Under the Island is an action RPG that takes place on, you guessed it, an island. As with most action RPGs, you explore, you fight, you talk to people, and you go on quests. So, what makes Under the Island stand out from the pack of Zelda clones? Does it have something unique to offer? While I’ve only played the demo and I don’t yet own the game, the demo gives you a taste of the wackiness Under the Island has to offer.
What is Under the Island?
Developed by Slime King Games, Under the Island takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda and other classic adventure games, but it also delivers a modern sense of humor. You play Nia, a young girl who is going to spend a year on Seashell Island, an out-of-the-way island, so her parents can do research. Every year, Seashell Island experiences three months of violent storms, but every year, the island and its citizens survive. Why do they always survive? Some say it’s because of offerings that the citizens make to a sacred altar.
Nia meets a local girl named Avocado (yes, Avocado), who introduces her to the altar, and Nia immediately commits a forbidden crime: she touches the altar. Of course, she and Avocado get sucked underground, where they meet a mysterious creature who tells them that Seashell Island is destined to sink into the ocean. Well, it’s a good thing that Nia touched the altar, or else no one would know about the island’s grim fate.
Of course, it’s up to Nia to save Seashell Island. The game features bright, colorful pixel art graphics that are reminiscent of Stardew Valley and other retro-inspired indie games. You play the game from a top-down perspective, which will remind many players of the Legend of Zelda games on NES, SNES, and Nintendo handhelds. This makes for an experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
My Experience with the Demo
The game wastes no time getting started. After the opening cutscene, you can wander around and talk to a few people, but they’ll urge you to check out the shrine, where you’ll meet Avocado. After you fall into the cave, you’ll receive a weapon, but not a sword. Nia gets . . . a hockey stick. Why not? After all, a hockey stick is useful for slicing up bushes like in Zelda games. Yes, you will slice up a lot of bushes, looking for money and other items, just like in Zelda.
The hockey stick weapon shows how this game has a sense of humor. At one point, I was even searched for weapons, but I was allowed to pass because I only had a harmless hockey stick. At another point, a townsperson told me that he would normally be sending me on a sidequest that would send me wandering all over the island, but he wasn’t allowed to do that in the demo. I also petted a cat, and the cat started following me around. Awww!
While it’s hard to judge from the demo, this game also seems to offer a lot of variety from what I’ve played. In addition to my hockey stick, I eventually got a flame gun that can be used to shoot flames to light torches and burn bushes. The first dungeon puts the flame gun to some very clever use in puzzles. Also, did I mention that the first dungeon is a greenhouse with a theater? Well, it is.
I Want Under the Island!
I lost track of time while playing the Under the Island demo, and I always love it when a game can pull me in that way. I added the game to my Steam wishlist after watching the engaging trailer, and after I played the demo, I placed it near the top of my wishlist. When I have some extra money, I definitely want to buy it. Under the Island can be purchased on Steam for $19.99.
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