Islets
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Critic Reviews for Islets
At this point in time, it takes a lot to stand out in a sea of Metroidvania action platformers. With its gorgeous presentation and memorable boss fights, Islets does just that. It has some of the tightest platforming I’ve ever experienced, but I felt that the unbalanced combat design drags it down. I really enjoyed my time with Islets - it took me around 12 hours to beat the game, and it certainly doesn’t feel like time wasted - and I’d recommend it to any fan of Metroidvanias, but I don’t think it has universal appeal.
Islets is a gorgeous little indie that's definitely worth checking out if you're a Metroidvania aficionado.
Islets promises a surprisingly wholesome story while featuring a lot of classic Metroidvania mechanics, and it certainly delivers. The beautiful landscapes and island inhabitants create an unforgettable journey. Filled with monstrous rivals, tense, timing-based platforming, and some well-hidden puzzles, this title is much more than a run-of-the-mill Metroidvania. Outside the eight-ish-hour campaign, there are enough collectibles scattered across each island to keep players coming back, and to be honest; it's hard to leave the charming cast of creatures behind.
Islets is a compact, very nice metroidvania, full of ideas and adorable characters. A beautiful, hand-drawn world divided into six parts to be put together, rebuilt, setting off on an adventure that is as crazy as it is epic.
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But different isn’t necessarily bad! It’s as if the game is incredibly easy or way too hard. The level of challenge feels like it’s just in that Goldilocks Zone. There’s enough cleverness in the level design that you can’t help but admire it. I think there’s still plenty of room left in the hand-drawn indie Metroidvania genre. (Silksong isn’t even out yet!) Islets is another standout in the genre, fun and charming.
Overall, Islets is a charming adventure with a large cast of memorable characters, interesting monsters, and wholesome story that far outweigh its minor pitfalls and is perfect for players itching for a new Metroidvania.
The combat itself is a bit lacking, and it may be on the shorter side for some at about 10 hours, but it successfully delivers on its unique concept to provide a fun, concise experience. When you combine all of the above with the lower price point, Islets is an easy game to recommend to fans of the genre looking for a more relaxed Metroidvanian jaunt.
