Armed with sword, bow, and a sense of adventure, Iko the Brave traverses a fragmented world in order defeat evil foes, save his friends, and re-unite the islands in harmony. However, the core of this journey roots itself in the idea of self-discovery and belonging. Iko sets off to become a great hero to make something of himself, and nearly every character that he meets along the way either shares this courageous sentiment or is on a quest of their own to find fulfillment and belonging. While the classic Metroidvania aspects of the game flex their muscles quite well, it’s the charm, wit, and wholesomeness of the world and its inhabitants that elevate Islets into a refreshing take on the genre.
Movement always plays a starring role in the success of a Metroidvania, as backtracking and exploration feature heavily, and Islets does a fantastic job of providing Iko with a quick pace and traversal upgrades, as well as offering varied environmental platforming to mix things up. Many of the platforming rooms can be crossed quickly in several different ways when backtracking to not only keep it from dragging pacing, but also it just feels satisfying to be able to pull off small little platforming tricks with the different unlockable abilities as Iko flies across rooms, launches past grappling points, and smashes through stone. The map also contains many warp checkpoints and is very accurately drawn and represented with easy-to-read landmarks which makes exploring rewarding rather than frustrating. The map functions so well that it’s easy enough to see what areas are left to explore and play through naturally, however in the main hub, a vendor will sell hints and place map markers pointing to the next goal if confusion sets in. Exploring naturally without using this vendor took about 8 hours total to discover 100% of the map.
While exploring, Iko will fight mobs and bosses with his sword and bow, powering them up and learning new techniques as he goes. Islets combat functions similarly to something like Hollow Knight in theory, though many bosses bombard Iko in a bullet-hell style, including flying sections that feel more akin to something like Cuphead. The aforementioned games are known for their intense difficulty, and while the base hard mode seems akin to Hollow Knight’s level of difficulty, Islets actually offers not only different difficulty modes, but a handful of assist features such as increasing weapon damage or infinite arrows, as well as challenge options that make enemies and bosses even more fearsome. These options, as well as the main difficulty, can be switched at any time, allowing for a customized level of challenge or ease.
If Islet’s map and level-design are the bread that provides structure, and the moment-to-moment gameplay and combat are the sticky, savory peanut butter, then the silly-yet-wholesome world and characters are the grape jelly that give the game a small sweetness – something that says “don’t stop at one bite.” The color palate and art design reverberate with charm and, while there are melancholic areas of the game, the overall world stands very much in contrast to the darker games that Islets inherits its gameplay from – while Hollow Knight, Metroid, and Castlevania have dark shadows and vicious aliens and blood-thirsty vampires, Islets has walkable clouds and gardening rabbits and suspicious frogs. The NPCs represent the best of both the game’s sense of humor as well as the emotional yearning that comes with each character’s quest to find out who they are and where they belong. While Iko’s journey in Islets is one of bravery, adventure, and vanquishing evil, it’s also a heartwarming bite of a wholesome sandwich – just like the ones mom used to make.
Movement always plays a starring role in the success of a Metroidvania, as backtracking and exploration feature heavily, and Islets does a fantastic job of providing Iko with a quick pace and traversal upgrades, as well as offering varied environmental platforming to mix things up. Many of the platforming rooms can be crossed quickly in several different ways when backtracking to not only keep it from dragging pacing, but also it just feels satisfying to be able to pull off small little platforming tricks with the different unlockable abilities as Iko flies across rooms, launches past grappling points, and smashes through stone. The map also contains many warp checkpoints and is very accurately drawn and represented with easy-to-read landmarks which makes exploring rewarding rather than frustrating. The map functions so well that it’s easy enough to see what areas are left to explore and play through naturally, however in the main hub, a vendor will sell hints and place map markers pointing to the next goal if confusion sets in. Exploring naturally without using this vendor took about 8 hours total to discover 100% of the map.
While exploring, Iko will fight mobs and bosses with his sword and bow, powering them up and learning new techniques as he goes. Islets combat functions similarly to something like Hollow Knight in theory, though many bosses bombard Iko in a bullet-hell style, including flying sections that feel more akin to something like Cuphead. The aforementioned games are known for their intense difficulty, and while the base hard mode seems akin to Hollow Knight’s level of difficulty, Islets actually offers not only different difficulty modes, but a handful of assist features such as increasing weapon damage or infinite arrows, as well as challenge options that make enemies and bosses even more fearsome. These options, as well as the main difficulty, can be switched at any time, allowing for a customized level of challenge or ease.
If Islet’s map and level-design are the bread that provides structure, and the moment-to-moment gameplay and combat are the sticky, savory peanut butter, then the silly-yet-wholesome world and characters are the grape jelly that give the game a small sweetness – something that says “don’t stop at one bite.” The color palate and art design reverberate with charm and, while there are melancholic areas of the game, the overall world stands very much in contrast to the darker games that Islets inherits its gameplay from – while Hollow Knight, Metroid, and Castlevania have dark shadows and vicious aliens and blood-thirsty vampires, Islets has walkable clouds and gardening rabbits and suspicious frogs. The NPCs represent the best of both the game’s sense of humor as well as the emotional yearning that comes with each character’s quest to find out who they are and where they belong. While Iko’s journey in Islets is one of bravery, adventure, and vanquishing evil, it’s also a heartwarming bite of a wholesome sandwich – just like the ones mom used to make.