What surprisingly fun and sweet indie gem in using nostalgia to reconnect siblings drifting apart. While it is a small game with a small starting area, it opens up to a larger island that is fun to explore and navigate with its movement tools. Finding friends to create a game town across the island is very charming with their childish dialogue and humor without overstaying its welcome as well as a more meaningful sign of progress. While the message is not the friends made along the way, its ending lands in a mature and sincere way which I love to look for in stories.

Besides its simplicity, the movement is very fun with how the items are implemented. Sliding, jumping, gliding, slide hoping, all this makes it feel nice to explore. It also has an interesting discrete stamina system which allows for climbing or air jumping that can combo into its other systems. Since this is a small scale adventure game, do not expect difficulty or mechanical challenge. My only minor issue with the game is the lack of a map even a static one to avoid retreading old areas although there is some joy in this. As a completionist, I welcome the post-game items to help with completion and want to see more games support it.

Also, I appreciate the subtext of queer identity with how the name is contextualized. Never is the protagonist gendered nor are the cosmetics which I think is intentional (although this approach does make it easier to write dialogue and implement equipment.) One main friend is suggested to have a seemingly gay friend which helps my case. Little things like this make me happy.

Overall, this is very much recommended.

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2024


Comments