Well, the title is pretty on the nose. This was indeed a short hike. I'm actually glad it was so short, it was just a nice and calm game to play in the middle of some bigger stuff.
A Short Hike has been a pretty obvious inspiration for many independent games I've seen in the last few years. I can't describe in what ways, but so many things seem so similar to this game.
In terms of the world you explore, though it is small, it's also big. It's easy to traverse but it also has a lot of stuff to do in it. Playing games, racing, helping the NPCs with quests, finding treasure, fishing, etc. The way you traverse is also just fantastic, gliding, climbing, running fast, it all feels really good, and gets even better with the Golden Feathers.
The Golden Feathers are the main collectable, and I thought the devs did a great job with how the player obtains them and fines them. Some you can buy, but a lot are spread out throughout the world for the player to find, giving the player even more of an incentive to explore. It makes the gameplay smoother and the game even more satisfying.
The music was very subtle. It was great, quite, and fit the atmosphere. I also liked how they sometimes just didn't have any music, and let the world speak on its own. Kinda reminds me of BOTW music. Great stuff.
The Art-Style is nostalgic and charming. It reminds me of the DS games I grew up with, and has a lot of colors that all mesh well. I do feel at times it may be a little too pixelated, but for the most part it was really nice.
The game is lacking a bit in narrative, but the story of the adventure you have is really charming. That's pretty much the whole game, just a big charm fest. Clair is a really good protagonist who you see grow as a person, and the characters she interacts with are also nice. But the main thing is the adventure, and I loved it.
Not many complaints, I do hope we get a longer sequel or something, or maybe it's best this is a one off thing, maybe that would make it more special somehow. I thought the camera was quirky at times, I wish there was a map, and I do wish the Dialogue and narrative were both more compelling, but seriously, I don't have many complaints.
I think that this is a game that anyone can play and everyone should try. It's not a big enough world so it's hard to get lost, it has great music, loveable characters, a charming art-style, the short length, and some smooth gameplay. If you want to play a great short game, or just a great game in general, I'd recommend "A Short Hike".
Score: 4.1/5
Letter Grade: A-
A Short Hike has been a pretty obvious inspiration for many independent games I've seen in the last few years. I can't describe in what ways, but so many things seem so similar to this game.
In terms of the world you explore, though it is small, it's also big. It's easy to traverse but it also has a lot of stuff to do in it. Playing games, racing, helping the NPCs with quests, finding treasure, fishing, etc. The way you traverse is also just fantastic, gliding, climbing, running fast, it all feels really good, and gets even better with the Golden Feathers.
The Golden Feathers are the main collectable, and I thought the devs did a great job with how the player obtains them and fines them. Some you can buy, but a lot are spread out throughout the world for the player to find, giving the player even more of an incentive to explore. It makes the gameplay smoother and the game even more satisfying.
The music was very subtle. It was great, quite, and fit the atmosphere. I also liked how they sometimes just didn't have any music, and let the world speak on its own. Kinda reminds me of BOTW music. Great stuff.
The Art-Style is nostalgic and charming. It reminds me of the DS games I grew up with, and has a lot of colors that all mesh well. I do feel at times it may be a little too pixelated, but for the most part it was really nice.
The game is lacking a bit in narrative, but the story of the adventure you have is really charming. That's pretty much the whole game, just a big charm fest. Clair is a really good protagonist who you see grow as a person, and the characters she interacts with are also nice. But the main thing is the adventure, and I loved it.
Not many complaints, I do hope we get a longer sequel or something, or maybe it's best this is a one off thing, maybe that would make it more special somehow. I thought the camera was quirky at times, I wish there was a map, and I do wish the Dialogue and narrative were both more compelling, but seriously, I don't have many complaints.
I think that this is a game that anyone can play and everyone should try. It's not a big enough world so it's hard to get lost, it has great music, loveable characters, a charming art-style, the short length, and some smooth gameplay. If you want to play a great short game, or just a great game in general, I'd recommend "A Short Hike".
Score: 4.1/5
Letter Grade: A-