Paradigm Island

it's going to be great once they put a lot of polish on it. the writing is already stellar 2.5 hours in and i am genuinely sad that i feel like i have to put it down until it's notably less buggy. interactable objects that do nothing when i click on them, the console constantly popping up because assets aren't loading, the list goes on. very excited to change this to a good review when they finish the making the game 8/11/25 i saw it had been updated so i gave it another shot! my robot buddy is standing up! awesome, the quest actually works now! click to interact, "the robot lies motionless in the sand". damn ok robot is still bugged. well let's talk to somebody so i can remember what's happening, click on the hotel clerk standing by the door, my character walks up to the visibly clerkless desk to initiate conversation. i'll try again in a couple months and see what's up.

This is the first of the crop of discolikes I've played, and it's pretty clearly discolike, wears its heart on its sleeve. Which is fine! It does new things too and it's got a distinctive voice. Slowish start and some quirks - I suspect it launched a little early - but so far it's handsome, intelligent, humane and funny.

Thanks to the recent updates I was able to finish the game and see my first ending. I don't know if it's because of the choices i made or that's just how it is but the game appears to be short but enjoyable experience. There are still bugs which break the immersion. At one point A character despawned which I think they where supposed to but another character which I think was also meant to despawn with them stayed there crouching. [Spoiler]At the end I Killed someone and in dialogue a character said get them to bury a completely different character who didn't die at all.[/Spoiler] It's definitely an improved experience after the past few updates I was no longer stuck in my progress and I was able to get further along and complete my first playthrough. It's not a bad little game all things considered it kept me entertained for a while I just wouldn't recommend it until it's been properly ironed out by the devs, hopefully they continue working on the game with more updates in the future I'll keep an eye out for More Content and any future games from them. I'm assuming the game is complete since it was not released in Early Access. If they had Developed the game more as others do during Early Access with feedback from players it'd likely be a lot more polished than it is currently, things for them to consider moving forward this does appear to be their first game, I'd say it's a decent first game with plenty of potential they could make a whole bunch of games in this world of Mercenaries and Robots. Keep up the good work, not all games release perfect. As long as the game isn't abandoned and receives regular updates I'm sure there'll be a lot more positive reviews along the way and the negative ones like mine can always be changed.

Recommended only if you really, really, really want to play a disco-like. But like, REALLY. Like if you already spent hours looking for a game like it, couldn't find any, and are desperate for something resembling it no matter what. Despite seeing this generic "disco-like" label being tossed around, I actually haven't come by many other released examples so far. And unfortunately that is the main selling point. It has quite many (non breaking) bugs, lacks polish all around, and just as I was getting into the game, having finished the introductory first act, turned out that was actually the whole game, which took 3-3,5 hours to beat. Prose and visuals were good. The best part of it was that it was a disco like.

I felt instantly drawn into Mike’s world—mercenary life gone sideways, ghostly specters that only he can see, and dice rolls that actually carry weight. The UI is a retro‑comic delight—bold, intuitive, and stylish.

Story and characters hook you right out. Really atmospheric. A few bugs, but nothing too bad so far.

So I rolled credits on this game last night... I wasn't really expecting it to end where it did. It seems the developer wants me to run the ending again perhaps to see different outcomes, but the one I got was a bit of a let down. Then again, I have never played a game which directly references The Wicked and the Damned, and it feels like the creators have aspirations to say something about society in a Disco-like manner. I hope this first effort is successful enough for them to try again, and give me a meatier story with dice rolls that actually impact the game, instead of feeling railroaded down a single path. I played entirely on Steam Deck from day 1 with no bugs or glitches. However, it is also worth mentioning that there is apparently no cloud save? So I was stuck on Deck for the whole game, I couldn't switch to PC. Seems like an easy fix. Hope to play more of your games in the future, best of luck!

Fantastic visuals and soundtrack. It's a bit and buggy but the writing makes up for that in my opinion.

[h1] Great short adventure scratching that disco-itch with it's own twist [/h1] The atmosphere and the world were captivating and I hope in the future I’ll get to know more of this alternate future. (maybe in the format of another game or even a web comic) From the unique comic-book style, that at points felt like if I froze the screen it would be a panel from a classic printed comic to the writing full of unique characters that manages to make you laugh with its dry, witty humour were really enjoyable. I only wished I had more time with them. But this [b] definitely [/b] managed to scratch that disco-like itch for me. Speaking of atmosphere, the sound design supported the experience throughout the game but the soundtrack is where this game shines through for me big time, it’s [b]full[/b] of bangers. (can we please get the soundtrack available separately for sale?? ([i] I’ll settle for a 12h Paradigm Island - lofi vibes - youtube video too [/i])) There were some small bugs but nothing gamebreaking for me and I can see that even in the under a week the game has been out the devs have pushed out a few updates, so I trust them in delivering the completed polished experience. I also wished for more time in the world and with the several interesting personalities and beautiful areas in it, but you can’t always get what you want and especially for a first game from a small indie studio this was great. All in all I had a great time with this game. The gameplay, art, and overall experience were excellent albeit short. I recommend this to all the narrative gameplay fans out there (also a great short tale for your disco elysium needs) and I’m really looking forward to what the devs do next!

The review of the game is undoubtedly positive, but I want to provide a comprehensive overview, so I will address both the pros and cons. Bear in mind that this is clearly the studio's first game, and the fact that they released it is a significant accomplishment in itself. I am convinced that creating a video game is one of the most complex jobs in the world. PROS: 1) The overall experience. If you loved Disco Elysium as much as I did, you will appreciate the clear inspiration behind this game. Everything, from the dialogue to the settings, gives you a sense of epic realism that contributes to the game's atmosphere. 2) Interacting with characters. Almost all of the characters are well characterised and fulfil their function (though not all of them). 3) The moral theme. The story conveys the clear message that colonialism is awful and ruins everyone's life. This criticism is reiterated several times throughout the game and is very effective. CONS: 1) The game is too ambitious. It is too short to tie up all the loose ends and deliver on its promise. Consequently, much of the characterisation is lost, and certain characters act without clear justification. 2) Underdeveloped world-building. Paradigm Island has a lot of untapped potential, and it's disappointing not to know its history as well as you would like. 3) The skill mechanics are not very useful. Upgrading skills according to your playing style often has more symbolic than practical value in the game. Furthermore, it is not clearly explained how this affects gameplay, and there are not enough episodes to enable you to make the most of these choices. In conclusion: I recommend buying this game, if only to support a studio with great potential. I hope they have the resources to create something bigger and more long-lasting.