Isle Of Reveries Review – Better Than A Copy

Isle of Reveries is a game that may look like another Zelda-like, but intentional dungeon design and a story with heart and humor elevate it to so much more than that.

There is an experiment I have been thinking of for quite some time now. Let’s say that you put a non-gaming person in a room and let them play several classic Zelda and Zelda-adjacent games. At the end of it, you would ask them which they think are old and which are new. Would it even matter if they got it right? To be consistently astounded with how current developers know inside and out the idiosyncrasies of those classics inside out is all but assured. Isle of Reveries is such a retro adventure, seemingly unearthed from a bygone era.

Playing as quirky animals has been more often the case than not lately regarding indies, but it is applied intentionally on Isle of Reveries. An owl would be a rather unconventional hero to save the world, and the game knows this. Every single friend that the owl meets is puzzled as to why our hero decided to save the world. At some point in the beginning, they even go so far as to mention why he would even want a sword if he does not know how to use it. 

When you try to move things that you are ill equipped to do so, the owl will fall on his head and get back up frazzled. This makes for a humorous journey where the unlikely hero will find his courage, and seemingly everyone around him will start to respect him as well.

The world of Isle of Reveries is a strange one. Yes, every anthropomorphic animal is sentient and quite chatty, but there are also talking trees, friendly ghosts, and deadly cultists. One of the first choices the game presents to you (which is not really quite a decision) is to either sacrifice your wish for the betterment of others or to be selfish and wish it away anyway. 

There is a thoughtful focus on community that lingers throughout. For example, as there is a town mechanic in which you can save hapless animals. Once you build them homes and develop relationships with them, this unlocks new quests to keep benefiting from your altruism.

Isle of Reveries’ similarities with Zelda do not stop at the dungeon inspirations, top-down style, or predictable gameplay. Early on you pick up a fairy (listen!!) who accompanies you on your journey. Never too meddlesome, she actually goes on to explain that she is the wishes of every other animal that came before Leif. This is one of the main points that keep that spark of intrigue going as the game progresses. On the surface, it might look just like another Zelda-like, but there is heart and humor in the conversations that you engage in. Not to mention the puzzles themselves.

A definitive mechanic in Isle of Reveries is the ability to copy items from the overworld and take them with you. Because this is not Nintendo we are talking about, they break away from the usual hand-holding seen in those games to show puzzles that might need some thinking. Each of the dungeons has a unique gimmick that will always make you take a step back to fully grasp. 

For instance, you have an unlit torch in the first dungeon that you need to reach. Unfortunately, there is a chasm between you and said torch to light it up. But what about that monster statue that threw arrows that you can copy? Many a puzzle will reward those who pay attention to their tools and search for any shiny item in the map or strange object in the distance.

It must be said that Isle of Reveries does err on the more punishing side of retro games. This means that there are no accessibility features to speak of or difficulty settings to tone down the challenge. While manageable for those who grew up with games like Contra or Ghosts ‘n Goblins, be prepared to fall into plenty of poison swamps that will slowly chip away at your life. Or enemy projectiles will seemingly come out of nowhere. Successfully emulating the essence of what makes a classic game just that also comes with the baggage of sometimes having to suffer through hard sections. That is just the way it is.

Verdict

Continuing the resurgence of modern games capturing that retro feel, Isle of Reveries knows what it wants to be and achieves it. From the stellar pixel art style to the sound effects and music straight up from the 90s, it feels right at home with the contemporaries it so earnestly wants to be a part of. Clever puzzle mechanics from its copy ability and extensive dungeons round up one experience that, thanks to its humorous delivery, lightheartedly reminds one of a classic time with care.