[h1]Co-Hoping Puzzles[/h1]
HeartZ Co-Hope Puzzles is a quirky puzzle platformer, played using 3 different characters with unique abilities. Punch, dash, bite, or teleport your way through multiple stages of electrifyingly good fun. Although HeartZ has a great solo campaign, support for local coop with up to 3 total players raises the experience to a new level.
[h1]Gameplay[/h1]
[u][b]The Test Subjects[/b][/u]
Escaped with the help of a mysterious artefact, HeartZ employs the use of 3 unique test subjects with special artefact-empowered abilities and color representations. In order to survive, the test subjects must fight their way through maniacally produced levels of trap-filled danger and mayhem. Throughout the game, the player has the option to change characters at any point in time, and in fact, must do so often for many puzzles (if playing solo). Due to the artefact’s bestowed power, the subjects can only utilize their abilities when the orb is in proximity. This will often times force the player to use traditional platforming skills to get from one place to another, without relying on the sole power of the subjects’ abilities.
[list]
[*][u][b]Spittle (Pink)[/b][/u]: Spittle is a small-sized dog that uses its tiny build and fearsome bite to progress. Spittle’s most important skill is electrical immunity – it can grant itself an immunity to any electrical surface (while the button is being held) for a period of time, after which it must recharge. The cooldown for Spittle’s ability is extremely short, thus it is possible to jump, allow the ability to recharge by releasing the held button, and then activate it again before landing. Due to the hitbox of the electricity/hurtbox of Spittle, timing this trick can be difficult. Spittle can also dash, even in midair, to quickly get across dangerous gaps.
[*][u][b]Brainy (Green)[/b][/u]: Brainy is a medium-sized test subject that uses its mind to manipulate the artefact. Brainy’s most important skill is teleportation – he will toss the artefact in an observable arc, then teleport to it. It is important to note that the artefact will bounce upon landing, so the player must wait for the animation to end before teleporting. Brainy can also create a pulse, generated from the artefact, to break crystal structures.
[*][u][b]Punch (Yellow)[/b][/u]: Punch is a large-sized brute that uses his muscles and strength to get the job done. Punch’s most important abilities include punching through rock walls (while grounded), pushing blocks, and granting immunity to heat – similar to Spittle’s electrical immunity. Unlike Spittle, Punch can grant immunity to his entire team since he projects a shield with an area of effect.
[/list]
[u][b]HeartZ’s World[/b][/u]
HeartZ is comprised of several Acts, each with multiple levels within. Throughout a level, copious amounts of checkpoints are provided for respawn locations and character progression. The numerous amount of these checkpoints make this game really friendly for casual or younger audiences. Regarding that last point, every death in HeartZ is presented in a really comedic or cute manner. For example, falling into a fire will cook the test subject and turn it into a hot dog.
After the completion of each Act, a summarized report of the player’s actions is presented. This report includes the number of times the player died/jumped, challenges achieved, and treasures discovered. Collecting all treasures of specific acts will unlock costumes.
[u][b]Platforming[/b][/u]
Traditional platforming elements are utilized in HeartZ, including: moving platforms, crushing machines, rising floor sequences, switches, levers and numerous obstacles requiring specific abilities to bypass. This game’s highlighted feature is puzzle solving, and HeartZ does a great job ensuring that these puzzles are fun, challenging, and varied.
Although most puzzles involve maneuvering all 3 characters to a specific set of switches or levers, many other unique puzzle mechanics are implemented to break up any monotony. Some of these include: color specific platforms that only the respective subjects can stand on, size specific pathways and Teslas (field generators) that attract and trap the artefact if it gets near.
To aid in solving some of the more difficult puzzles, the game provides hints in the form of ghostly apparitions of a character at specific locations near an obstacle. Also, if something is amiss, the player can choose to restart the level. Again, due to the plethora of checkpoints provided, dying is never a problem. There are also fewer platforming challenges than puzzles.
[h1]Controls[/h1]
[u][b]Controller Support[/b][/u]
Stated as having full controller support, HeartZ incorporates gamepads fairly well; however, one minor annoyance is that that it is not possible to rebind the buttons on a controller. For many platformer fans that utilize the controller, it is preferable to move the character using the D-pad. Movement is, by default, mapped to the left analog stick.
[u][b]Precision Handling[/b][/u]
It is imperative for any eccentric platformer to have precise maneuverability and handling of the character, otherwise, deaths will start to manifest from poor design instead of a player’s skill. Fortunately, HeartZ has a sufficient controls system, ensuring that most deaths stem from the player’s faults. There was one minor problem observed throughout the game that caused a few undeserving deaths, regrettably. It was an issue with character and hazard hit/hurtboxes, especially Spittle’s. Due to its disproportionate head, any vertically moving platform can easily crush Spittle if positioned poorly. There are also times where it seems that a character shouldn’t be on a rising platform, but is carried upwards anyways; or instances when the character should have run off the rising platform but hasn’t.
[h1]Conclusion[/h1]
[u][b]Current State of the Game[/b][/u]
The developers seem to show active interest in supporting the game, as seen by the developer responses in each thread of the Discussions board. HeartZ was only released last week, so until a little time passes and players report suggestions or uncover bugs, it will be difficult to observe how frequent the updates will be.
[u][b]Advised Suggestions[/b][/u]
There are a few suggestions that may improve gameplay; these are listed below.
[list]
[*]Allow camera control to a certain extent.
[*]Support the rebinding of controller buttons.
[*]Refine character hitboxes or hazardous (electrical) hurtboxes.
[*]Many areas/puzzles are too linear; provide more alternate routes to progress to the next puzzle depending on the active character. This allows friends to progress without following the exact same path – even race each other if desired.
[/list]
[u][b]Verdict[/b][/u]
HeartZ is an extremely cute and fun puzzle game, despite the plethora of entertaining deaths that the player will experience. The game’s aesthetics and puzzle mechanics earn it a recommendation for any fan of puzzle platformers. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to experience this vibrant game with other couch buddies, but I will say that the solo playthrough is still a worthwhile experience.
[table][tr][td]Review copy provided by Neko Entertainment[/td][/tr][/table]
