Minute of Islands is the new narrative puzzle adventure from indie developer Studio Fizbin.
The world is doomed. Yellow fungal spores float through the air in thick clouds, poisoning animals and humans. Some fled, most died. But there is hope for the last remaining people: Mo.
Young Mo is a mechanic who maintains the life-saving machines that, like giant air filters, expel the spores. They are driven deep in the earth by the four giants Safan, Bergan, Ande, and Afla. But suddenly the machines go on strike and a catastrophe threatens. Mo, therefore, sets out on a journey with a small boat to repair the machines and save everyone. But in the process, her very own world is shaken.
Mo lives in the labyrinthine depths of a small island in the middle of a chain of islands. From there, she keeps an eye on the machines that are scattered throughout the area. As a universal tool, she always has the Omni-Switch with her. With it, she can not only repair the machines but also operate them and orient herself on the various islands.
As Mo begins her journey and slowly leaves the gloomy caves, you realize the unusual, multi-layered world in which she lives. Her environment seems like a frightening mix of technology and organic elements. The doors from the depths, for example, appear like eerie tracheas that open and close. It's only when she's out in the open that the island appears cheerful and detailed for a short time. The yellow spores fly like petals over little houses and fishing spots. But one is quickly torn from this impression again and reminded of their deadly effect. After only a few steps, Mo suddenly finds himself standing in front of a huge, decaying whale surrounded by hungry seagulls with bloody beaks pecking at its entrails. The shifting contrast is wonderfully fitting. Impermanence and death are integral parts of the story, adding a dark tragedy to the colorful exterior of the puzzle game.
While a collecting task counts more as a small, unnecessary challenge in other games, it is an incredibly important element in Minute of Islands. Mo keeps finding ghostly sea creatures on her journey, through which she can remember past events and tell her story.
Mo's important task is simply to save the world. For this, she gives up friends and family to watch over the giants and maintain the machines in the solitude of the caves. Minute of Islands, however, does not simply tell the story of this strong heroine. It also tells of her sacrifice. Of a family that cares. And of realization that a journey must always have an end.
Conclusion
The great strengths of Minute of Islands are the wonderfully told story, the hand-drawn backdrops in a great comic book style, and the haunting soundtrack. At the same time, the unusual contrast of cute sea creatures and pretty beaches to eerie giants and dead whales draws you in. Some scenes are even remotely reminiscent of surrealist art like that of Salvador Dali. The story shines with many imaginative ideas, a profound, depressing theme, and an unusual ending that leaves you pensive but also satisfied. The puzzles remain small gimmicks without any major challenge. Moreover, they repeat themselves quite often in almost six hours of gameplay. Thus, especially fans of narrative games should keep an eye on this worthwhile indie adventure.
