The concept is all there, but the execution leaves A LOT to be desired.
So, what could be wrong with this game? To put it simply it's just too ambitious and came out way too early. The graphics are a complete MESS, and so is the sound and the gameplay. I can't even understand what the hell is going on or where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to do. There isn't any in-game help or any dialogue or anything, to the point this is just based on guesses and luck. Again, I didn't find this to be fun to play at all, the controls are horrendous.
I'm pretty sure a lot of people were turned off by this as soon as the actual gameplay began. You begin the game in what appears to be a pool or a lake. You can't even see clearly because the graphics are a mess, but since the background is blue you just assume that it's just a pool. However, as soon as the game starts, you're forced to swim up, even if you don't actually understand where the game character is because of the messed up graphics. So I got a game over screen after 5 seconds and only later I realized I needed to swim up quickly. But anyway, once you get out the pool, you can go to the right, and you encounter what appear to be some tiny black worms. You're supposed to jump over them, but if you just step on them, you'll see a cutscene where one of these is seen doing a small cut on your leg. And apparently just a small cut (seriously, that's like a cut you'd get from a piece of paper) causes the character to faint, and die. Then you get a game over and the thing just goes on, and on, and on.
This game company has gotten better over the years and learned from its mistakes. First, they released Flashback, which is similar to this one, except the graphics are much better but I still find it to be a rather mediocre game, but it isn't awful. Then they made Heart of Darkness, that I confess I still need to try out, but I heard it's a pretty damn good game.
This may have its historical importance but as it is now, it is more like a failed experiment than anything else. If you want to play a good game in this genre, get Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (as well as the prequel). That is one GREAT game that literally everyone should enjoy. Or you can try Heart of Darkness or even the recent Limbo.
That, or just stick to Mega Man X2 and Mega Man & Bass. Seriously, the SNES knows better than this.