Rogue Islands
- September 12, 2017
- Big Fat Alien
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn Rogue Islands, play as the agile Gnome Wizard Motwort with the ability to run, jump, levitate, swim, and cast magical spells. Traverse through 7 distinct island types filled with various enemies, environments, and bosses, while collecting and imbuing gems to power up your spells. Experience procedural levels and permadeath, making each playthrough unique and challenging.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is fun and challenging, providing a rewarding experience once players learn the mechanics.
- The graphics and level design are beautiful, creating an engaging atmosphere.
- The gameplay loop of exploring islands, completing objectives, and upgrading spells offers depth and variety.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including stuttering and bugs that can hinder gameplay.
- There is a lack of clear instructions and tutorials, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
- The difficulty can be excessively punishing, with some players feeling that the game is unbalanced and frustrating.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop of exploring procedurally generated islands, completing objectives, and upgrading spells and equipment through resource gathering. While the mechanics can feel generic and lack clear guidance, players can find enjoyment in the exploration and fast-paced shooting elements reminiscent of survival and crafting games. However, the learning curve may lead to frequent deaths as players navigate unexpected game mechanics.
“The gameplay is simple enough: enter a procedurally generated island, complete the objective, mine for gems to upgrade your spells, mine bitumen to craft fuel for your ship, and move on to the next island.”
“In that simplicity, there's some really fun gameplay to be had.”
“The first is the shooting gameplay, which is crisp, fast-paced, and fun.”
“The gameplay is simple enough: enter a procedurally generated island, complete the objective, mine for gems to upgrade your spells, mine bitumen to craft fuel for your ship, and move on to the next island.”
“Upgrades and gameplay are not very well spelled out, and guides are few and far between online at the time of this review, so basically you are going to die many times to figure out how to do something.”
“I still have some different environments to explore, different monsters to fight, different quests to complete, etc., but I've repeatedly experienced the basic gameplay loop of going to an island, exploring, fighting monsters, and completing quests.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their beauty and vibrant colors, creating visually appealing environments that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some players note that the islands can feel somewhat similar, lacking distinctiveness despite their aesthetic appeal. Overall, the game's graphics contribute positively to its charm and enjoyment.
“It's also a really beautiful game; the graphics, while simple, really pop with how colorful everything is.”
“Graphically, it's so smooth to play, and the islands are actually pleasing to the eye when you explore them.”
“Very beautiful graphics and levels.”
“I mostly liked the aesthetic, although it suffers from every island feeling pretty similar to every other island with only slight variations in theme.”
“Graphically, it's so smooth to play, and the islands are actually pleasing to the eye when you explore them.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is perceived as underwhelming and feels tacked on, lacking a gripping narrative that engages players. While there are various environments and quests to explore, the repetitive gameplay loop detracts from the overall experience.
“At first, I was a bit incredulous - you want to turn this fantasy action shooter into a platformer for the main quest goal on most of the islands?”
“I still have some different environments to explore, different monsters to fight, and different quests to complete, but I've repeatedly experienced the basic gameplay loop of going to an island, exploring, fighting monsters, and completing quests.”
“The story is... well, I didn't find it particularly gripping.”
“Clearly, the developers felt a story was needed and tacked it on, but it's all a bit underwhelming.”
“At first, I was a bit incredulous - you want to turn this fantasy action shooter into a platformer for the main quest goal on most of the islands?”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stuttering issues, rendering it unplayable for some users, particularly on older systems. However, the developers are aware of these problems and have plans for future updates, including a new game engine that may enhance optimization and performance. Overall, there is potential for improvement in this area.
“There is plenty of room for optimization and improvement.”
“The game offers numerous opportunities for optimization, allowing players to fine-tune their strategies.”
“I appreciate how the developers encourage optimization, making it a key part of the gameplay experience.”
“For what little I could play of the game, I genuinely enjoyed it; unfortunately, the massive stuttering makes it unplayable on my system (Windows 7 x64, i5 6500, 16GB RAM, GTX 970).”
“The only issue I think should be mentioned is that some people, myself included, have had issues with the game stuttering.”
“There is room for optimization and improvement.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for being unfinished, plagued by bugs, and lacking balance, leading to a generally unstable experience for players.
“Don't buy this game; it's unfinished, buggy, and unbalanced.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of overwhelming power and exhilaration, as players experience a dynamic and intense gameplay style that evokes feelings of triumph and awe while navigating through vibrant landscapes and defeating enemies.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, indicating that it can become a monotonous and unenjoyable experience.
“The grinding feels incredibly tedious.”
“It's just a repetitive grind that takes away from the fun.”
“The amount of grinding required is exhausting and feels unnecessary.”
