Echo Isle

A compact, classic-Zelda inspired adventure game. I like that it followed the classic formula well: 4 little dungeons, each with an upgrade and a boss.

True to its word, there's no fluff. A single collectable, a linear series of areas, and few NPCs to talk with. I appreciate when games make a point to streamline their gameplay in useful ways. Much like Shapez distilled Factorio, removing elements helps what remains shine. The graphics and sound effects represent their inspiration well and going on a little adventure with power ups along the way was pleasant. I liked that I could hold everything in my head at once (like all of the places I couldn't reach yet) because the map is small and easy to reason about. Breezing through the whole thing in a sitting was relaxing and satisfying.

But, take simplification too far and the results can feel a little thin. To its credit, I prefer smaller games to those with near-infinite content. But at some point fluff provides opportunities to engage with the game's world and acquired abilities. Echo Isle was so streamlined, it feels like it will lack staying power. It was fun while it lasted, but it felt more like a snack than a meal.

And the combat, while simple, was frustrating at times. The sword swinging animation was interestingly imprecise. More than a few times, I'd be rotated slightly the wrong way or positioned just above an enemy and miss entirely. Accurate to early games, but has really been improved upon since then.

In the end, I enjoyed my brief time with Echo Isles and I think it's a great palette cleanser between other games. It may not stick with you, but you'll enjoy it while you're in there.

Thanks to the dev for the key!