Hyper Light Drifter takes the concept of ‘show, don’t tell’ to its most extreme. Eventually, the acquired sense of mastering over the game’s movement and weapon systems ushers you into a zen-like flow state: trial, error, success, repeat.Īs for the story, I have absolutely no idea what the hell it’s about, and it’s great. The game’s rapid-reload system encourages you to view combat encounters as action-based puzzles the game’s underlying ‘fairness’, or lack of randomness, rewards patience and the careful observation of enemy attack patterns over pure skill. The moment-to-moment gameplay evokes Zelda on steroids, with a top down hack and slash combat system that is as challenging as it is complex. Although your motivations are unclear, this three-minute masterclass in aesthetic design draws you into a teeth-grindingly tactile world, smothering the player in an aura of mystery. Lush soundscapes mix with Disasterpeace’s wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack, complimenting a stunning cyber-fantasy art style. You are guided by the mysterious avatar of a wolf, embarking on a quest to rid yourself and the world of a black, parasitic force that infects all that it touches. HLD is a great game in many ways and definitely worth playing through, although some of it´s accolades are undeserved imo.It’s rare that a game can truly feel like an experience, rising above the competition to convey a true sense of wonder and immersion, but Heart Machine’s Hyper Light Drifter (released in 2016) is an artistic masterclass in world design, creating virtual spaces that are as beautiful as they are fascinating.Īn intense opening sequence establishes you as the Drifter, the survivor of an unexplained apocalypse. I would strongly suggest taking another route.

Then the rest of the game was a complete cakewalk. I started out in the west area and that place and boss was tough without any upgrades. The pacing and difficulty curve can also be absoutely abhorrent. Then swing my sword again from the exact same location and then get a hit.Įnemies and projectiles would teleport in weird angles mid dash to my new location resulting in a hit. Sometimes I could stand right next to an object or enemy, swing my sword, see it go through my target and not get a hit. In a game where one mistake can result in a stunlock straight to death, that´s a cardinal sin.Īnd before people bombard me with 'this isn´t a button masher' or 'there´s a stamina bar', I know and it´s not about that. Multiple times I would press a button and nothing would happen. If you decide to make a Dark Souls-ey game, you must have great controls, which HLD certainly doesn´t. It also feels very unpolished in some key areas. The general exploring and combat is good and satisfying. The music fine and fitting, although I don´t get the hype some people throw at it. The graphics and artstyle is great and beautiful to look at. Just finished this yesterday after hearing it´s praises for years now. It got me with a good nostalgia reference in the flourish after difficult encounters (with a classic sega genesis game: Light Crusader). I make the Samurai Jack comparison because it often feels very meditative/considered both in the world and in combat. It feels very good to press just enough buttons to weave through combat and take out your foes. The implementation of the guns was also really fun and smooth, I really enjoyed the shotgun and the sniper. Another thing was the hitstun could be a bit bothersome and getting body blocked by enemies! Let me dodge through them god damnit! It did manage to balance enemy quantity with the tools you have available and was generally quite well put together in terms of encounters. I liked that the game demanded you be calm and not mash buttons but sometimes it felt a little too strict. In hectic moments a button tap too soon can spell doom for you because of the methodical nature of the gameplay. The combat can be a bit unforgiving in control.

Hyper light drifter credits