Echo Isle

I really enjoyed this short old-school zelda-like game. The final boss is a bit hairy, but I did enjoy the whole thing. The only issue I have is that there are no achievements not even one for completing the game and you can't take a steam screenshot as (I guess) the steam overlay doesn't work. I like to prove that I completed a game in some way. Still and all a fun experience.

3/4: 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 t…

What a great and enjoying game. One boss was particularly hard to defeat but great story and made me relive a retro era I played when growing up as a kid.

What a great little gem. The essence of classic Zelda games squeezed into a fun one-evening experience. Highly recommended! Played fully on Steam Deck.

This is a fun little game that is very reminiscent of the Game Boy version of Link's Awakening, although a bit simpler in design and scope. The adventure combines that traditional hack and slash gameplay, along with some bullet-hell-like elements (at least towards the end) that require players to pay attention and play smart instead of simply using brute force to get through tricky encounters. Definitely worth playing if you're a fan of Zelda games!

A nice bite-sized 2d-zelda-like. It isn't doing anything new, but if you're looking for a way to spend an evening, this is a good one. I'm looking forward to any other games from this dev!