Game review: Return To Mysterious Island - iPhone / iPod Touch

The similarities with Lost don’t end there. RTMI is also set on a strange, some might say mysterious, island somewhere in the Pacific.

Based on Jules Verne’s novel, the main character in RTMI is Mina, a sailor who washes up on the shore stranded on the island.

Under your control, she must fight for survival and rescue while at the same time solving the mysteries of the island which emerge as she explores.

The game is a puzzle adventure in the style of Myst.

Not quite true first-person perspective, RTMI is played through a series of panoramic scenes. You’re essentially playing the game through a series of almost static pictures – but these pictures offer a full 360-degree view as you can look anywhere in each scene by spinning the screen around as well as searching high and low.

As Mina moves around the island she needs to pick up various objects which she finds. These are then stored in her inventory.

Items can be used individually later on as you discover their purpose, or you can combine two or more objects to form a new item.

Some items are pretty obvious to understand, such as crabs and eggs which can be eaten (once you’ve found the correct items to make a fire). Other objects are more obscure, such as an old metal plaque.

Much of your, well Mina’s, time will be spent in the inventory trying to work out what items are for and which ones go together.

Though you’re told what items are, you’re given no clue how to use them. There is a lot of trial and error in the game as you try to unravel what items to use and when.

Successful identification of each item and its use is key to success. At various points in the game you’re going to come up against obstacles or puzzles which must be overcome before you can progress further. You’re going to need to use a lot of logic, and rely on a good dose of luck, if you and Mina are going to get very far.

As you move about the island hints are given as to what can be done on each screen. A hand icon means an object can be picked up, a circle means an action can be carried out and an arrow means you can move in that direction.

Other than these basic pointers, occasional comments from Mina, a brief description of items in your inventory and a very sparse tutorial at the beginning, you are given no help whatsoever during the game.

If you’re looking for a game which will guide you by the hand and give you an easy ride you need to look elsewhere because RTMI isn’t it. Be under no illusion, this game is tough from the outset.

Most likely, particularly if like me you’re a novice at this type of game, you will struggle at the start to find your bearings and get to grips with what you’re supposed to be doing.

I suppose if Mina’s stranded on a desert island it’s only right that the player should feel disorientated and lost too. After all, if you were really marooned on an island you wouldn’t be given a welcome pack on arrival.

But while I understand the reasoning behind the difficulty of the game, it still took me hours of wandering aimlessly around before I figured out even the most basic elements of RTMI such as making a fire. Starting to feel quite downbeat, it took a lot of perseverance for me to stick with the game and battle on. I’m glad I didn’t give up because after being inaccessible and frustrating at the start RTMI builds into a deep and rewarding experience.

Once I’d come to terms with the lack of in-game support, it actually felt very satisfying discovering how to do things for myself.

As well as being entertaining eventually, RTMI is also a gorgeous looking game.

The graphics are stunning and if the island had a hotel or a few mod cons it would be quite the tropical paradise.

The user interface is very good and hasn’t given me any issues in my time with the game. The controls too work very well, making goo use of the iPhone/iPod’s touch screen to move around the island and carry out tasks.

Sounds in the game are quite limited. The soundtrack consists of one tune which plays on a continuous loop. It’s quite atmospheric at first but slightly annoying after a while.

RTMI won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Some will dismiss it for being too much of a slow burner, a game you have to grow into. Other people simply won’t be bothered about helping Mina cope with her adversity or untangling the mysteries of the island.

I would recommend it though to anyone looking for a game which is a cut above the rest in terms of being challenging and intelligent.

After my initial struggles with the game it’s proven itself to be an immersive and ultimately epic adventure.

Verdict: 8.5 out of 10 – RTMI is a mentally stimulating, beautiful looking game. Frustrating yet absorbing, devilishly difficult yet satisfying when you figure it out.