A generally relaxing and comfortable afternoon experience with occasionally gorgeous presentation; that’s the real driving force behind enjoying Hoa, a game which is otherwise over very quickly and never wishes to adventure far beyond press X to jump. That saving grace in the form of visual and audio splendour is apparent most in the opening couple of stages where the the music is clearly performed by a live orchestra and lush greenery is everywhere your eyes can scan across the screen. Both of these welcome attributes slowly but surely disappear until you’re left with a black and white canvas accompanied by virtual instruments. Admittedly these final 30 minutes do push the gameplay boat out a little further in the guise of reversed controls and wonky perspective but it almost comes across as an afterthought, as though you can hear the developers suggest that games tend to need a little more than pretty music and vibrant images, the answer to which is yes, and no.

Hoa is (1.) a stunning display of artistry, breathtaking in its peaceful simplicity, but also (2.) underbaked and boring and I don't like it.

If you've looked at any screenshots or footage, you'll already have thought "huh, big Ghibli vibes here", so we'll just skip that part. Beneath the lush, cozy art style lies an extremely basic rough draft of a game. Across 8 small "worlds" (if we can call them that), you control a cute lil triangle baby who catches butterflies to wake up giant creatures, each of whom remembers you from when you were an even smaller baby.

In practice, this is sort of like the most basic Metroidvania imaginable, with a map containing decent verticality, a small number of collectibles/currency in each area (we're talking single digits), 4 or 5 earned abilities that allow you to progress, aaaaaand that's it. Beyond the music and visuals, I truly mean it when I say NOTHING compelling occurs in Hoa. Bland, combat-less platforming leads to sparse, spread-out collectibles which lead to awkward and vague dialogue with the big critters which leads to a baffling ending sequence.

[Structural spoilers from this point on, but no story details:]

After the game stops repeating gameplay, you observe a fairly long chase sequence which would have been the most engaging part of the game, but for some reason you aren't allowed to participate. (Severe Halo 5 cutscene energy) This is followed by what could be a dream sequence or some sort of limbo maybe?? I tried looking up what it was supposed to mean and couldn't find a legitimate answer anywhere, only encountering theorizing redditors, most as confounded as I was. Then instead of giving any closure, the final cutscene shows events from before the game; events which have already been related to us by the big magic animals along the way.

If you've ever been on a date with someone you were incredibly attracted to, but after an hour realized "there is absolutely nothing going on beneath the surface with this person", eventually ending the evening in a deflated state of stupor, that's what it feels like to play Hoa.

Adorable little puzzle-platformer game that has a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere with beautiful hand-painted art style that is very reminiscent of Studio Ghibli style.

The game is pretty simple and doesn't need too much concentration to get through, so therefore it's a pretty perfect game for new or younger gamers.

The game has wonderful soundtrack that adds more to the relaxing atmosphere of the game and makes it even more enjoyable.

Probably the only stressful part of the game was the land of the spirits stage with the inverted controls.

If you're looking for a pleasant 2D platformer that is a very quick playthrough and won't challenge you much (sort of a cozy, comfort food style game) this might be the game for you.

Hoa is a vibrant 2D platformer that's all about collecting butterflies. No joke! Some may balk and think the game is too childish for them and they may be right. I wish I could say that the gameplay would change your mind, but it's very simple and there isn't much substance. That is until the final level, which kind of comes out of nowhere as it will challenge you in ways that are almost experimental.

However, the game is competently made, it's unique in its setting and characters (I've never played as a little flower gnome thing that does favors for giant bugs before) and it's comfort food for those who like platformers.

Short "peaceful, relaxing" indie 2D platformer with visuals that nicely combine hand-drawn 2D backgrounds with cel-shaded 3D models. Unfortunately, the level design isn't particularly interesting, and the platforming and general control feel awfully clunky, which becomes a bigger and bigger problem as timing-based elements take greater precedence further in; this isn't exactly Celeste, to be sure, but it's frustrating in ways I can't imagine the developers intended, and is more than enough to keep me from finishing this one. try it on deep discount, maybe

I’m so disappointed that I spent a gift card on this game. The only reason it is getting more than a one star is because the art and music are pretty good. That’s the only good things I can say about this game.

The negatives vastly outweigh these things. Frame rate issues, boring gameplay, infuriating movement and controls, and the fact that this game is 15 dollars are just a few major issues for me.

The thing that made me most mad about the entire game is that the coolest section, or what would’ve been the coolest section, is just an auto scrolling chase sequence in which you have literally no control. It would’ve been fun to escape yourself during this section, but instead you just watch it happen, and it sucks.

I don’t recommend anyone buy this game unless it’s price is heavily discounted to 3 dollars or less.

Hoa is a 2D platform game with some puzzles to solve. It's a very short experience that allows you to finish within 2 hours of gameplay.

What distinguishes this game the most is its art. Hoa is an incredibly beautiful platformer, one of the most gorgeous games I have ever seen, to be honest. However, that's not enough.

The gameplay is very simple, and the puzzles are very easy. I'm not a fan of hard games, but there's almost no challenge here.

The story is very basic. Hoa tells the journey of a fairy who is trying to return to her homeland after some incidents.

Since it's a short game, I'll keep the review short. Hoa is such a forgettable game that I don't recommend it. You'll enjoy your time better with another 2D platformer.