Whitethorn Games and Polygon Treehouse invite us to explore a charming and enchanted world with their latest offering, Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island. This cozy adventure whisks players away to a mythical island teeming with Greek gods who, surprisingly, have settled into an everyday existence. Just imagine stepping into Alex’s hiking boots, as she stumbles upon this divine but oddly normal realm, after her quest for some downtime from life’s frenetic pace leads her to an unexpected detour.
Upon landing on this intriguing island—which, by chance or fate, disrupted her journey with a shipwreck—Alex discovers that the Greek deities haven’t disappeared; they’ve merely taken an incredibly long holiday. However, there’s a hitch—they’ve misplaced their memories along the way. In this open-ended adventure, your task is to hunt for their forgotten keepsakes, the mementos, which just might rekindle their dormant memories. Keep those saves frequent by resting on the various benches scattered throughout Ambrosia Island to ensure progress doesn’t slip away.
As the journey unfolds, controlling Alex is straightforward. Use the left analog stick for movement and press the A button to engage with characters and objects. The left stick can also highlight interactive features in your vicinity. If the urge to sprint overtakes you, holding down the Y button will quicken Alex’s pace. Although Alex’s phone meets an unfortunate end in the shipwreck, help is at hand in the shape of the Ambrosidex. This magical device, found near the Oracle’s statue, equips you with wisdom and insights, allowing you to navigate this whimsical world.
Navigating Ambrosidex is a breeze. Press X to activate it, and switch between categories using the L and R buttons, with subcategories navigable via the ZL and ZR buttons. The right analog stick lets you zoom in on your map, an essential tool for identifying Memento Heat zones—places aglow with the promise of undiscovered mementos.
Yet, patience remains key. Locating any mementos lurking around doesn’t guarantee they are ripe for the taking. Keep your eyes peeled for Ambrosia Fruits scattered about. They can be traded with Hermes for winged keys that unlock fast travel zones, allowing you easy access to revisited locations where mementos might now be accessible. Those mysterious locked doors you thought led nowhere? They’re your portals for speedy travel across the island once you secure these keys.
Aside from mementos, Ambrosia Fruit is currency of sorts for interactions with islanders once you’ve bonded enough with them. Contributing to their quests, like helping Hermes with a task involving dried dates and seagulls, earns you Friend Points. Collect enough points and gather their mementos, and watch your friendship blossom into new opportunities.
Each islander adheres to their daily routines, which you’ll need to consider, starting with Hermes. His aversion to nighttime visitors, for instance, requires Alex to rest at her lighthouse until dawn if she wants to call on him. Later, sitting on benches permits you to pass the time to specific parts of the day to fit others’ schedules.
Completionists will find plenty to do, with 32 Pin Badges waiting to be pinned to your proverbial chest. Tasks range from collecting Ambrosia Fruits and recovering mementos to dropping in on residents’ homes for the first time, piecing together mixtape collections, and even renovating your own base. Each achievement pulls you deeper into Ambrosia’s charm.
Prepare to embark on a mythological odyssey when Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island launches on the Nintendo Switch, tagged at $24.99. It’s a delightful invitation to step into an adventure where the mundane meets the mythical, and friends—both old and new—await.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Whitethorn Games.
