Isle of Maligree
- February 23, 2024
- Gilded Rune Games
Get on SteamIn "Isle of Maligree," a visual novel, you are an investigator seeking to solve a missing person case on a mysterious island where magic has leaked into the world. Your choices matter as you explore, gather clues, and forge connections within a 400-year-old conspiracy, with three starting fates influencing your unique options and routes. Act swiftly, as the clock is ticking, and the island's victims are soon forgotten.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a deep and engaging story with a compelling mystery that keeps players invested throughout their playthroughs.
- The inclusion of RPG elements, such as skill points and dice rolls, adds a unique layer of tension and replayability, allowing for varied outcomes based on player choices.
- The art and music create an eerie atmosphere that perfectly complements the narrative, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game's lifespan is relatively short, which may not justify its cost for some players, especially those seeking longer gameplay.
- Replaying the game can be tedious as there is no option to skip previously seen text, making multiple playthroughs feel repetitive.
- Some players may find the reliance on dice rolls for success frustrating, as it introduces an element of randomness that can affect the narrative experience.
- story17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth, intriguing plot, and well-developed characters, offering a rich experience for players, especially completionists. The narrative is enhanced by stunning visuals and an eerie soundtrack, with choices significantly impacting the storyline, allowing for varied playthroughs and personal investment. Players appreciate the twists and the ability to shape their own destinies, making each journey unique and engaging.
“This is a great game, with a deep world and intriguing story.”
“Compelling story carried by stunning art and an appropriately eerie soundtrack.”
“The story and imagery are clever and gorgeous; I can imagine how much time was spent on developing this game.”
“Losing is irrelevant since the story is about living with your decisions.”
“You may notice some additional text, but the story normally progresses in the same way in both circumstances.”
“The story has twists and turns.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's graphics effectively evoke the unsettling atmosphere of early 20th century occult mysteries, utilizing a striking black and white theme complemented by occasional splashes of color. Players appreciate the artwork for enhancing the dark narrative, contributing to an immersive experience that keeps them engaged and returning for more. Overall, the visuals are praised for their ability to capture the game's eerie essence.
“Aesthetically, the game captures the sense of discomfort and weirdness inherent to early 20th century occult mysteries really well.”
“I love the storyline and the artwork, especially with the black and white theme and the odd splash of color.”
“It's a dark world and the artwork highlights this perfectly!”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making it hard to connect with them.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a quiet, unsettling atmosphere that complements the compelling story and stunning artwork. Reviewers highlight the eerie soundtrack as a perfect fit for the game's tone, enhancing the overall experience.
“Also, it wouldn't be right to not mention the fantastic art and music, both of which provide the perfect quiet, slightly unsettling atmosphere that characterizes this game.”
“Compelling story carried by stunning art and an appropriately eerie soundtrack.”
“The music and artwork are good and give the game the right feel for the storyline.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines visual novel elements with RPG mechanics, featuring a choice-driven narrative influenced by player skill and dice rolls. Players explore various locations and interact with options, making it distinct from traditional visual novels.
“The gameplay consists of visiting locations and clicking on options.”
“This is a visual novel, but it has a few unique mechanics that set it apart from other games.”
“This is a visual novel with RPG-esque gameplay where many choices and scenarios in the game have a success factor depending on your skill and the roll of your dice.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game excels in replayability due to its incorporation of RPG elements, such as random dice rolls and character modifiers, which enhance narrative tension and create diverse outcomes. Players appreciate the variety of experiences available, making it worthwhile to revisit despite its relatively short length.
“The greatest strength this visual novel has for me is its replayability factor.”
“The decision to include RPG elements in a visual novel like Isle of Maligree was a nice touch, as random dice rolls with character modifiers add to the tension of the narrative by creating moment-to-moment stakes; they also increase the number of outcomes a scene can produce beyond just the decisions the player can make, which means the game has a lot of replayability.”
“With a lot of bumbling around, it's not long but has a lot of replay value.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its fantastic art and music, creating a quiet yet slightly unsettling ambiance that effectively characterizes the overall experience.
“The fantastic art and music create a perfect, quiet, and slightly unsettling atmosphere that characterizes this game.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world that feels both familiar and eerily strange.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to a haunting ambiance that lingers long after you put the game down.”
