Castaway

« If you're craving more 2D Zelda, Castaway will give you a small taste of that. While the story is cute, it is admittedly very short. The game’s Tower Mode is an interesting take on the 2D Zelda format, fitting it into a different genre. There's not denying though just how much has been inspired from Link's Awakening and other 2D Zelda games. A fun, short little romp, made almost all by one person - cheap and cheerful. »

« When everything comes together, Castaway feels just substantial enough to recommend. Many will still find it too short, but it’s not all bad if your only real complaint is that you want more. I love projects like this, and it’s something I’d be keen to see more of in the future. You can really tell when a developer is channeling something they adore and doing their best to put their own spin on it and show everyone what they can do with a specific set of tools. If this proves successful, I really hope Vinet is afforded the opportunity to revisit the world, or at least one in the same vein. For now, though, at least I can rest easy knowing I got my dog back before it even had time to miss me. »

« Castaway offers a pleasant way to pass a few hours for those wanting a light Zelda experience or maybe for those who’ve never had one. Its roguelike mode is definitely a highlight if you’re looking for something a bit different, but it’s a good idea not to go into the game as a whole expecting more than a fun diversion. I’d love to see either a new setting for a sequel or new game modes added in the future as there’s a lot to like about the simple charm of this deserted island and its plucky hero. »

« I appreciated what Johan Vinet accomplished with Castaway, as it really does capture the same vibes as a GBC Legend of Zelda game would, but just wish there was more to it. The adventure mode feels like it cuts off way too quickly, with no resolution. The Tower is entertaining, but focuses on the weakest part of the experience and strips away the light puzzle solving and boss fights. It feels like Castaway is a teaser for something bigger. What’s here is fun, but strangely unfulfilling. »

« The thing is, Castaway most reminded us of inferior Zelda clones from back in the '90s. There’s just something about the slowness of the character that we found a bit frustrating. The overall simplicity of both gameplay options makes it difficult to fully recommend to anyone other than die-hard genre fans. There are no NPCs to talk to, no quirky alligators, villagers, or owls to add variety to the experience - all that’s left is an incredibly short and unoriginal, if pretty, action RPG. »

« Its fine, its at best like a demo, but a demo for a super pared down mini version of some of the best games ever made. »

« Such an adorable game. Short, indeed, but it is so cool to feel the love for Link's Awakening. I'd love more of it. »

« Castaway is a lovely, to the point, bitesize adventure, with great presentation and a challenging rouge lite-esque final dungeon. Although the game wears its influences on its sleeve it still manages to feel unique and fun, with pixel perfect art direction, great sound design and a simple but satisfying gameplay loop. The game also feels very polished, with snappy responsive menus and clear visual and audio feedback throughout. My only real gripe with the game is that there is not enough of it. The main quest (which really is more of a tutorial) took me around 40min to complete and then I spent around 3 hours completing “the tower”, a challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed, with each run engaging in a way that didn’t feel all too far from the heavy hitters of the genre like Hades or Vampire Survivors. I just wish there was more, more upgrades, more levels, more bosses! That said, part of the games charm is the fact that it can be beaten in one sitting, in that sense, mush like the retro games that inspired it, the game is a perfect companion on a long commute or lazy Sunday afternoon. All in all, Castaway is a great little game, well worth picking up for anyone looking for a short and polished retro adventure. »

« I absolutely love Link's Awakening growing up. This game gave me the same nostalgia that playing that back in the day. While this is a short game, I've gotten many hours of extra gameplay in the speedrun mode. A recent quality of life update fixed the collision hit-boxes that were there when the game launched. Now the only thing that needs to be addressed is the rolling hit-box. I bounce into so many things that I do not think that I should. This adventure should take you under an hour, so if the price point is to high for you, add it to your wishlist and wait for it to go on sale! »

« What an adorable and joyful little game. The main quest is short and sweet, perfect for the price. And then there is a rogue-ish tower mode that can definitely keep you occupied for a long time after. Loved it! »

« While short and mightily showing its influences, Castaway does what it does very well. The story is not epic, but it's sweet, and gives you just enough to inspire your journey. The unlockable challenge mode has just the right difficulty curve and is genuinely interesting on its own. Graphic design is consistent and pleasant, and the soundscape provides plenty of interesting things to excite and get stuck in your head. »

« Castaway is an amazing bite-sized Zelda-like experience! For a very low and reasonable price, you get a short and sweet story mode as well as a challenging "Tower" mode that feels amazing to learn and conquer. It's also accessible to all ages making it a wonderful first in the genre for your kids. »

« Castaway is an incredibly charming micro-zeldalike. It is very cheap and you can feel the love of the developpers throughout. It is well thought, clever and doesn't overstay its welcome. »