Under the Island Reviews
Under the Island is the perfect fit for gamers who long for the older days of dungeon exploration focused Zelda titles and is one of the most polished and enjoyable retro throwbacks you'll find. The charming story and characters, and the high quality of the level design help this to really shine.
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.
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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 understands why people love this genre. There's a great focus on exploration and combat is accessible without being complex. You are rewarded for curiosity with new gear, expanded wallets, hidden secrets, and clever shortcuts. The pacing picks up significantly once you earn your first dungeon item, and from there progression feels steady and gratifying. It is a heartfelt take on the classic top down adventure formula. It blends nostalgia with its own quirky identity and keeps the experience compact and inviting from start to finish. On Switch especially, it feels like the kind of game you can pick up for a quick session and accidentally play for hours. It is lighthearted without being shallow, simple without being empty, and creative without losing clarity. If you have been craving a Zelda-like experience that remembers what made those older adventures special while still carving out its own personality, this is one you should not let slip beneath the surface.
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.
Will you manage to find the Central Gears needed to save Seashell Island?
undefined.Under The Island didn't take long to sink its charming teeth into me as I had been itching for something a little lighter, both in tone and runtime, after making my way through a handful of long RPGs. Along Nia's adventure, you end up encountering a variety of different gameplay types, including stealth sequences and arcade-style minigames, and so what has become a well-trod genre does feel quite fresh. If you're in the mood for a whimsical Zelda-like with some unique items and boss fights, the dozen-plus hours you can spend on Seashell Island are absolutely worth your time.
Under The Island is an adorable, challenging, and silly action adventure game that's packed with variety and secrets to uncover. Great stuff! 🏝️
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!
Under the Island is an irresistibly charming adventure that revives the magic of classic gaming on consoles! Featuring stunning biomes, hilarious enemies, and more humor than you can imagine, this game is destined to become an instant classic for everyone to enjoy!
Under The Island doesn’t try to tear up the rulebook. Instead, it takes a well-loved formula and adds just enough of its own personality to make it worth your time. The puzzles are enjoyable, the dungeons are thoughtfully built, and the island itself is a fun place to explore. It may lean heavily on that classic top-down adventure blueprint, but it delivers a solid, engaging experience with a few surprises tucked away. If you’re in the mood for a colourful quest with light humour and satisfying exploration, this is an easy recommendation.
Under The Island probably won't have amazed you with anything new. It won't completely change the genre or make you think about what you expect. But it's likely to make you smile. It doesn't waste your time, keeps giving you new things to learn, and stays on topic the whole time. It's friendly without being shallow, and it makes you miss the past without being stuck there.
The puzzle-solving elements — including the boss fights — are easily where the game is its strongest, but it never really steps out from the traditional top-down adventure template, and the lack of any substantial narrative and mediocre overall combat prevent it from distinguishing itself from the crowd.
Under the Island mixes great combat and puzzles with rich optional-content, though reused enemies and bugs keep it from reaching its full potential.
Under the Island is a brilliantly charming throwback that wears its retro inspirations on its sleeve, all whilst bringing enough clever puzzle design to stand on its own two feet. The lack of a quest log is definitely a faff and the combat isn’t too sophisticated, but the sheer creativity of the dungeons and the vibrant world make it an absolute joy to play. If you’ve been craving a light-hearted, puzzle-heavy adventure that doesn’t require a 60-hour commitment, packing your bags for Seashell Island is an easy recommendation.