A life simulator that takes us to an island full of Sanrio characters may seem like a kind of dystopian nightmare for those who are not big fans, or who are simply over ten years old, but instead it is surprising to notice what the idea is like. incredibly successful. To better address this Hello Kitty Island Adventure Review For this reason, we recommend abandoning prejudices about the cat in question and her various friends and simply letting yourself be transported to this strange world, really very welcoming even for those who are not exactly in tune with the extreme "kawaii" that Sanrio franchises have. exudes naturally.
Just look at the introduction of the game to understand that we are dealing with something. strange: After a quick but effective editor that allows you to build your own character, we find ourselves on a plane, in the company of the different animals in question, heading to an island-playground that has recently reopened its doors.
Just enough time to chat before the situation immediately takes a turn for the worse, in a rather shocking way: Hello Kitty intends to bake some sweets for the crew, but something goes wrong and, long story short, we are forced to launch ourselves from the plane with parachute and forced landing. Misterious island in question.
The quick sequence transforms a tragic and disturbing situation into a small and nice scene, which immediately establishes the general tone of the game, always halfway between the extreme sweetness of the dolls and a kind of self-irony with surreal elements that make it easily digestible. little to everyone.
Between adventure and life simulation
It is clear that the paradigm chosen to build Hello Kitty Island Adventure is Animal Crossing: the inspiration seems evident from the frame adopted and the game mechanics, but the game It seems composed and structured almost like a real adventure. There is a narrative progression, although not exactly engaging, that occurs by carrying out the objectives proposed to the protagonist, which brings everything closer to a more traditional form than the simulation of real life. Many of the missions boil down to the classic "fetch missions" of find, collect, and deliver, but there are also some interesting variations on the theme.
After an initial phase of general confusion, in which we have to find the passengers of the crashed plane, it becomes clear how the island we end up on was practically built to suit the different characters. The mission, therefore, is to recover the place, reactivating shops, structures and various attractions to relaunch the island at full capacity.
To do this, obviously everyone depends on us: we will find ourselves, therefore, carrying out a multitude of tasks for all the inhabitants of the island, recovering objects and resources in various quantities and consolidating, with these tasks, friendship with the anthropomorphic animals of Sanrio. . In addition to Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, Pochacco, Keroppi and the entire strange zoo of the Japanese company are also present, each of which is characterized by its specific personality, as fans of the beasts in question know.
In addition to following the missions, which mark a true progression in the game, in Hello Kitty Island Adventure we also find a large number of secondary activities, which are closer to the Animal Crossing experience. We can fish, collect shells, look for insects and explore the island in depth, but what is surprising is the adventure structure that characterizes the game: it is possible to embark on expeditions in underground caves, acquire swimming equipment and dive into the sea and progressively discover the secrets of the island, also solving some fairly well-constructed puzzles.
Tenderness in power
The graphic characterization of Hello Kitty Island Adventure is obviously derived from that of the franchise to which it refers, with a perfect 3D reproduction of the different Sanrio characters reconstructed in their typical appearance. Likewise, the setting is also precisely designed to fit into the overall atmosphere, creating a cartoonish world that fits well with the animals in question. The explorable world is remarkably vast, and is also capable of offering great variations between the different settings that make up the island, another aspect that tends to stimulate exploration and curiosity. Always following the model provided by Animal Crossing, here there are also numerous interiors to visit, as well as houses to decorate with furniture and objects to collect.
Conclusions
Tested version iPad, iPhone 1.0.4 digital delivery App Store Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (4) 8.8 your voteHello Kitty Island Adventure could be one of the biggest surprises of this summer season on mobile platforms: although the popular license and the obvious inspiration taken from Animal Crossing may make you think of a simple commercial operation of little significance, the Sunblink game turns out to be incredibly multifaceted, varied and interesting. There's obviously a lot of Nintendo's best-seller in its mechanics, but surprisingly there's also an adventure backbone, which may make you think of more structured experiences in the style of A Short Hike, in a mix that combines real progression with a relaxing experience. sandbox. Of course, by trying to pack too many features together, Hello Kitty Island Adventure fails to delve too deeply into any of its gameplay elements, but it is still an enjoyable experience that many could easily get lost in for a good few hours. The inclusion in Apple Arcade is strategically perfect, becoming an almost mandatory download for service subscribers.
PRO
- Not only Animal Crossing, there are also some interesting adventures.
- The charisma of Sanrio animals combines tenderness and a certain irony
- A vast open world to explore, with many different things to do.
AGAINST
- The mixed gameplay does not particularly stand out in any of its elements
- The "search missions" are many and many times repetitive.
