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ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory

91%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
stability, grinding
96% User Score Based on 46 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCPhonePhoneWindowsWindowsTabletTablet

About

"ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory" is the latest addition to the ISOLAND series, following "ISOLAND3: The Dust of the Universe." This game continues the tradition of intricate puzzles and maps, while also focusing on character development with a mix of familiar and new faces. It promises a rich narrative through abundant emotions, mystical dialogues, and hidden Easter eggs, leaving players to uncover the past and present of the Lost Island.

ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot
ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot
ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot
ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot
ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot
ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory screenshot

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews
graphics8 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions

  • The game features unique hand-drawn art and a mysterious environment that enhances the overall experience.
  • Puzzles are engaging and varied, with a good balance of challenge, and the interactive map improves gameplay by reducing backtracking.
  • The game offers replay value with different puzzles and rooms in the second playthrough, making it enjoyable for completionists.
  • Some puzzles can be obscure, requiring players to consult walkthroughs, which may detract from the experience.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks the depth and enjoyment of previous installments in the series.
  • There are occasional inventory glitches that can disrupt gameplay, potentially leading to softlocks.
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics maintain a similar style to the previous three games, featuring a simple yet effective aesthetic complemented by a surreal philosophical theme. Players appreciate the enhanced animations and the charming art style, which adds depth to the enjoyable puzzles and locations. Overall, the graphics are well-received, especially considering the low price point for the quality of work presented.

    • “The graphics are a quite simple style but very effective, and they have added much more animation this time to bring it all to life.”
    • “As usual, Cotton Game sets a very low price for how much work they do, with many enjoyable locations featuring a nice art style and a lot of cute animations to experience.”
    • “I like the art style of the Isoland games.”
    • “The graphics are quite simple in style, but very effective. They have added much more animation this time to bring it all to life.”
  • story
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is praised for its depth and relatability, exploring themes of aging and reflection in a thought-provoking manner. Reviewers appreciate the balance between text and visual storytelling, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the narrative's melancholic tone. Overall, the storyline is engaging and offers layers of meaning that resonate with players.

    • “The story always has a deeper meaning than you first realize, and this time there are also some lyrics from great songs spoken by the characters in the game.”
    • “I thought the narrative was very thought-provoking without being too complicated; there's a nice balance between text and visual storytelling.”
    • “Personally, I found the story very relatable, very much on point with getting older and looking back at how you got to this point in your life.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Cotton Game's latest offering is praised for its chill and relaxing vibe, complemented by a touch of melancholy that enhances the game's deeper narrative. While there is uncertainty about the originality of the soundtrack, the inclusion of meaningful song lyrics spoken by characters adds an engaging layer to the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received and aligns perfectly with the story's themes.

    • “The story always has a deeper meaning than you first realize, and this time there are also some lyrics from great songs spoken by the characters in the game.”
    • “I really enjoyed the chill music; it was nice and relaxing with a bit of melancholy to it.”
    • “I loved the soundtrack; the chill vibes and the melancholy were perfect for the story.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game experiences occasional inventory glitches that can lead to softlocks, but players have noted that these can sometimes be resolved by restarting the game. While these issues are present, they are not deemed significant enough to overshadow the overall experience, and users express hope for future fixes from the developer, who is recognized for their productivity and fair pricing.

    • “My only problem is that sometimes the game has inventory glitches; you might be able to work around some of them by re-entering the game.”
    • “Hopefully, they fix those glitches, although they are usually very slow to react. Aside from that, I didn't have any significant issues.”
    • “Aside from a few inventory glitches that can potentially softlock the game, it's my second favorite game from the developer in terms of being emotionally charged.”
  • gameplay
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay typically ranges from 2 to 5 hours, depending on puzzle-solving skills, offering good value for entertainment. Many games from this developer feature replayability with new scenes and slightly altered puzzles, enhancing the overall experience despite the relatively short playtime.

    • “I'd say 3-5 hours of gameplay depending on how good you are at solving puzzles, so you're absolutely getting your money's worth of entertainment.”
    • “Although fairly short at about 2-3 hours of gameplay, the best thing about many of the games from this developer is that you can play the game again with a few new scenes to find and slightly different puzzles the second time around.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the game's map feature, which enables fast travel to previously visited locations, effectively reducing the tedious backtracking often found in point-and-click games. This design choice enhances the overall experience by minimizing grinding and streamlining gameplay.

  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, being described as a philosophical experience that offers enjoyable escapism, though it may not resonate as strongly as other titles from the developer. Despite some technical issues, it remains a favorite for its emotional impact.

    • “It's my second favorite game from the developer in terms of being emotionally charged. Even though it didn't hit me as hard as the elevator, it's still a philosophical experience with enjoyable escapism.”

Buy ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory

5h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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