[h1][b]Introduction[/b][/h1]
Let me start saying that even though puzzle and similar games are something I do not play often, [b]Hadr[/b] managed to catch my interest at first glance. How is that possible? I would say because of enthralling visuals and the unique but attractive concept, which I found quite relaxing in the end, and I could not bring myself to turn this game off. Although you are probably asking now why should be a piece of flying fabric somehow interesting for you in the first place? Well, I can try to describe it and hopefully, you will feel as enlightened as me after you finish reading.
[h3][b]Gameplay[/b][/h3]
The premise is quite simple. You control a piece of flying, magical fabric, which is what [i]hadr[/i] means in Czech, except we use it for cleaning our dirty Slavic houses. Anyway, the point is to make random objects disappear by fully covering them. That might be a bit difficult at first, as some can be almost as big as your piece of fabric, so proper positioning is critical. It is not frustrating, though, as controls are very intuitive, and I got used to them immediately.
Later on, you get to control two or more fabrics, so you need to switch between them often. I found these levels even more interesting to play, as it requires you combine them to make even larger objects vanish. However, sometimes it is manageable to finish the mission even with just one fabric, but it is a bit harder. Once I got into the game’s controls, it somehow clicked with me, and I truly enjoyed making every object disappear because it felt so satisfying and relaxing, especially as the game rewards you with sound effects or various melodies.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2299148919
Speaking of sounds, they represent hints. Because the game never really tells you what you should do in order to continue. There are no tasks, objectives, or markers. You are always thrown right into the room, and it is up to you to find out how to get away. As there are several objects, the game uses the said sounds, and sometimes visuals, to distinguish whether you vanished the right item or not.
However, do not let this discourage you! [b]Hadr[/b] is by no means difficult. Overall, it is a peaceful, relaxing experience, and I pretty much finished it in one sitting, which took me around three hours. Developers even included an option to skip any level, so you might use that if you feel lost. I never felt the need to do so, though.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2299148855
Each mission also has additional challenges, requiring you to finish a level in a bit different way. For example, if you need to vanish white books in the library to continue, you have to do it without making black books disappear. That is a bit challenging, as they are all clustered together, so you have to move and position your fabric carefully. I even replayed some of the missions, which I do not usually do, because I simply wanted to try out the new approaches.
That leads me to the last thing, the levels. Each location is different and requires an individual approach. What worked in the previous mission might be useless now. This is the reason I could not quit playing [b]Hadr[/b] because I just wanted to know what the game will show me next. Maybe this kind of description is a bit vague, but as the game is short, I do not wish to ruin your playthrough, as it is something you should discover by yourself.
[h3][b]Story[/b][/h3]
The plot is not that complex, as it is mostly present in the form of one short paragraph before each level. It usually revolves around a magician and his tricks, which you fulfil by making things disappear, I guess. I honestly did not care at all about it, and I still enjoyed [b]Hadr[/b] a lot. The level design definitely adds bits to its story, but I did not really care.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2299148882
[h3][b]Audiovisuals[/b][/h3]
Now, the thing I loved before even playing the game are the visuals. The colour scheme mostly consists of black, grey, and white shades, with occasional red or blue lighting effects. And the smooth flying fabric’s animations just add to the overall effect. It also helps a lot that the locations are unique aesthetically-wise too, so I usually had the feeling of discovering something new.
What adds even more to the experience is the abovementioned music and sounds, as they differ a lot in each level. They also felt quite interactive to me, meaning that the sounds or even the whole compositions changed based on my actions in the game.
[h1][b]Conclusion[/b][/h1]
To put it simply, I fell in love with [b]Hadr[/b]. It is a short, atmospheric, and most importantly, a relaxing experience that is definitely worth its asking price. I would even say it is the game that surprised me the most this year, as I did not know what to expect at first. However, if you are looking for difficult puzzles, you should look elsewhere.
[b]PC Specs & Performance[/b]
[quote]The game was tested with an [b]i5 8300H, GTX 1060 6GB[/b], and [b]16GB RAM[/b], running at the highest settings, at [b]60 frames per second[/b], at [b]1920x1080[/b] resolution. While the framerate was stable most of the time, I encountered a few occasional drops down to 30 frames. The game is not unplayable by any means, but it can be a bit annoying at times.[/quote]
[b]Acknowledgement[/b]
[quote]This game was provided for review purposes by the developers via DitD. Thank you![/quote]
[b]Curator Link[/b]
[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41545671][quote]Remember that Blue Lips Never Lie! Thus, follow my curator, [b]Blue Lips and their Quips[/b], to find more honest yet humorous reviews!
