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[i]HopBound[/i] aims to leave a lasting impression on its players. It achieves that through its well-done retro-style 4-color pixel art, spine-chilling music, and an unusual story-telling method. Games that try too hard to delve into meta-gaming sometimes end up too confusion. This game has a simple story that is enough to tether the player to the game without causing any confusion. There are a few simpler Easter eggs in there for you to find, if you really want to go look, but you don't need to, the game reveals its secrets as you play through the story mode.
The game really has two separate components: an endless runner and that story mode that I have mentioned, which is a multi-staged platformer with its own meta-progression. The endless runner is how you start the game, and it quickly introduces the story mode for you just in case you were curious enough. But just playing the runner makes you curious about the story, since there are all kinds of arrows pointing you in that direction, egging you on.
Let's be honest, the platforming in this game is frustrating as heck, and if you are not into the platforming, you are going to quit this game in a real hurry. Fortunately and ironically there are plenty of checkpoints in the game in the form of what looks like little tombstones. Nevertheless, expect yourself to restart at those checkpoints endlessly. I have played an hour and a half so far, and I think I am on the last stage of story mode, but I have yet to break that barrier to see what other junk gets thrown in my face once I reach the end. In that process, I have died at least 2-300 times. It feels kind of numb after a while. At least there [i]are[/i] checkpoints, not like some of the old-school frustrating platformers that may have made you lose a molar or two grinding through the frustrations.
The game doesn't have controller support, and even the developer wrote that into the store page. But I use a DS4 controller mapped partly to the keyboard, partly to the XB1 controller, and partly to the mouse using DS4Windows, and I am playing the whole game front to back using a controller only. Let me know if you want to do this and need help setting it up. This kind of game I really feel only right playing with a controller.
After my gaming session last night, I realized that I took 50+ screenshots, but you won't see me upload any of them. Why? Well, I don't want to give away any potential spoilers, not even a little bit. The game is cheap and is there for anyone willing to give it a shot to explore and find out, and that experience is what leaves the lasting impression. So I implore you to go find out for yourself. And if you are into endless runners, well, here's another cheap one with nice responsive controls to add to your library.
After I played and sweated a bit through a section that was really getting on my nerves, I realized that I also own the other game that's supposed to be the prequel to this game. I never played that game, but I will probably go check it out some time in the future. These guys definitely have my stamp of approval.
An indie gem indeed, made with plenty of thought and a clear goal in mind. Costs the same as your morning coffee, which lasts not nearly as long, but also gets your heart racing.
Does coffee give you nightmares too?
[h1]Gameplay[/h1]
Difficult, frustrating platforming that feels like its done just right to not make you throw it away in an instant. And the game's story keeps intruding to make you keep playing.
[h1]Controls[/h1]
Keyboard controls, you can use mouse only for the runner if you want to. See above, I managed to wrestle the game into submission using DS4Windows and my DualShock4 controller, and I have no regrets at all.
[h1]Graphics[/h1]
Retro-handheld style 4-color pixel graphics. If you can't tolerate it, your loss.
[h1]Music[/h1]
Creepy, but really good. Sets a good tone, and there are a couple of really well-done tracks within with good vocals too.
[h1]Audience[/h1]
If you are still reading to this point, I think you should check it out.
[h1]Pricing[/h1]
Base price is $2.99 US, currently it has a launch sale of 40% off, so $1.79 for some nightmares, creepy feels, and a lesson for people who want to do meta-gaming right, why not?
[h1]Conclusion[/h1]
[i]HopBound[/i] is worth your time, if you can tolerate the retro-platforming with a pretty ridiculously high need to redo level sections due to deaths that will be inevitable. I plan to finish story mode soon and then dive into the endless runner for a while. After all, I bought the game because it's an endless runner, and I got sucked into the game instead.
Addendum:
Took me an extra half hour to run through the final level and see the ending. Took an extra 100+ deaths. I think it was totally worth it.
