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Ocean’s Heart, an indie action-adventure game, draws heavily from the classic Zelda titles, particularly Link’s Awakening and A Link to the Past. This review explores whether Ocean’s Heart manages to carve its own identity or simply remains in the shadow of its legendary inspiration.

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot featuring the protagonist Tilia in a combat sequence

A World Brimming with Life

Ocean’s Heart evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for early Zelda games on GameBoy and NES. Rather than feeling like a cheap imitation, the game plays as a loving homage, showcasing the developer’s meticulous attention to detail.

The story begins with a classic JRPG trope: the protagonist, Tilia, waking up. After a brief conversation with her father and sister, Tilia sets off to a nearby cave to retrieve supplies. Upon returning, she discovers her village has been attacked by pirates, and some villagers, including her father, are missing. Tilia embarks on a quest for justice and rescue.

Unlike its open-world inspiration, Ocean’s Heart features a progression system where new areas are unlocked through quests. While not fully open-world, players can freely revisit previous areas and pick up missed side quests. This level of freedom is commendable for an indie title.

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot showcasing the pixel art style environment with Tilia navigating a forested area

The diverse side quests provide glimpses into the lives and routines of the villagers, offering clues for other quests, especially since the game lacks explicit guidance. The game’s visuals are polished, featuring modern pixel art, vibrant colors, and a lively world where most NPCs offer interaction and potential quests.

Ocean’s Heart’s world comprises interconnected islands that are automatically added to the player’s map upon discovery. Specific locations within these islands are revealed through conversations with NPCs. Exploring the map not only unveils the islanders’ lives and their disdain for the pirates but also develops Tilia’s character.

Unlike the silent protagonist of Zelda, Tilia is expressive and engaging, showcasing bravery alongside relatable flaws like laziness, impulsiveness, and a quick temper. This humanizes her and makes her journey more compelling.

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot showing the protagonist Tilia engaging in combat with a slime-like enemy

The game’s ecosystem is well-defined, featuring a variety of enemy types. Combat emphasizes timing and precision rather than button-mashing, relying on basic controls and rolling for dodging. Increasingly complex enemy encounters necessitate upgrades and crafting, which incentivize exploration and progression without overly complicated mechanics.

The soundtrack, while somewhat repetitive, effectively complements the game’s atmosphere and interactions.

Falling Short of its Own Identity

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot showcasing the protagonist Tilia exploring a cave environment

While Ocean’s Heart excels at evoking nostalgia, it struggles to establish its own unique identity. Beyond being an “excellent Zelda clone,” the game leaves little lasting impression. Its short playtime (around 20 hours for the main story) underutilizes some features, like the cooking system, rendered largely redundant by the abundance of readily available berries. This also impacts the in-game economy, as most shop items lack practical use.

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot showcasing the protagonist Tilia facing a large, multi-eyed boss enemy

While boss battles offer novelty and challenge, their limited number prevents them from being a significant positive. Puzzles are simplistic, revolving mainly around moving crates and flipping switches. The visually appealing interface lacks intuitiveness, requiring manual execution for most functions. The minimalist map, devoid of manual markers, hinders navigation and backtracking in a game centered around exploration. Finally, the game’s font is difficult to read, impacting the overall experience.

alt=Ocean's Heart gameplay screenshot showing the protagonist Tilia sailing a small boat on the open sea

Ocean’s Heart possesses adventure, depth, and charm. However, it needs distinguishing features to solidify its place beyond being a well-executed tribute to Zelda. While capturing the spirit of classic adventures, it falls short of forging its own memorable identity.