Escape From Lavender Island
- August 31, 2023
- jeremycouillard
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Escape From Lavender Island" is a narrative-driven open-world game set on a surreal island colonized by an evil corporation and occupied by aliens. As Zede, you must explore the city sightseeing, collecting masks and ships, and uncovering the truth about the corporation's plans. The game features a unique soundtrack, immersive storytelling, and controller support. Watch out for aliens with two butts and two mouths while navigating through the engaging world.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique and bizarre art style that captivates players and enhances the surreal experience.
- Gameplay is engaging with a variety of mini-games and exploration elements that keep players entertained for hours.
- The writing is humorous and thought-provoking, often addressing deeper societal issues while maintaining a light-hearted tone.
- The controls can feel clunky and floaty, which may detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Some players found the narrative lacking and felt that certain mechanics were introduced but not fully utilized.
- There are unskippable scenes and dialogue that can slow down the pacing of the game.
- story46 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as unconventional and open to interpretation, often taking a backseat to its immersive environment and unique mechanics. While it may lack a traditional plot, players appreciate the surreal and relatable themes, enhanced by striking visuals and engaging voice acting. Many find the experience rewarding, with plenty of optional content and secrets to discover, despite some pacing issues and a somewhat clunky execution.
“Terrific story, terrific visuals, easy to get lost in.”
“A beautiful story about leaving work and taking drugs with your goth girlfriend.”
“This game may have an intriguing art style, but honestly that's a plus for this game because it really sells the whole 'post-apocalyptic corporate-run ghetto society' vibe that the game and its story has going for it.”
“The story is whatever you interpret it to be.”
“There's not really a big plot or anything like this, but the whole environment is well made, so it's easy to immerse.”
“I think the personal story dialog that plays every once in a while is a bit annoying, but with that said, this game is worth experiencing.”
- gameplay44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of collectathon mechanics, exploration, and sandbox elements that encourage player interaction and creativity. Players appreciate the depth of mechanics, engaging side quests, and humorous dialogue, although some feel that certain game ideas are introduced but not fully utilized. Overall, the game offers a charming and entertaining experience, despite its quirky and sometimes clunky execution.
“Not only does it have an absolutely banging soundtrack, but the collectathon style gameplay and many side-quests keep the fun rolling for hours.”
“Gameplay-wise, I find it very fun; I love to fly across the buildings, collect letters, and figure out the puzzles. It's a pretty straightforward exploration-adventure game.”
“The game has a lot of very cool sandbox mechanics, like you can use different abilities to interact with the world in interesting ways, such as using pills on different characters and objects to modify the world for navigation.”
“- many mechanics and game ideas are introduced, used once, and abandoned forever.”
“This is actually a really good game, I don't understand the story, the gameplay, the reason the dev made this, but I understand it's really weird.”
“It may feel a bit clunky and I think it's part of the charm, but if you give it a chance, you might find a very charming collection game, full of very deep and thought-provoking themes, hilarious moments, and just overall creative mechanics - admittedly a bit disturbing at times.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and bizarre art style, reminiscent of 90s aesthetics and psychedelic designs. Reviewers appreciate how the visuals enhance the game's post-apocalyptic themes and immersive storytelling, making it visually captivating and engaging. Overall, the combination of abstract environments and creative presentation contributes to a memorable gaming experience.
“This game may have an intriguing art style, but honestly that's a plus for this game because it really sells the whole 'post-apocalyptic corporate-run ghettos society' vibe that the game and its story has going for it.”
“It reminds me of the 90s with the graphics and abstract weirdness.”
“Lavender Island is a game that I think has surreal environments and abstract themes that may take time to appreciate when you first see it, but it's a game that truly shines with its captivating lore and stylish presentation through its abstract 3D art style.”
“The visuals are absolutely astonishing; they are not only quite unique but they are extremely satisfying to look at if you're into this kind of psychedelic designs.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and engaging dialogue, which blends existential themes with absurdity, resulting in moments that are both thought-provoking and genuinely funny. Players appreciate the unique charm and intentional quirks of the game, noting that it often elicits laughter through its creative mechanics and strange character interactions. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature that enhances the exploratory experience, making it one of the most entertaining games of the year.
“This game is funny, existential, beautiful, and personal, all while still being a genuinely fun game to play.”
“The dialogues are all stupidly funny, even if filled with critiques or existential thoughts from time to time.”
“Between all the weird mechanics and strange character interactions, this game is hilarious and extremely uncanny, and it's so much fun to explore it.”
- music14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its engaging and unique soundtrack, particularly highlighting a minimal tech-house beat that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers express a strong desire for the soundtrack to be available for purchase, noting its ability to create an immersive atmosphere that keeps players hooked for hours. Overall, the music is described as lovely and distinct from typical video game scores, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack also absolutely slaps, especially the so-tep slums or whatever the second area is called with that minimal tech-house 4-on-the-floor beat it's got going on.”
“Not only does it have an absolutely banging soundtrack, but the collectathon style gameplay and many side-quests keep the fun rolling for hours.”
“I love the colors, the music is so lovely it really doesn't sound like 'video game music' (more Chris Parello! Yay! - did I hear just a tiny bit of music here from Jef? or Fuzz Dungeon?), and the oddities that abound throughout.”
“I wish the soundtrack was available for purchase purely based on me head-bopping to that one track alone, but unfortunately, I can't find it anywhere.”
“I need this soundtrack in my life, not gonna lie.”
“Losing my mind trying to speedrun this, the graphics and music brainwash me into doing 'just one more run' and before I know it, it's 2 AM.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a unique, off-beat quality, enhanced by a minimal and subdued musical score that effectively complements the overall experience.
“The music is perfect for cultivating an off-beat atmosphere, if a bit minimal and subdued.”
