#Hyper light drifter review code

This world is filled with fallen civilizations, tough puzzles, brutal enemies, and vile bosses that offer a steep challenge. The story is not told in words but in images that are evocative and powerful. In general, a big part of Hyper Light Drifter’s appeal is the mystique.

Even in spite of that, I was hooked in, though a map that was more 1-to-1 in its representation of the world would have helped a lot. My first hour or so was rife with confusion, as I wasn’t quite sure what things did or really what the best path was. A lot is just beneath the surface, with various hidden objects, be they modules that help progress the story and unlock new areas or gearbits that accumulate like currency to unlock more upgrades. The only information you’re really given are basic controls and a loose direction of going in the four cardinal directions. To start, the titular Drifter is sick and ailing, thrown into the world to explore with minimal guidance. Even through some moments of being a little too open-ended for its own good, Hyper Light Drifter is an enthralling experience packed with many secrets, much to do, and some welcome Switch-exclusive content. And that’s without getting to the thoughtfully intuitive yet unexplained gameplay and the varied, deeper-than-it-seems combat.

#Hyper light drifter review code

Buy.ĭisclaimer: We received a code to play Hyper Light Drifter on the PC.Hyper Light Drifter is beautiful, from its minimalist 2D art to its tremendous, moody Disasterpeace score. You will fist bump when you beat that stupid bird man boss. You will be terrified by the giants and their past. You will feel like you've done things in the wrong order. You will get mad at the respawn animation. You'll get lost in sittings, thanks to the look, the feel and the music. Hyper Light Drifter has its fair share of design issues, but it so perfectly nails that sense of discovery and reward after challenge that they're all forgivable. Why do I have a robot? Because he looks cool. Its story teeters between jaw dropping and nonsensical, and it presents a wealth of interesting and underdeveloped characters. Hyper Light Drifter is both maddening and delectable. It made me scream in frustration and jump for joy. Hyper Light Drifter feels like The Legend of Zelda, Dark Souls, Fez and Ninja Gaiden all wrapped up in a delicious, colorful ball of exceedingly challenging candy. After boss fights, tough combat sections and area discovery, I was pumping my fist.Įven when I felt like giving up, I knew I was enjoying my time with Hyper Light Drifter. I thought I needed to grab a better mastery of the dodge, make use of the enemy's openings and win victory by making my slashes and shots count for something.įew games illicit a literal fist pump from me at regular intervals. It felt like I was getting beat by the game and its clear rules, not by broken design.Īs the same massive bird boss killed me dozens of times, I never once thought the segment was too hard or the design of the battle was poor. Its area design and animations, sure, but its combat never had me cranky. However, and the bosses are a great example of this, I was never frustrated with the difficulty of Hyper Light Drifter's combat specifically. You can double that frustration for bosses, too. This is bogus when you've fallen in the same space again and again and again and again. The death and respawn animation is the same every time, and it can't be skipped. Then Hyper Light Drifter will toss out more baddies alongside these low-ranking losers, and the game ramps up. As you dash your way around bird wizards while trying to slice back rabid, dog-like beasts, you'll die a few times. Up the ante in crowded rooms filled with disappearing floors and waves of enemies, and Hyper Light Drifter really shows its true self. Your dash serves as a dodge, your sword slash is effective, your gun precise and your grenade powerful. In one-on-one combat, basic enemies don't present much of a challenge.

Both in the literal sense that sometimes moving from point A to B can be difficult, and in the sense that the game is rife with tough baddies. With a map and perspective that can easily be compared to what we find in the classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, players move from screen-to-screen, both above ground and below, as they fight enemies and gather bits of triangles around the world.Įxploration is hazardous.

Hyper Light Drifter is a mostly top-down action-adventure title.