ISOLAND4: The Anchor of Memory
- January 9, 2024
- Cotton Game
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
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Reviews
- The unique hand-drawn art style and mysterious environment create an engaging atmosphere.
- The puzzles are varied and interesting, with a good balance of challenge and logic, making for enjoyable gameplay.
- The game offers replay value with different puzzles and rooms in subsequent playthroughs, enhancing overall satisfaction.
- Some puzzles can be obscure, leading players to rely on walkthroughs for assistance.
- The game is relatively short, with only 2-5 hours of gameplay, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There are occasional inventory glitches that can disrupt the experience and potentially softlock the game.
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics maintain a similar surreal and simplistic style to previous entries in the series, enhanced by increased animation that brings the environments to life. Players appreciate the effective art style and the enjoyable, cute animations, which contribute to the overall experience, especially given the low price point.
“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.”
“I like the art style of the Isoland games.”
“(+) As usual, Cotton Game sets a very low price for how much work they do, with many enjoyable locations, nice art style, and a lot of cute animations to experience.”
“The graphics are quite simple, but they lack the depth and detail expected from a modern game.”
“The visuals feel outdated and do not match the quality of current gaming standards.”
“While the graphics have a unique style, they often come off as bland and uninspired.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in Cotton Game's latest offering features a blend of original and possibly borrowed tracks, characterized by a chill and relaxing vibe that complements the game's deeper narrative themes. The inclusion of meaningful song lyrics spoken by characters adds an additional layer to the experience, enhancing the overall emotional impact. Reviewers have praised the soundtrack for its melancholic yet soothing qualities, perfectly aligning with the story's tone.
“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 am not sure if the soundtrack is original to the game, but I really enjoyed the chill music; it's 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.”
“The philosophy of the song lyrics is on display in Cotton Game's newest offering.”
“I am not sure if the soundtrack is original to the game, but I also really enjoyed the chill music; it was nice and relaxing with a bit of melancholy to it.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its deeper meaning and thought-provoking narrative, effectively balancing text and visual storytelling. Many players find it relatable, particularly in its exploration of aging and reflection on life choices, complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the game's melancholic atmosphere.
“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, perfectly capturing the experience of getting older and reflecting on how you arrived at this point in your life.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game has some stability issues, particularly with inventory glitches that can lead to softlocks, but these are generally manageable by restarting the game. While the developer is recognized for their productivity and quality, the slow response to fixing these glitches has been noted as a concern. Despite these issues, players still find the game enjoyable and emotionally engaging.
“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.”
“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.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay typically lasts between 2 to 5 hours, offering good value for money, especially with the option for replayability that introduces new scenes and slightly altered puzzles.
“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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's map feature, which enables fast travel to previously visited locations, effectively reducing the tedious backtracking often associated with grinding in point-and-click games.
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, offering a philosophical experience that provides enjoyable escapism, though it may not resonate as strongly as the developer's previous work. Despite some minor technical issues, it remains a favorite for its emotional impact.
“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. Even though it didn't hit me as hard as the elevator scene, it's still a philosophical experience with enjoyable escapism.”
