We love a good retro-style puzzler here at Nintendo Life, and the upcoming Isles of Sea and Sky looks like it could be a doozy. The only downside right now is that it's not confirmed for the Switch.. yet.
With a release on Steam coming at some point in 2024, developer Cicada Games has a console release in its sights, stating "We are interested in launching on other platforms including the Nintendo Switch" in the official press kit. We certainly hope it does make its way to the Switch, because it looks like a lovely litle puzzler in which you explore an open world and complete a variety of puzzles in whichever order you see fit.
Solving puzzles requires pushing blocks to cause chain reactions that might open up new pathways or reveal secrets and collectibles. The story is told without the use of text and has been designed to appeal to as many people as possible regardless of age. Sounds like a blast to us, and there's definitely a slight Zelda: Link's Awakening vibe to the visuals and overworld design.
Here's a look at the key features:
- Solve open world puzzles: Complete puzzles and explore in whatever order you choose. Get stuck? Feel free to leave a puzzle and return to it later with a new perspective.
- Intuitive and accessible puzzling: Controls are simple and directional only; designed so that people of most physical abilities can enjoy.
- For puzzle novices and experts: Isles of Sea and Sky is designed for all skill levels making sure there’s plenty to do, collect, and challenge yourself with if you’re a puzzle expert, but that the game is also approachable for puzzling beginners.
- Immerse yourself in a serene, vibrant world: This vibrant, retro, and atmospheric environment is captivating and offers a chill and ambient soundtrack for deeper gameplay immersion
- Uncover a rich, meaningful story: Isles of Sea and Sky tells a meaningful and memorable story utilizing only images and no text.
- Discover hidden secrets: The game is chock full of hidden items and areas. Getting 100% complete rate, even in the demo, is no easy task!
Fingers crossed Isles of Sea and Sky gets a Switch release in the coming months. For now, we'll keep an eye out for its launch on Steam with bated breath.
What do you make of this one so far? Would you like to see it on Switch? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.
Comments 10
I'd love to see this coming also to Switch, fingers crossed the creators will be able to make it happen!
Looks awesome! The animation style reminds me of the opening of Monster Boy and the cursed Kingdom.
https://youtu.be/AgDjELv6uMY?si=baoG6bI6ysckCf_w
This looks super rad! I always buy my retro-style indies on Switch, so definitely would love it to happen. I just love using the Super Famicom NSO controllers so much for these kinds of games.
There is another retro-style game already on Switch: Saga of the Moon Priestess, which launched in January.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWOuTcdndd0
At first glance I thought I was looking at the tomba rerelease we’re supposed to be getting. I’m still waiting for that and gex on the switch but it’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything.
I hope we get this tho it looks awesome!
I will probably be day one buying this, I wish it was coming right to switch, I'd prefer it there. The devs a cool guy too.
@Sherlock- That game is terrible, stop trying to shoehorn it into a conversation where it doesn't belong. I bought it on sale at launch and it's not even worth what I paid. It's a bad Zelda clone, and is worse than the free demo for "Isles".
@Poodlestargenerica It might not be as good as Zelda, but it is a good game and people liked it. Stop thinking everyone has the same views as you. I'll keep on mentioning the game if it fits the matter being discussed, especially in topics about retro games.
@Sherlock- I don't care who likes it it's objectively bad. The movement is based on Gameboy Zelda but the screen is twice as wide so it takes ages to move laterally. The puzzles are just "break every pot or push every block until you hit the right one". The dialogue takes forever because your character talks and never has anything interesting to say. And the bad guys don't resent until you beat a temple so if you accidently use a heart it's impossible to get more. The world and temple design are lackluster, and everything looks generic. Plus the save points are too far apart.
It's bad. Just because you know the dev or something doesn't make it good. It was a waste of 7 dollars or whatever I spent. And there are hundreds of ndreds of retro aesthetic games on the shop so you plugging this one is not relevant. Plus you are misleading people into thinking the game is worth their money, which it most definitely is not.
@Sherlock- Didn't know about that game so thanks for mentioning it!
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