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0 If you’re a gamer of a certain vintage, chances are you have fond memories of the ’90s and early 2000s. From Alundra to the 2D Zelda titles, there were plenty of brilliant action RPGs during that era. With Under The Island, developer Slime King Games attempts to capture the magic that made these classics so memorable.
Blending elements of modern and retro (are we calling the ’90s retro now? I feel old…) games, Under The Island may well be a great debut for the developer. Can the gameplay match what is arguably a gorgeous-looking love letter to games gone by?
Under The Island is out now, and is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. With that said, let’s get on with the review!
Above, Around, and Under The Island!
With only mentioning two action RPGs above (Sony, please bring Alundra to the Classics Catalogue!), I’m keen to hear what games spring to mind when you think of the ’90s. The more obscure, the better! Let me know below, and let’s get all nostalgic in the comments.
Movin’ In Is Hard To Do
Relocating is never easy, especially for an adolescent. Unfortunately for our young protagonist Nia, that’s exactly how the game opens. Her family has moved from the bustling city to the tranquil Seashell Island. Upset about having to leave her life and friends behind, Nia’s parents suggest she go and explore the island and get to know the locals.
It doesn’t take long for Nia to meet Avocado, a shy yet friendly girl, at the town’s shrine. Avocado warns her not to touch the shrine, unless she wants bad things to happen to her and the island! Ignoring this warning, Nia takes it upon herself to mess with the shrine. Not the wisest of decisions, as an earthquake then rocks the town, opening a hole in the ground right where the two girls are standing. Far from the best first day in your new home! Now stuck in the depths of ancient ruins, the two must find a way to escape and return home.
Turns out, this tranquil paradise may not be as quiet as first thought. In fact, the entire island is in danger of completely sinking beneath the ocean, unless four magical gears scattered across the island can be reunited. Thus, with hockey stick in hand, Nia embarks on a quest to save her new home!
It’s a fairly basic premise, but enough to set you up to go hunting for items and exploring every nook and cranny of Seashell Island. It’s the classic “collect four items found it four dungeons to save the world” type affair, but with plenty of quirky characters to meet and varied locations to venture through, Under The Island is utterly charming.
Gameplay
If you’ve had experience with the top-down Zelda titles, then you’ll have a sense of familiarity with Under The Island. In essence, you explore an overworld map with dungeons littered throughout. Each of these cleverly designed dungeons contains equipment that will let you uncover more of the map. It’s a loop that remains satisfying throughout the journey, with that tried-and-true method of the dungeons featuring some really fun puzzles. None of them are brain-achingly difficult, but they are challenging enough to make you feel like a real smarty pants once you solve them.
But what would an adventure game be without combat? Most enemies can be triumphed over with a few hits from your hockey stick in the beginning. Eventually, combat broadens as your inventory does, allowing for experimentation with items such as bombs or a fire-spitting plant. Despite this, there is a lack of challenge when facing off against enemies, as it’s just not that difficult of a game. There are plenty of resources and recovery items to be found, and the variety of upgrades relating to increasing Nia’s health only make things easier.
Whilst that may be a little disappointing for some, the true heart of the game lies in exploration. Seashell Island is a wonderfully varied place packed full of places to see, items to collect, mini-games to play, and optional quests to tackle. The semi-open world was a joy to wander around and was both engaging and relaxing (despite the imminent threat of the island sinking!). My only real issue was not being able to track side quests. A journal or some other sort of log device would have helped immensely when I’d taken on a few of these quests. Although not a huge negative, it did cause some unnecessary backtracking when I’d forgotten what I was meant to be doing to help a character out.
Graphics & Audio
Aesthetically, Under The Island ticks all the right boxes for me. I know I mentioned earlier that it feels like a throwback to ’90s games, but I couldn’t help but be immediately reminded of titles found on the Game Boy Advance. The vivid, cartoon-like pixel art is absolutely endearing. Environments in particular are varied and packed full of small details that make you want to explore, regardless of any hidden treasures or optional content.
Even though it takes inspiration from retro titles, Under The Island never comes across as a cheap imitation. It has its own style, thanks in part to the wonderful animations that really give characters some personality. All this (plus some fun and unique enemy designs) adds up to a game that mixes old and new really well, giving players a world begging to be explored.
Longevity
From beginning to end, Under The Island took me roughly 10 hours to finish. That’s not including a handful of side quests and cleaning up the remaining trophies. Thankfully, you can load up a save from just before the point of no return. Meaning going back to get that 100% won’t require a second playthrough. Not that I’d be totally against replaying the entire game!
Final Thoughts
Under The Island is a title I would recommend to pretty much anyone. Its family-friendly approach and relatively easy combat make it accessible for a wide age range. It brought back fond memories of my gaming youth, although it isn’t a game that’s overly reliant on nostalgia. If you’re looking for a light-hearted adventure with an old-school feel, chances are Under The Island may be exactly what you’re looking for.
So, with that being said, Under The Island receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award! Go play this one!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
Did you enjoy this review? Then why not keep the nostalgia train rolling, with our review of Escape from Ever After?
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