Ocean's Heart is a beautiful and lovingly crafted throwback to some of the best RPGs on the original handhelds.
For anyone old enough to remember the original game boy, this is like steaming cup of tea and a comfortable chair.
As soon as you start playing obviously comparisons are going to be made to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past.
Rightly so and a badge that Ocean's Heart can wear with pride.
This game is not one of those many "RPG Maker" clones that flood the market, low quality, minimal content and reused assets.
In fact, it's quite the opposite the attention to detail and the obvious passion with which this game has been put together really shines through in everything from the writing to the gameplay.
You play Tilia, a young woman who embarks on a quest to find her missing father.
Everything is so lovingly familiar to Zelda players from the very start waking up in a bed in your house.
Movement and combat interactions are all standard top down pixel RPG fare.
The pixel art and music are top notch, with so many of the characters individually created with unique design and well-written dialogue.
Environments are varied, interesting and hold many hidden secrets. As you navigate the areas you will encounter enemies and obstacles that you can dispatch with an array of weapons which again feel very familiar sword, bow, bomb etc.
Side quests are plentiful and whether you decide to take these or just go with the main story, your adventure will take you through different biomes and into dungeons. Completion of certain quests, events, or discovering hidden items and extra weapons will open up previously blocked off areas, almost in a metroidvania style.
Ocean's Heart is a charming title, a lovingly and thoughtfully put together game that will keep you busy for 10 to 15 hours of nostalgic gameplay. Priced at $14.99 it's available now and worth every cent.
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