The Book of Watermarks
An adult-friendly PlayStation adventure with pre-rendered graphics.
The Book of Watermarks is a PlayStation adventure game developed by Watermarks and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It calls itself an "adult-friendly adventure," using pre-rendered graphics in the style of Myst, and draws heavily from Shakespeare's *The Tempest* and the 1991 film *Prospero's Books*. The game received little attention at launch, but later critics have called it a unique and experimental title for the platform.
The player takes the role of Ferdinand, invited by Prospero (played by Jack Donner) to solve puzzles across his island estate. Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, has been exiled to a desert island. The goal is to find twelve of his thirteen magical books, which are the source of his power. As the player collects them, Prospero appears in full-motion video scenes, explaining that each book contains the sum of human knowledge and is responsible for key social and historical changes of the Renaissance. Once all books are gathered, Prospero reveals he wants to destroy them, calling them "monsters spawned by limitless human desire." The titular Book of Watermarks, he says, creates infinite, uncontainable information dangerous to humanity. He vows to throw all the books into the sea.
Gameplay is a conventional adventure from a first-person perspective. The player navigates pre-rendered scenes on two islands, Ceres and Iris Island, using directional controls to move between static images, with animations playing during transitions. Puzzles include finding keys for locked doors, completing patterns or words based on clues elsewhere, and navigating mazes. If stuck, the player can consult the Book of Watermarks for hints about where to go next or for puzzle solutions. Unusually for a Japanese release, the game's full-motion video and most of its text are in English.
Development took two years, led by designer Takashi Kobayashi, formerly of KAZe and designer of *Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators*. Three developers at Watermarks worked on it, with production help from Sony's Arc Entertainment. Kobayashi cited influences including *The Tempest*, Jorge Luis Borges's story *The Library of Babel*, and Peter Greenaway's *Prospero's Books*, along with Classical and Renaissance aesthetics and philosophy.
- Release region
- Japan and Europe
Lore & Background
The Book of Watermarks was developed over two years by three developers at Watermark, led by designer Takashi Kobayashi, previously employed by KAZe. Sony's Arc Entertainment helped produce the game. Kobayashi cited influences including The Tempest, Jorge Luis Borges' The Library of Babel, and Prospero's Books, with heavy use of Classical and Renaissance aesthetics. The soundtrack was partly contributed to by Irish composer Moya Brennan. Despite the entire game being filmed and localized in English, it was released in Japan and Europe.
The plot follows Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, who is shipwrecked on the island along with the player as Ferdinand. The player must solve puzzles across two islands, Ceres and Iris Island, to uncover twelve of Prospero's thirteen magical books. Through full motion video scenes, Prospero explains each book's role in human knowledge.
Reader's Guide
The Book of Watermarks received lukewarm attention upon release. Chinese publication Game Software praised its production as 'outstanding among similar works' but found the puzzles 'a bit too difficult.' Japanese magazine Dengeki PlayStation praised the 'splendor' of the graphics but found the camera movement slow and 'unsuitable for impatient people.' Retrospectively, the game has gained more attention as a unique and experimental PlayStation title. Simon Parkin of Eurogamer called it 'memorable,' part of an effort by developers to paint their visions without compromise. Edge cited it as an example of 'unusual curios' on the platform, and Keith Stuart of The Guardian included it in a genre of 'eerie' games. Long-form reviews by Phil Salvador of The Obscuritory praised its visual design and eclectic influences, while Hardcore Gaming 101 noted its departure from the anime-dominated Japanese adventure game scene. Luke Plunkett of Kotaku praised its 'serious dedication to context' and late-90s aesthetic. The game remains a notable example of experimental Japanese game development on the PlayStation.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by three developers over two years.
- Despite being fully localized in English, the game was not released outside Japan.
- The game's lead designer, Takashi Kobayashi, previously worked on Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Book of Watermarks?
It is a PlayStation adventure title developed by Watermarks and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, released in Japan and Europe. The game brands itself as an 'adult-friendly adventure' and presents its world through pre-rendered graphics in the tradition of the Myst series.
What role does the player take in The Book of Watermarks?
You step into the shoes of Ferdinand, who is summoned by the deposed Duke Prospero—voiced by Jack Donner—to work through a chain of puzzles across his island estate. The experience is built around first-person exploration and puzzle-solving rather than any combat element.
What inspired The Book of Watermarks?
The narrative and design lean heavily on Shakespeare's The Tempest and the 1991 film Prospero's Books, adapting the story of a deposed ruler and his enchanted island into an interactive format. Those literary and cinematic sources shape both the plot structure and the visual aesthetic.
How was The Book of Watermarks received by critics?
The title flew largely under the radar when it first launched, garnering very little coverage at the time. In subsequent years, however, critics have come to regard it as a genuinely unique and experimental entry on the PlayStation platform.
Where was The Book of Watermarks released?
The game was made available in Japan and Europe only. It did not receive a North American release.
More in First-person adventure games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced