Written by Patrick Orquia
Developer: Max Mraz
Publisher: Nordcurrent
Genre: action-adventure, RPG
Number of Players: 1
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 10 February 2022
Price: $14.99
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of games out there that are Zelda-like. Ever since the first Zelda game was released in 1986, its top-down perspective and action-adventure gameplay has been found on numerous other games, from indie games to AAA releases. Zelda games are awesome, and therefore, game developers tend to incorporate the gameplay of Zelda games to their own games. Imitation is the best form of flattery, or so they say, and there is really nothing wrong with it. If you are going to imitate something, imitate the best.
Ocean’s Heart is yet another of such games. An indie game, but it has a level of polish in its quality and gameplay that can give Nintendo a run for its money. Or maybe not, but the Big N is probably not going back to a 2D top-down Zelda anytime soon, and game such as this is possibly a welcome alternative.
The game looks really good, with its colorful pixel art style that is reminiscent to The Minish Cap and a bit of Moonlighter, another top-down action-adventure Zelda-like game. The music is also really good, with catchy tunes to fully complement the visuals. Each area has its own distinct visual and musical motif, with different mood and ambience and environment that are truly top-notch.
The level of polish of this game is really good, but what about the gameplay?
In this game, you play as the female protagonist Tilia. One day, her village got attacked by pirates, led by Blackbeard. These pirates also kidnap her friend Hazel. Tilia’s dad sets sail to find Hazel and vows to return, but after months of not receiving no news from either of them, Tilia decides to explore the wide world in search of Blackbeard and his crew to rescue her loved ones. As Tilia, you have to visit different towns, talk to a wide variety of NPCs, get info, get side quests, explore dungeons and forts, etc. Typical Zelda-like stuff. Oh, by the way, Tilia can speak in the game, contrary to the other games that typically feature silent protagonists. The dialogue exchanges in the game can be funny at times, which also matches the overall cutesy nature of the game.
Like in the other Zelda-like games, you have to fight enemies such as monsters, pirates, etc. as you explore the world. You start with a sword to cut down enemies, but as you progress, you get to unlock new weapons, equipment, and magic, such as bows, boomerang, bombs, forcefield shield, etc., along with garbs and pieces of armor to upgrade your defense. These pieces of equipment can also be further upgraded, if you have collected the necessary money and items to do so when you speak to the NPCs who can do it for you. Some of these equipment, such as the arrow and bombs, can be used to further open up the world so that you can have access to new areas to continue with your quest.
The world in this game is divided into different islands, each with a big town that serves as the hub for the area, where you can meet NPCs that can sell you stuff, upgrade your equipment, or give you side quests. These towns are bustling with people and are well-designed, with different buildings and streets and side streets and even hidden areas to explore. Near these towns are some open areas full of enemies with some optional caves or dungeons that you can enter to get upgrades or coins. Usually, side quests will point you to such areas, although not explicitly, and again, they are optional. I must say that the side quests in this game are very good. Not as good as that in Majora’s Mask, mind you, but still, there is much fun to be had while tackling them, which usually award you coins and even equipment upgrades for your troubles.
For the main quests, the area that you need to go next is provided to you in some detail, even giving you some directions on how to reach it. All of the areas that you visit has excellent level design. Some areas are closed off to you at the beginning but once you have acquired the weapon or ability to open them up, you can go back to them to explore even newer areas. Main quest dungeons are like your typical ones found in Zelda games. They are divided into different rooms and has different passageways, some requiring you to solve some simple puzzles or requiring you to find a key to open locked doors. Enemies abound, and there would be a mini-boss which gives you access to a new weapon or ability once you defeat it. A boss awaits at the end, which allows you to progress further in the story.
The main and side quests are neatly listed on the menu for you to properly track your progress. You can also find on the menu your inventory, world map, and game options, such as saving the game, which you can do anytime and anywhere. By the way, an NPC found in the docks allows you to fast travel between the main islands for you to save time. The game can be finished in about less than 10 hours, and a few hours more if you want to complete all side quests.
Overall, Ocean’s Heart is a remarkable game. It doesn’t shy away from its inspirations and yet the developers add a few elements here and there for it to stand on its own. For those who yearn for a new Zelda game (the BotW sequel has been pushed to 2023), this is a game worth playing. It has almost all of the same charm at a fraction of a cost. It is an indie game, but with near AAA release quality. It is that good. I hope that this game sells well, and maybe we can look forward to sequels in the coming years. If the Big N no longer wants to make new 2D top-down Zelda games, we have Ocean’s Heart games now to quench our 2D adventuring thirst.
REPLAY VALUE: High
PROS
CONS
Release Date: 10 February 2022
Price: $14.99
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of games out there that are Zelda-like. Ever since the first Zelda game was released in 1986, its top-down perspective and action-adventure gameplay has been found on numerous other games, from indie games to AAA releases. Zelda games are awesome, and therefore, game developers tend to incorporate the gameplay of Zelda games to their own games. Imitation is the best form of flattery, or so they say, and there is really nothing wrong with it. If you are going to imitate something, imitate the best.
Ocean’s Heart is yet another of such games. An indie game, but it has a level of polish in its quality and gameplay that can give Nintendo a run for its money. Or maybe not, but the Big N is probably not going back to a 2D top-down Zelda anytime soon, and game such as this is possibly a welcome alternative.
The game looks really good, with its colorful pixel art style that is reminiscent to The Minish Cap and a bit of Moonlighter, another top-down action-adventure Zelda-like game. The music is also really good, with catchy tunes to fully complement the visuals. Each area has its own distinct visual and musical motif, with different mood and ambience and environment that are truly top-notch.
In this game, you play as the female protagonist Tilia. One day, her village got attacked by pirates, led by Blackbeard. These pirates also kidnap her friend Hazel. Tilia’s dad sets sail to find Hazel and vows to return, but after months of not receiving no news from either of them, Tilia decides to explore the wide world in search of Blackbeard and his crew to rescue her loved ones. As Tilia, you have to visit different towns, talk to a wide variety of NPCs, get info, get side quests, explore dungeons and forts, etc. Typical Zelda-like stuff. Oh, by the way, Tilia can speak in the game, contrary to the other games that typically feature silent protagonists. The dialogue exchanges in the game can be funny at times, which also matches the overall cutesy nature of the game.
Like in the other Zelda-like games, you have to fight enemies such as monsters, pirates, etc. as you explore the world. You start with a sword to cut down enemies, but as you progress, you get to unlock new weapons, equipment, and magic, such as bows, boomerang, bombs, forcefield shield, etc., along with garbs and pieces of armor to upgrade your defense. These pieces of equipment can also be further upgraded, if you have collected the necessary money and items to do so when you speak to the NPCs who can do it for you. Some of these equipment, such as the arrow and bombs, can be used to further open up the world so that you can have access to new areas to continue with your quest.
The world in this game is divided into different islands, each with a big town that serves as the hub for the area, where you can meet NPCs that can sell you stuff, upgrade your equipment, or give you side quests. These towns are bustling with people and are well-designed, with different buildings and streets and side streets and even hidden areas to explore. Near these towns are some open areas full of enemies with some optional caves or dungeons that you can enter to get upgrades or coins. Usually, side quests will point you to such areas, although not explicitly, and again, they are optional. I must say that the side quests in this game are very good. Not as good as that in Majora’s Mask, mind you, but still, there is much fun to be had while tackling them, which usually award you coins and even equipment upgrades for your troubles.
For the main quests, the area that you need to go next is provided to you in some detail, even giving you some directions on how to reach it. All of the areas that you visit has excellent level design. Some areas are closed off to you at the beginning but once you have acquired the weapon or ability to open them up, you can go back to them to explore even newer areas. Main quest dungeons are like your typical ones found in Zelda games. They are divided into different rooms and has different passageways, some requiring you to solve some simple puzzles or requiring you to find a key to open locked doors. Enemies abound, and there would be a mini-boss which gives you access to a new weapon or ability once you defeat it. A boss awaits at the end, which allows you to progress further in the story.
The main and side quests are neatly listed on the menu for you to properly track your progress. You can also find on the menu your inventory, world map, and game options, such as saving the game, which you can do anytime and anywhere. By the way, an NPC found in the docks allows you to fast travel between the main islands for you to save time. The game can be finished in about less than 10 hours, and a few hours more if you want to complete all side quests.
Overall, Ocean’s Heart is a remarkable game. It doesn’t shy away from its inspirations and yet the developers add a few elements here and there for it to stand on its own. For those who yearn for a new Zelda game (the BotW sequel has been pushed to 2023), this is a game worth playing. It has almost all of the same charm at a fraction of a cost. It is an indie game, but with near AAA release quality. It is that good. I hope that this game sells well, and maybe we can look forward to sequels in the coming years. If the Big N no longer wants to make new 2D top-down Zelda games, we have Ocean’s Heart games now to quench our 2D adventuring thirst.
REPLAY VALUE: High
PROS
- Amazing pixel art style, very reminiscent of past 2D Zelda games
- Excellent music
- Excellent level design
- Good story
- Engaging side quests, ranging from simple fetch quests to intriguing side stories
- Main and side quests are listed on the menu for easy tracking
- Interesting NPCS
- Lots of collectibles to be used for crafting and upgrading equipment
- Humorous dialogue at times
- Plays well in both handheld and docked mode
- Good bang for buck due to its competitive pricing
CONS
- Menu UI lack details and are not very intuitive in some sections
- The world map also lacks details, only providing the names of the main islands and hubs; no detailed paths or names of side areas
- Minor frame rate drops while within dungeons or caves
- No mini-map for indoor areas (caves, dungeons, etc.)
- Floaty controls at times
- Enemies in general do not require tactics to be defeated, making combat not that great
RATING: 4/5 hearts of the ocean
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