Isles of Adalar
- October 21, 2020
- Peakway Software LLC
Get on Steam"Isles of Adalar" is a narrative-driven RPG that supports up to four player co-op. The game is designed to accommodate both multiplayer and single player experiences, with difficulty encounters scaled accordingly. The game also has a strong focus on modding, with user-friendly tools and a commitment to building a creative community around the game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a beautiful environment and atmosphere reminiscent of classic RPGs like Morrowind.
- There is a lot of potential for the game, especially with its level editor and co-op multiplayer features.
- The game appeals to both old school RPG lovers and newer players, offering a unique experience.
- The game is currently very buggy and unpolished, making it difficult to play and enjoy.
- The combat system is clunky and lacks responsiveness, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The developer has seemingly abandoned the project, leaving many players feeling disappointed and wary of future updates.
- graphics54 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, pixelated, and reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the art style and world design, they note significant issues with character models, animations, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates to improve the visual quality before diving in.
“Amazing visuals and good combat system, if a bit clunky.”
“The art style for the world and the monsters is different and appealing.”
“Like amazing graphics and immersion, and lots of lore and loot.”
“The game is still very rough around the edges; the graphics leave a lot to be desired.”
“Graphics are pretty bad, especially the sky textures and character models.”
“There are graphical glitches that are just intolerable.”
- stability32 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and frustrating freezes that hinder gameplay. Many users describe the experience as clunky and unpolished, making it difficult to enjoy the content or engage in co-op play. Overall, the game is currently viewed as a "buggy mess," with players suggesting it may only be worth exploring for its potential rather than its present state.
“The content that currently exists (a dozen hours worth or so, give or take) is buggy, janky, and sometimes ugly.”
“I really tried to like this game, but the bugs and the constant freezes make it unplayable.”
“It is a buggy, ugly, clunky mess at the moment, so don't buy this for what it currently is, buy it for what it one day may become.”
- gameplay27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the clunky mechanics, particularly the malfunctioning lock-on system and slow stamina regeneration, which hinder combat effectiveness. While some appreciate the interesting dialogue mechanics and the potential for modding through a built-in level editor, others feel the game is in an unplayable state, resembling an alpha or tech demo rather than a polished product. Overall, the gameplay shows promise but requires significant improvements to mechanics and performance.
“I instantly felt comfortable with the world and the mechanics.”
“The gameplay is pretty solid so far without being too difficult or too easy.”
“Very good editor, the base campaign may not be for everyone but the main/base campaign was not the focus; it was the ability to mod the game with your own campaigns in the built-in level editor, Skyrim/Elder Scrolls-like gameplay and co-op.”
“This is the first time I've ever had to immediately stop playing to make sure I could go get a refund for $20 worth of 2001 2D graphics and unplayable game mechanics.”
“Lock-on mechanic does not work properly and will just rapidly rotate your camera; you cannot move and attack, and don't even think of using power attacks. If you want to use magic, you do not get any starter spells except summon wolf, forcing you to play melee anyways, which would be more than fine if your stamina didn't regenerate slower than paint dries.”
“This feels like a beta, playable tech demo with no clear goal about development, let alone gameplay.”
- story26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is currently underdeveloped, with a placeholder main plot that ends abruptly after an initial conflict, leaving players feeling unsatisfied. While the world and events are immersive, many users express frustration over the lack of quests and tracking, making it difficult to engage with the narrative. However, the potential for user-generated content through a level editor offers a glimmer of hope for future storytelling opportunities.
“The scenery is amazing and I feel like I’m in an actual story.”
“This is a very fun early access RPG; as soon as you get to the first town, the game picks up pace on the story and starts feeling like a D&D and Morrowind/Skyrim hybrid.”
“This game is really neat, definitely with the level editor and being able to make your own story mode; definitely keep your eye on this, it will definitely become a gem of a game.”
“The 'placeholder' main story ends abruptly after [spoiler] your first conflict with one of the main factions of the island.”
“There is really nothing to do in the game except test the early game engine; no story or anything.”
“There isn't anything to do in the game really at the moment, and the one quest you can find doesn't allow the quest to be tracked and there is no way to figure out where the quest is on the map.”
- music12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its phenomenal quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many users highlighting the impressive soundtrack and sound design. However, some players noted that the music does not effectively shift in tone during combat, which could detract from the overall experience. While the soundtrack is well-received, there are mixed feelings about its integration with gameplay elements.
“Killer atmosphere and world, interesting races, cool character customization with the ability to dye your clothes, absolutely phenomenal music.”
“Music is nice but it doesn't change the tone when entering combat.”
“Music and sounds were actually not bad.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, with many praising its immersive world, interesting races, and character customization options, complemented by phenomenal music. However, some players feel that the environmental details can become repetitive over time, leading to a loss of visual engagement. Overall, while the atmosphere initially captivates, it may not sustain its impact throughout the gameplay.
“It oozes atmosphere.”
“Killer atmosphere and world, interesting races, cool character customization with the ability to dye your clothes, absolutely phenomenal music.”
“Great atmosphere so far, music is acceptable.”
“The one thing the game has going for it is its environmental atmosphere, but even that wears off fast; everything blurs together and nothing grabs your eye.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant optimization issues, with users reporting frequent glitches and stuttering gameplay even on high-end PCs. While the foundational systems appear to be in place, further polish and optimization are necessary for a smoother experience.
“Very glitchy, I have a gaming PC and the game flow keeps stuttering.”
“Some polish and optimization needs to be done, but for the most part, all the systems are already in place, it seems like.”
“This game has not been optimized yet, so please keep that in mind!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the lockpick minigame for its simplicity and ease, allowing for repeated attempts without feeling tedious, contrasting positively with grinding mechanics found in other games.
“I love the lockpick minigame: you can repeat it as many times as you need, and all it takes is predicting if an oval trigger will stop in the green area. It's very easy to do and not tedious like in some other games.”
