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We see tons of titles inspired by Game Boy Color The Legend of Zelda games and Desertcucco’s Isle of Reveries is the latest to not only do so, but do it well. It’s a touching tale that manages to convey a story tactfully within its confines and allow for some interesting dungeon-traversal and puzzle-solving gimmicks while staying within certain limitations.
Lief is a small owl who’s dealt with a lot of heartbreak in their life. As the game begins, we learn our avatar lost their mother not too long ago and is about to see their younger sibling pass as well. From there, things jump to them heading out alongside their frog friend Clem and other pilgrims in a journey to the titular Isle of Reveries in the hopes of getting a wish granted. However, that pilgrimage goes awry and we see Lief becoming not only a pilgrim, but also something of a hero.
While there’s a minimalistic approach taken to Isle of Reveries, Desertcucco manages to pack quite a bit of emotion and storytelling into the game. Seeing the introduction discussing grief and theories about what comes next is a bit of a surprise, and the possibly doomed pilgrimage itself being tied to getting a wish granted lends a bit of mystery to the affair. Likewise, there being a bit of a chronicle via the notebook that keeps track of met pilgrims and the potential for building a community is a handy bonus. Even with the silent hero and direction, there’s a lot of heart here in this minimalistic tale. And variety too, given the optional side quests like trading to eventually get a better sword or tasks tied to the Pictograph camera.
Isle of Reveries offers a lot with gameplay even with the Game Boy Color sort of guidelines. Each room and area in the world and dungeons can be small, but pack a lot of secrets and action into them. We’re introduced early on to the idea that we’ll need to keep an eye out for possible secrets or tools that will allow Lief access to new areas after borrowing Clem’s lantern. We eventually end up with the ability to bust cracked rocks, send off gusts of air, teleport via a swapping mechanic, and use companion abilities like light reflected off mirrors for puzzle solving. The Legend of Zelda inspirations and sense of progression via gaining access to new areas is clear, even up through Echoes of Wisdomgiven Lief can do some light copying of certain items for puzzle-solving and enemy-defeating purposes.
However, because Desertcucco did clearly look to older Game Boy Advance games when developing Isle of Reveries, there are some elements that can be a bit finicky or feel dated even though this is a new title. The save system being tied to statues is one. Having a map we can’t really track tasks on is another, especially given how many times we would need to backtrack after getting certain tools. When using some of Lief’s tools, you’re drawing from essentially a stamina system of sorts that appears alongside the health bar on the left and winds down after uses, requiring you to wait for it to gradually refill over time to use it again. Which can be frustrating in a boss fight where one of those abilities could prove essential.
But I think what I liked most about Isle of Reveries is the way it also ties back to the concept introduced in the prologue. When Lief is talking with their sibling, we hear how people who head on the pilgrimage never come back. There’s no explanation as to why that happens. However, once we head out ourselves, the danger in the journey becomes clear. When we do start rescuing people as Lief goes through dungeons and faces bosses, we see how our avatar is able to make a home for the saved pilgrims on the isle. It’s charming and felt fulfilling.
Isle of Reveries does quite a bit while adhering to the same style as Game Boy Color games like The Legend of Zelda. The story is simple, but quite effective. There’s a sense of community and growth when it comes to saving other pilgrims. The dungeon traversal feels good too. Sticking with that style does lead to some limitations, but it’s a good time.
Isle of Reveries is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
