Castaway

First of all, you're going to see credits in about 15 minutes. 30 if you're truly bad at 2D Zelda. The puzzles aren't puzzles and the bosses have no real design to them beside to hit them a lot. The campaign is effectively a tutorial. Second, the real game is the tower after the credits. This is...not a roguelike, because the levels are predetermined. But you're getting incremental buffs between floors. But floors are a single screen, so you are just cruising through this tower. And because there are basically just crabs and crabs with lasers, there's no evolving challenge. I guess they throw more crabs at you. Luckily, you can get through it in under an hour and refund it. That's pretty cool!

J'aimerai pouvoir recommander ce jeu, mais je ne peux pas. Pour faire court, la partie "histoire" se termine en moins de 10-20 minutes. Le reste est une sorte de Roguelike. Maintenant, la version avec des précisions : Le jeu commence avec une partie "histoire" qui comporte 3 boss donc 3 donjons, 13 zones/cases seulement en monde explorable (dont une que vous n'aurez à voir qu'une fois au tout début du jeu). "L'histoire" n'est pas expliquée, juste un gars qui s'est crash avec son chien et son matériel, et qui doit tout récupérer avant de partir. Comme dit plus haut, 10-20min de gameplay, pas plus. Une fois la partie histoire terminée, vous allez commencer une sorte de roguelike à devoir monter 51 étages d'une tour. Déjà, même si vous aviez toutes les upgrades de cœurs, OUBLIEZ ! Voila le premier problème de cette tour : L'entrée vous zappe pour vous descendre à 2 cœurs. Je peux en partie comprendre vu que ca devient un roguelike, mais ca reste décevant. Pour avoir des upgrades dans la tour, vous devrez récupérer des pièces que laisseront tomber les ennemis que vous éliminerez. 2ème problème : les pièces disparaissent TRÈS VITE. 3ème problème : certaines sont inaccessibles car les ennemis seront de l'autre coté d'un ravin et vous ne pourrez en récupérer que quelques-unes à l'aide de votre grappin. Une fois assez de pièces récupérées, vous gagnerez un niveau. Et vient ici le dernier problème que je peux vous remonter. 4ème problème : Les upgrades n'ont PAS DE DESCRIPTIF. Un grappin+ ? j'ai supposé que c'était les dégâts du grappin mais je n'en suis pas sûr. Un demi-cœur ? j'ai supposé une upgrade de quantité de cœur mais je n'ai rien eu. 3 morceau de viande ? c'est quoi? un soin instantané ou plus de chance de faire tomber du soin ? (je n'ai pas prit ce bonus donc je ne sais réellement pas) Bref, pour que je recommande ce jeu, et retente le niveau de la tour, il aurai fallu : - Une plus longue durée de vie du mode histoire avec plus de niveaux et plus de donjons - Que les pièces dans la tour reste un peu plus longtemps sur le terrain OU que ce soit une grosse pièce ayant la valeur de 5 qui tombe au lieu de 5 petites, ce qui permettrait encore de les attraper avec le grappin - Un descriptif sur les upgrades, bon sang, juste un petit texte +dégats, +vie, +portée, etc ...

Is it good? Yes. IS IT EXTREMELY SHORT? YES. No, seriously. This is one of the shortest games ever.

Kämpfe sind sehr simpel, Rätsel sehr leicht und das Spiel sehr kurz. Schaut euch lieber nach einer anderen Zelda-Alternative um

The one thing you have to know about this prior to your purchase is that it's short. There are three dungeons that are all really small. You'll probably finish the game in about 30 minutes. There's a roguelike tower to climb afterwards for more content. That being said, the game is pretty solid. It's a great homeage to the Game Boy Zelda games. Aesthetic, music, and game play is all solid for what you expect. If you're interested in a really short Zelda like experience, pick it up. It's definitely a fun time.

The game is so short it looks like a demo...

Castaway, developed and published by Canari Games, is a compact top-down action-adventure that channels the spirit of classic 16-bit era design into a focused, modern indie package. The premise is refreshingly straightforward: after crash-landing on a mysterious island, protagonist Martin must brave hostile terrain and dangerous creatures to rescue his kidnapped dog. The story is intentionally simple, serving more as emotional motivation than narrative complexity, but that simplicity aligns perfectly with the game’s retro inspirations. From the outset, Castaway makes it clear that its priorities lie in tight mechanics, exploration, and nostalgic charm rather than elaborate storytelling. The structure of the main adventure follows a familiar yet effective formula. Players explore an interconnected overworld filled with secrets, shortcuts, and environmental obstacles that gradually become accessible as new tools are acquired. Three primary dungeons punctuate the journey, each culminating in a boss encounter that tests both combat reflexes and understanding of recently acquired abilities. The pacing is brisk, with little filler between meaningful progression points. Exploration rewards curiosity with hidden upgrades and optional challenges, ensuring that even within its modest scope, the island feels purposeful rather than empty. Combat is simple but responsive, built around a small set of distinct tools. The sword offers quick strikes suited to agile skirmishes, while the pickaxe delivers heavier blows capable of breaking specific obstacles. A grappling hook adds mobility and puzzle-solving potential, enabling players to traverse gaps or reposition strategically during encounters. These tools work together to create light environmental puzzles and encourage varied approaches to combat. Enemy patterns are readable and fair, placing emphasis on timing and positioning rather than overwhelming complexity. Boss fights, though limited in number, provide satisfying climaxes that require observation and adaptation rather than brute force. Visually, Castaway excels in its pixel art presentation. The sprite work is crisp and colorful, capturing the essence of handheld-era adventures without feeling derivative. Environments shift between lush outdoor areas and dungeon interiors with distinct palettes that enhance atmosphere. Animations are expressive despite their simplicity, and visual clarity ensures that combat remains readable even during hectic moments. Complementing the art style is a lively chiptune soundtrack that reinforces the game’s retro identity. The music shifts seamlessly between adventurous melodies and tense dungeon themes, enhancing immersion without overpowering gameplay. One of the more notable aspects of Castaway is its flexibility in difficulty. Players can choose from multiple modes, including options that remove enemy combat entirely or significantly increase challenge for those seeking a tougher experience. This adaptability broadens accessibility and allows the game to appeal to both casual players and veterans of classic action titles. After completing the main story—which typically lasts only a few hours—players unlock the Survivor Tower, a 50-floor gauntlet that leans into roguelike-inspired endurance challenges. This mode significantly extends replay value, offering escalating difficulty and encouraging mastery of the core mechanics. The game’s brevity is both its strength and its limitation. The main adventure feels concise and tightly constructed, avoiding unnecessary padding. However, players seeking sprawling exploration or deep systemic complexity may find the experience ends just as it begins to fully unfold. Enemy variety and dungeon count are modest, and while the mechanics are polished, they do not evolve into highly layered systems. Yet this restraint also contributes to the game’s clarity of vision. Rather than overstretching its design, Castaway commits to delivering a focused homage to retro adventures. Ultimately, Castaway stands as a heartfelt tribute to classic top-down action games, distilled into a modern indie framework. It prioritizes clean design, charming presentation, and accessible challenge over ambition or scale. For players who appreciate concise adventures filled with pixel-art nostalgia, light puzzle-solving, and satisfying boss encounters, it offers a compact but memorable journey. While it may not redefine the genre, it succeeds in delivering a polished and enjoyable experience that feels both nostalgic and thoughtfully crafted. Rating: 7/10

muito bom comprei porque lenbra um zeldinha o unico problema que e curto mas e bem divertido

Ohne Witz das spiel macht echt spaß :D lohnt sich ! auch wenn es nicht das längste game ist ist das überhaupt nicht schlimm :D macht um so mehr spaß mal wieder ein spiel durch zu spielen ^^

Worth the fun for a few bucks. Love the Zelda inspired game you have here, only thing I would love to see is it be more fleshed out in the "main" game aspect. there's definitely something here and would love to spend some more substantial time in this world.