There are always three towers to find but by the fifth level, the play space has expanded and the islands have become smaller and more numerous. By the end, what was once fun and interesting becomes rote and boring at best and deeply frustrating at worst. In fact, as the game progresses, all of these beats from the opening hour repeat four times. This moment is genuinely climactic and cool and had me on board for whatever came next.īut, then it repeats, largely unchanged, four times. Hulking sea creatures breach the water as jaunty music, which threads the needle between sea shanty and battle theme, guides you along. Pass through the gate and you'll find your boat, waiting to take you on a river ride through a stone cavern. After finding all three, you search for a gate, carved into a massive outcropping of rock. You search for two more, each with a portion of the key you need to progress to the next level. A tower in the distance, which tapers into a stony crab's claw, beckons. Turns out you can craft a grass boat with enough rope and some elbow grease.įrom here, Windbound's waters open up. Locating this artifact will unlock some new crafting recipes. Eventually you'll find a shrine on the island where you'll receive an oar, which is, in some way, legendarily significant. Deplete it and you'll wake up on the beach, back where you started.

Okay, you have grass, but what can you do with grass? Okay, you crafted a grass rope, but what can you do with a grass rope? You may try to wade into the water in hopes of swimming to the closest island, but your stamina gauge will quickly dash those hopes. You'll stumble around early on, unable to do much of anything.

But as welcoming as it can look, the red and yellow gauges at the top of the screen are a constant reminder that this world isn't friendly. The monsters are memorably designed, and even the most imposing are at least a little cute. The art style charmingly stakes out a familiar middle ground: cartoonish gloss, realistic proportions. The sunny skies and gorgeous ocean are inviting. You would be forgiven for being lulled into a false sense of security. It's just a shame that it's a poor archipelago.įor my first few hours with the new roguelike survival game from Five Lives Studios, I walked a knife's edge-blissful relaxation on one side, speedily encroaching anxiety on the other. Unlike a lot of World War II games, Bomber Crew is appropriate for kids, so it'll be a good one for your youngsters to try next month.Windbound is an excellent island. With colorful cartoon visuals and lighthearted dialogue, Bomber Crew doesn't take itself too seriously. You can't get too attached, though, as Bomber Crew features permadeath. Each crew member is procedurally generated and has their own unique traits. As the commander of a bomber crew (of course), it's your job to pick the right team members, prepare your bomber, and, most importantly, manage your resources and delegate tasks during the mission. Starting October 16, members can claim Bomber Crew Deluxe Edition, a strategy sim set during World War II. Windbound released in 2020 to mixed reviews, but anyone who likes survival-adventure games should give it a go. With harsh elements and an assortment of fantasy creatures roaming the lands, the Forbidden Islands is a dangerous yet beautiful sandbox. In order for Kara to survive and thrive on this mysterious chain of islands, she needs to scour the lands for resources, craft weapons, and even build a makeshift boat to travel the seas.

All month long subscribers will be able to grab Windbound, an adventure game set on the Forbidden Islands.

Windbound xbox game pass