The Island - Castaway Review
iPad App
FREE! Buy now!

The Island - Castaway Review

Our Review by Jennifer Allen on March 16th, 2012
Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar :: SIMPLE FARE
Share This:

Casual adventure gaming with this fetch quest focused game.

Developer: G5 Entertainment
Price: FREE ($6.99 in-app purchase to unlock full game)
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad 2

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Game Controls Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar


The Island - Castaway is quite a departure from G5 Entertainment's usual weekly release schedule. There's no sign of hidden object gaming at all, instead action is focused on exploring an island and completing a series of fetch quests. It's extremely simple stuff and very easy to play and complete. It is quite fun, though, despite being a little on the pricey side for what it offers.

Think Lost and that's almost the storyline of The Island - Castaway, just without the surreal ending. The player takes the role of a man who wakes up on a desert island and comes across a group of passengers, all stranded from a shipwrecked ocean liner. Everyone else seems happy to sit back and suffer but Tom, the player's character, is determined to get off the island and keep everyone alive and well.

So begins a game full of completing tasks given by other characters, from catching fish to building a fire or raft. It's all simple stuff with it often quite obvious as to where to go next. Some tasks have to be completed before others in order to unlock a relevant item, such as a shovel or fishing rod. Recipes can also be unlocked which allow the player to cook meals, thus giving them extra energy. Energy is important as Tom will black out if his energy meter runs out, something that can occur if too long is spent not eating.

There isn't a huge amount more to The Island - Castaway. A neat trophy reward system is a nice touch, rewarding the player regularly for things such as walking a long distance or collecting plenty of fruit. It's this trickle of activity that keeps The Island - Castaway from seeming too dull.

It's not an especially long game or a challenging game by any means, but it is a fun ride. The asking price feels a little pricier than it should, given the shallow content but there are still worse ways for the casual gamer to spend $6.99.

iPad Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

The Island - Castaway® HD screenshot 1 The Island - Castaway® HD screenshot 2 The Island - Castaway® HD screenshot 3 The Island - Castaway® HD screenshot 4 The Island - Castaway® HD screenshot 5
Share This: