading familiar ground more than you might expect. This wouldn't be so bad if the gameplay loop were more engaging on repetition, but the clunky controls and occasionally frustrating puzzle design make the second run feel more like homework than discovery. I found myself rushing through Carnby's campaign just to reach the unique story beats, rather than savoring the experience as I did with Emily.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room—that controversial plot twist near the end. Without spoiling anything specific, there's a sequence in the final act that so blatantly borrows from another major horror title that it pulled me completely out of the experience. I'm talking about a moment that made me put down my controller and think, "They actually went there?" It's not just inspired by another game—it's practically lifted, which is disappointing considering how much original storytelling works elsewhere. As someone who's played nearly every significant horror release from the past decade, I can say this particular narrative choice crosses the line from homage to appropriation. The fact that this made it through editing, testing, and multiple development stages genuinely surprises me.
That said, I don't want to give the impression that Grand Blue isn't worth your time. The atmosphere is consistently eerie, the voice acting is superb (especially Emily's performance), and when the game leans into its original ideas, it shines. The problem is that these high points are bookended by derivative elements and repetitive gameplay that undermine the overall experience. If you're planning to dive in, my advice would be to space out your playthroughs—complete one campaign, take a break for a week or two, then return for the second character. This approach helped mitigate the repetition fatigue I experienced when playing them back-to-back.
What Grand Blue ultimately demonstrates is the challenge of creating meaningful branching narratives without compromising gameplay freshness. The developers clearly had ambitious ideas about perspective and storytelling, but the technical execution and some questionable creative decisions hold it back from greatness. I'd rate it as a solid 7/10 experience—flawed but memorable, with enough unique elements to warrant a playthrough for horror enthusiasts. Just don't go in expecting revolutionary game design, and you'll find plenty to appreciate beneath the surface-level issues. The potential shown here makes me excited for what this development team could create with more resources and perhaps stronger editorial oversight on their next project.
