Pluto's Island
- November 29, 2023
- Valentino Quijano-Moeckel
Get on Steam"Pluto's Island" is a compelling action-adventure game with RPG elements, where you collect souls for the king of demons and feed them into a volcano to gain power. With 8-12 hours of gameplay, you'll encounter unforgettable NPCs, strategize your upgrades, and battle relentless enemies in roguelike challenge zones. Enjoy its exclusive soundtrack and immersive comic book-inspired world. The developer has strived to make it 'pretty good'.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and visually vibrant world with imaginative level design and a whimsical art style that evokes nostalgia for classic 3D platformers.
- The soundtrack and sound effects are highly praised, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's quirky atmosphere.
- Combat can be engaging and satisfying, especially in optional combat arenas, and the game offers a variety of collectibles and progression systems that encourage exploration.
- The controls, particularly character and camera movement, are often described as awkward and finicky, making gameplay frustrating for many players.
- There are issues with combat mechanics, such as difficulty in targeting enemies and a lack of clarity regarding spellbook functions, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Some players have reported bugs and a lack of direction in the early game, leading to confusion about objectives and gameplay mechanics.
- music11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its surreal and imaginative quality, perfectly complementing the whimsical art style and enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both relaxing and engaging, contributing to hours of enjoyable gameplay, while also noting its unique blend of influences reminiscent of various genres. Overall, the combination of music and sound effects creates a vibrant and immersive world that players love to explore.
“The music and art style also give the game a uniqueness to it that I am loving!”
“Intoxicating gameplay with a relaxing soundtrack that is bound to have you playing for hours on end.”
“Idk what I love more; the comically serious story/jokes and characters, the Runescape/Spyro/HD PS1 evocative visual atmosphere and style, the goofy wacky and toon-like combat, the collectible hunt, or the dub reggae/Portishead/Final Fantasy reminiscent soundtrack (whoever made that is wack btw).”
“The soundtrack is also a banger.”
“Delightfully surreal and imaginative with a strong vibe elevated by its music.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their aesthetic appeal and visual diversity, featuring a whimsical and colorful art style that enhances the overall experience. The integration of music and sound effects complements the unique visuals, creating an engaging and immersive world that encourages exploration and discovery. Overall, the art direction and design contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“This game really is aesthetically pleasing and one of the most visually diverse games I’ve seen in a while.”
“The music and art style also give the game a uniqueness that I am loving!”
“I really enjoy how the sketchy art style bleeds into even the partial effects and background composition, so much that I often just wandered looking for more cool effects.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay is a mix of nostalgic 90s-2000s platforming elements and humorous dialogue, though some users express frustration with the shooting mechanics. The game features a wide array of collectible items that enhance gameplay and allow for character customization, with effects that can become permanent as players collect souls.
“Dialogue is funny, and gameplay is reminiscent of those 90s-2000s platformers.”
“Developer, please message me if you ever fix the shooting mechanics; I'll re-buy.”
“An exhaustive list of items, with effects that alter your gameplay (and which eventually become permanent as you collect souls), adds to the amount of collectibles and customization possible in your character.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and a quirky, nostalgic vibe reminiscent of 90s-2000s platformers. Players find the bizarre interactions and scenarios on Pluto's island to be amusing, appealing to a wide range of comedic tastes.
“The dialogue is funny, and the gameplay is reminiscent of those 90s-2000s platformers.”
“Pluto's island is truly a weird game with bizarre dialogue that I believe most creatures and humanoids will find somewhat humorous to very humorous.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes strong emotions reminiscent of their initial experiences with Evergrace, suggesting a deep emotional connection and nostalgia tied to the gameplay.
“Made me feel emotions similar to when I played Evergrace for the first time.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a vibrant blend of comically serious storytelling, nostalgic visuals reminiscent of classic titles like RuneScape and Spyro, and whimsical combat mechanics. Players also appreciate the engaging collectible hunt and a unique soundtrack that combines elements of dub reggae and influences from Final Fantasy, contributing to an overall quirky and immersive experience.
“I love the comically serious story, the evocative visual atmosphere reminiscent of classic games like RuneScape and Spyro, and the goofy, wacky combat. The collectible hunt and the soundtrack, which feels like a blend of dub reggae and Final Fantasy, really enhance the experience.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed, lacking a cohesive theme that ties the visuals and sound together.”
“While the visuals are colorful, they don't create an immersive environment; it feels more like a collection of assets than a living world.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and does little to enhance the overall atmosphere, leaving the game feeling flat and uninspired.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a blend of comically serious elements, quirky characters, and a whimsical atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles like RuneScape and Spyro. Players appreciate the humorous tone and engaging narrative, complemented by a unique soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
“I love the comically serious story, the jokes, and the characters. The evocative visual atmosphere and style remind me of classic games like RuneScape and Spyro, while the goofy, wacky, toon-like combat adds to the fun. The collectible hunt and the soundtrack, reminiscent of dub reggae and Final Fantasy, create an unforgettable experience.”
