Hazelnut Hex

The best shmup starring a cereal mascot. Personally struggle with the visibility on default settings, but you can just raise the background dim in the settings to fix that.

It hasn't taken long to work out that Hazelnut Hex is absolutely worth my time and I know I'm going to sink a lot of hours into this one. Hazelnut Hex is the type of horizontal shmup that you dream of finding. It's art style is pleasing and internally consistent, the audio design reinforces the world and has some excellent sfx and BGM tracks, the game-play is smooth and immediately engaging, the decision space during game-play isn't overwhelming and the game is fair, with a difficulty curve that doesn't simply kick your backside for fun when you hit that level 3/level 4 wall that some shmups like to throw at you, while maintaining enough difficulty to challenge more experienced players. This game teaches you through play and makes you feel great while you're doing it. It is a masterclass on ensuring your storytelling, animation, palette choice and music design all pull in the same direction to give the player the experience you want them to have. It looks like, and feels like, playing a Saturday morning cartoon while your parents are still in bed. Fun freedom and part of a nutritious breakfast! I heartily recommend Hazelnut Hex to both hardened shmup fans and those curious about trying their first STG game. This game respects your time and does it's damnest to give you fun through every moment of it's game-play. It's a very stark reminder that some of the best gaming experiences come from places other than the AAA publishers. Bravo and encore, Chunderfins - we want more of this sort of stuff please! Hazelnut Hex will be the next shmup I teach my wife and joins my list of favourite STGs. I'm glad this one was recommended to me. ===EDIT 15/10/25=== Since writing my initial review I've had a chance to play a lot more of this one and I have to say, it gets better and better. I've 1 credit cleared it on both difficulties and with all shot types......and that's only the START of the journey! Playing this game for SCORE is where the real meat-and-drink of the title really lies, as the simple, yet effective, multiplier system adds an extra dimension and witchy spice to the mix. Veteren players may look at HH as perhaps a touch simplistic on first glance but make no mistake, friends: Playing for score is when this game really transforms and becomes and addiction. Just get it. Really, it's fun, it's easy to get into, there's an extra layer to it. Just get it.

Alright, a perfect little shmup, what else can I say? It's easy to beat, but takes some effort to learn to score nicely. Just a perfect little game with great horizontal shooter design with a tinge of bullet hell and adorable aesthetics. Quality art, quality music, and above all, top notch game design. Bravo!

Took me this 2.5 hours or so to get the 1cc on the easier difficulty. I thought it was pretty good. It doesn't do anything especially unique, but it's well made, has some fun patterns and i do enjoy a cute 'em up that doesn't seem to think that means lewd anime girls. I think it's probably a bit easy for the hardcore group, but I'm planning on going back to try out the other difficulty(which i'm assuming is harder, but why is one called normal and the other moderate? is there a unlockable hard difficulty? idk)

Hazelnut Hex is an ADORABLE little bullet hell that I think is great for people new to this type of shmup and fans of this type of shmup who want something slightly more laid back. + Simple but fun gameplay with lots of good mechanics that mesh well together. Stop firing bullets to charge a big blast that will destroy smaller bullets. As well as bombs that give you more score the more bullets on screen. It encourages you to really put pressure on yourself with more and more bullets on screen! + SUPER cute art, characters, story, concept, enemies, and a lovely soundtrack! + Game is REALLY short, I was able to do 2 full runs in .9 hours apparently and I enjoyed it so much I might do a third run soon~ - I think it could do more with the breakfast theme, I like that everyone is a monster but maybe their bullets should've been their own unique cereals? - Am I crazy or is stage 3 randomly REALLY tough? It kicked my ass both playthroughs lol - I'll say it, it's too fun and too short. I want more!! Hazelnut Hex 2 when!?

It reminds me of trouble witches, but easy. You're saving breakfast through an arcade style shoot em up in the girliest way possible. I love it!