Column on the Sea

About

Join freelance treasure hunters Laika and Erhardt on their quest for a legendary treasure on a mysterious island! Explore a huge world, battle dangerous monsters, and discover valuable upgrades in this hilarious action-adventure with a unique art style!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

story12 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game successfully blends the nostalgic vibes of NES/Gameboy era games with a modern cartoon art style, creating a charming aesthetic.
The story and characters are well-written and engaging, making players want to continue and finish the game.
The gameplay features classic Metroidvania elements with enjoyable exploration and a variety of abilities to unlock.

The game suffers from slow pacing and repetitive gameplay, with some bosses acting as damage sponges, making encounters feel tedious.
Combat mechanics are clunky, with issues like poor collision detection and unskippable dialogue that can detract from the experience.
Exploration can feel like a chore due to backtracking and a lack of meaningful rewards, compounded by poorly designed map and save point systems.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
28%
6%
The story aspect of the games reviewed is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the fun, well-written narratives and engaging characters that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some reviews note that while the stories are enjoyable, they may not be groundbreaking or particularly deep, with certain titles relying on familiar anime tropes that can be polarizing. Overall, the quality of storytelling varies, with some games standing out for their dialogue and world-building, while others are considered simple or uninteresting.
- “The story and characters are a lot of fun and it's all well written - makes you want to play and finish the game.”
- “But where the game really shines is in the story, dialogue, and world building.”
- “The story isn't anything super groundbreaking so far but the setting is really interesting.”
- “The story has many anime tropes present which either you hate or love.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and reminiscent of Game Boy sounds, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players find the soundtrack grating and criticize the presence of unskippable dialogues, which detracts from the enjoyment. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the gameplay, it has its share of detractors.
- “This game is simple on the surface, a fairly minimal art and music style without a ton of 'flair' to it, but moment to moment it feels so smooth and it's a joy to play.”
- “And the grating soundtrack and overly long, unskippable dialogues are annoying as well.”
- “- atrocious music”
- “The music is decent, it adds to the game, it sounds very Game Boy.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay features classic metroidvania elements, combining projectile and hack-n-slash combat. It begins with a straightforward approach, gradually increasing in complexity as players acquire upgrades.
- “The gameplay consists primarily of classic metroidvania elements with both projectile and hack-n-slash combat.”
- “The gameplay starts very simply and it gets a bit more demanding with each upgrade you get.”
- “True metroidvania gameplay.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's graphics effectively combine nostalgic elements from the NES/Game Boy era with a contemporary cartoon art style, reflecting the developer's background as a cartoonist. This blend creates a visually appealing experience that resonates with both retro and modern aesthetics.
- “This game does a great job of blending the vibes of games from the NES/Game Boy era and gives it a modern sheen with the art style of a cartoon (the developer is primarily a cartoonist).”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently express a positive sentiment towards the humor in the game, indicating that it resonates well with them and enhances their overall experience.