Under the Island
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Under the Island
Under the Island is a charming, old-school adventure that rewards curiosity with clever puzzles, playful humor, and a beautiful island packed with secrets. Its sense of freedom and discovery shines far brighter than its modest combat, making Seashell Island a place you’ll want to fully explore.
Get ready to smile with Under the Island, the indie game that nails the 90s Zelda vibe!
Under the Island, from developer Slime King Games, gives a firm tip-of-the-hat with its design and execution to games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Under the Island contains good action, sometimes difficult puzzles, and a hefty amount of exploration to keep one’s attention firmly locked into the gameplay. The difficulty of some of the puzzles might feel a bit unbalanced and heavy, in comparison to the action, but the payoff feels worth that trouble.
Under the Island nails the exploration and puzzle solving side of the Zelda formula, but lacks the narrative hooks or tight combat encounters players might expect.
Under The Island is a fun little jaunt that is brimming with personality. The game's excellent balance makes explorationthe consistently rewarding, while solid puzzling and a bright narrative help to round out experience.
Ultimately, Under the Island is a fantastic game that suffers from some frustrating controls and enemy design. However, Under the Sea impresses with its creative design, colorful characters, and challenging boss fights and puzzles. When I look past the controls and rank-and-file enemies, what’s left is a spectacular game that just needs a bit of tweaking.
Reminiscent of Link to the Past but with enough charm and ingenuity to boldly stand out, Under the Island is a gorgeous and imaginative action-adventure that tasks you with saving your home island. It's utterly joyous, and even the odd spike in combat difficulty isn't enough to spoil your fun.
