Review: ILA: A Frosty Glide (Nintendo Switch)
ILA: A Frosty Glide is a cozy, 3D platformer for the Nintendo Switch. It marks the debut for indie developer Magic Rain Studios, delivering a charming experience that fills us with high hopes for the team’s future.
The setting is a wintry wonderland full of mystery. You play the role of a young witch searching for her missing cat through the snowy land. Clues like letters and pawprints are dotted about the place, leading you further into a mysterious world.
The simple gameplay involves walking, jumping, and gliding. The controls are easy to pick up. Gliding feels particularly fun and satisfying, with various upgrades along the way that allow you to travel farther and faster. This is where the game gets its “frosty glide” moniker; your broomstick acts somewhat like an airborne skateboard. There are even a few snowboarding sections to help break things up. These are a neat addition that bring a spot of fast-paced action to proceedings.
There are light puzzle elements, too. Most of the progression relies on finding a button or other trigger to open new pathways. These are never overly taxing, contributing to the relaxed tone of the game.You can rotate the camera with the R-stick, giving you some control over the perspective. This works well most of the time, though the foreground of the environment can occasionally interfere with things. It’s not bad at all, and rotating further will help you find that sweet spot, but there are a few jangly moments that cause some stuttering when things don’t quite fit on the screen properly.
The only other aspect missing from ILA is a map. While most of the time you’ll be led to your next destination by those aforementioned clues, I found myself accidentally straying from the path or falling from a great height, becoming disoriented and unsure of how to proceed. I backtracked a fair bit until I found my way again. There are unlockable shortcuts that help reduce the need to retrace your steps, but it’s more about losing your place. A map or even a compass would help with this slight inconvenience.
There are no enemies to distract or impede your progress, firmly planting this one in the cozy genre. The only time you’ll “die” is when you fall into water or off a cliff into the abyss. A quick respawn means you can continue your journey immediately.
There are also plenty of collectibles to keep you invested in exploration. These come in the form of clothing, like scarves and hats, along with letters, fish bones, and broomsticks. It’s fun and satisfying to discover these items hidden around the landscape. Be sure to check behind each and every tree!
ILA isn’t a long journey, lasting a few hours. Once the credits roll, you can jump back in to complete your collectathon, providing a little more longevity. Adding to the game’s cozy nature is a subtle soundtrack that sits soothingly in the background. The simple tunes fit the snowy mountains perfectly, adding a serenity that works well with the game’s aesthetics.
Overall, ILA: A Frosty Glide is a lovely looking outing about love, loss, and collectables. While some of the camerawork could be improved, and a map or compass would help with navigation, the cute characters and sweet story easily make up for those shortcomings. ILA is a cozy title that will satisfy anyone looking for a quiet journey through a wintry wonderland.
