Title: Islands of Insight
Developer: Lunarch Studios
Publisher: Behaviour Interactive
Released: February 13, 2024
Platforms Available: PC Game
Platform Reviewed: PC Game
Maturity: Everyone
Reading Time: 7 minutes
An Etheric World of Puzzles
Islands of Insights is a standout in the gaming world, offering a unique open-world puzzle-adventure experience that even non-puzzle enthusiasts like myself found intriguing. The game’s beta version was released in September last year, followed by the full game on February 13, 2024. The world is a vibrant, colorful canvas, with graphics and attention to detail that are truly commendable. The soundtrack and effects, in perfect harmony with the gameplay, create a serene atmosphere, ideal for focusing on the puzzles.
The puzzles in Islands of Insights are cleverly designed and varied, so you always have something you’ll do. You’ll encounter logic puzzles that involve connecting dots or arranging different symbols. Most of them require certain strategies and some trial and error, as many will have specific rules you must follow. There are also light and shadow puzzles where you must position objects to form particular shapes on walls, auditory puzzles with melody matching sequences, seethrough mazes that you must navigate through, and many more. One feature I appreciated was the minimalistic HUD. It pushes you to pay attention to your surroundings and think critically about how to solve problems. While I got stuck at times, the game provides subtle hints that guide you without giving away the solution. The narrative is light, giving just enough context to the game, so you will be focusing on the puzzle-solving experience for the most part.
Skillful Progression and Social Aspect
The game also features a skill tree that allows you to unlock various abilities as you progress. This adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, as you can change the character’s skills to suit your puzzle-solving style. You use points earned during the game to purchase these upgrades, enhancing your abilities in various ways. You can also complete daily quests to earn more points, which encourages regular play and keeps the game fresh with new challenges.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Islands of Insights is its multiplayer feature. This allows you to invite other players to join your party, adding a social element to the game. Together, you can work on solving puzzles or simply explore the vibrant world. The ability to collaborate and share the experience with friends enhances the overall enjoyment and introduces different perspectives on puzzle-solving. However, the lack of a chat feature is a noticeable absence.
Personalized Avatars and Extreme Challenges
Islands of Insights offers a unique feature that allows you to perceive your character’s appearance with various outfits, accessories, and colors. This not only makes your avatar truly unique but also enhances your immersion in the game world. Some outfits even come with minor gameplay benefits or thematic elements. You earn these customization options as you progress, complete quests, or solve particularly challenging puzzles. It’s a small but fun addition that lets you express your style and makes your journey through the game world more personal.
For those looking for a tougher challenge, the game offers extreme puzzles that push your skills to the limit. These puzzles often combine multiple elements like logic, light, and sound, requiring you to think outside the box and use everything you need. They’re not for the faint of heart and can take a lot of time to crack. I did not resolve any of the extreme ones since I did not want to cheat and use guides, and resolving it by myself would take way too much time. However, for players who enjoy a real brain-teaser, these extreme puzzles can provide a sense of accomplishment and mastery when solved.
Minor Flaws and Areas for Improvement
There are bits of lore and story elements scattered throughout the game that you can piece together, but it could be worked on. These elements, when fully understood, add depth and context to the game’s world and characters. I missed some context occasionally and did not like the orb sound effects during the story narrations. It felt unpolished compared to the other details in the game. Another issue I encountered was the occasional drop in frame rate during more graphically intense, which wasn’t. It wasn’t game-breaking but did detract from the otherwise smooth experience.
Furthermore, some of the puzzles felt unnecessarily difficult without clear hints, which could be frustrating after spending a long time trying to figure them out. Getting stuck in the environment is also pretty standard, as is bugging through the floor, getting stuck between rocks, etc. However, devs did implement an easy solution to combat this issue, the unstuck button. This feature, when activated, will reset your character’s position to a safe location, effectively getting you out of any sticky situation. But overall, improvements could still be made. Devs are actively working on the game, so we could expect these issues to be fixed in the future.
A Promising Future
From what I learned, the game was developed by a small indie team, which made it much more impressive in my eyes. You can truly see their dedication to the game. It reminded me a bit of The Witness in how the puzzles and environment are interconnected. The team used a unique algorithm to generate some of the puzzles dynamically, ensuring that each playthrough offers slightly different challenges. This procedural generation adds to the replayability and keeps the experience fresh.
In conclusion, Islands of Insights is an enjoyable experience. It’s not without its minor flaws, such as occasional bugs and a few overly obscure puzzles. If you’re a puzzle game fan and looking for something new, Islands of Insights is worth checking out. It offers a thoughtful and engaging adventure that will keep you invested for a while, especially if you are going for 100%. In case you do, strap yourself in because you are in for a long ride! With the developers actively working on the game, we can look forward to these issues being addressed in the future.
Where to Buy Islands of Insight and Other Links
Steam (PC Game): Available for $14.99. You can purchase it directly from Steam.
Official Page: Visit the official Islands of Insight page for more information.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the Islands of Insight Subreddit.
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