This review contains spoilers
: ̗̀➛ Positives
+ OST
+ Gameplay / Puzzles
+ Characters
+ Art Style / Dreamcore / Liminal concept
+ Restart Mechanic / Meta Gameplay
+ Ending
: ̗̀➛ Negatives
- Length
- Game-Breaking Bug
- 3D
Noticeable themes:
✦ Capitalism / Workplace Hierarchy
✦ Liminality
✦ Loss of Self
✦ Childhood Trauma / Religious Trauma (Minimal)
• Introduction:
I first want to start this review by saying wow. The effort that went into this game is so impressive. It's very well-rounded, thought out, and executed for a game jam event. And for a free itch.io game as well, I found it to be phenomenal. I don't have many negative things to say about the game, honestly.
+ Positives:
Firstly, I want to discuss the beautiful OST. Though simple, they did so much with what they had. My favourite variation of the track was on the 8th floor with the doppelgangers. It just felt so eerie. I find sometimes in games a loop of a single song or track can be noticeable and repetitive. Once I notice them, they can get on my nerves. Though with this I didn't find anything too repetitive or annoying. It was absolutely perfect for the game and fit so well with the atmosphere on every floor. Perfect lofi / liminal / cafe esc songs.
With puzzle games, I can get stumped and find myself looking for a walk-through. I try to hold off, but most games end up in me looking for a tutorial, which usually indicates a poor-quality game. Elevator Hitch's difficulty level was satisfying to get through without being frustrating. The game didn't hold my hand but allowed me time to immerse myself and understand all of the hidden clues. Great dialogue cues!
The art style and characters were such a lovely treat. Both characters are loveable in their own ways and drawn so satisfyingly. I found their humor to be so perfect and honestly a bit Undertaley with the wit. I can't stop looking for fan art. The only gripe I have is that I wish the supporting character was used a tad bit more within puzzle interactions. The ending characters were perfect as well. The corporate boss felt very "Vivarium" esc and the faceless man was actually terrifying. Beautiful character designs, very dreamcore.
I felt the way the developers captured liminality without feeling overdone and cliche to be very impressive. I love liminal space and dreamcore but find it to be getting too popular and basic... which totally... defeats their entire intent. This captured the vibe so well without using too many cliches!
Love the restart mechanic. As a completionist who also enjoys meta gameplay, it was SO perfect.
As for the final true end, it was simply well-rounded and felt satisfying, silly, and terrifying. Oh, how I wish it was longer! But at the same time, it feels not too complicated or overbeat.
- Negatives
I think this is just a personal thing of loving the lore, characters, and setting but I wish it was longer, selfishly!
I had an issue on Mac (I believe it's known) where the game doesn't save if the application isn't installed correctly. So every time I died, the game wasn't remembering where I left off and I was missing out on dialogue and was unable to get the item from the doppelgangers on floor 8. I had a better experience when I correctly installed it and was able to finish and replay the game properly a second time. (Looking up and down was also broken on Mac but wasn't quintessential to finish the game).
And lastly, I think the 3D transition didn't make a ton of sense to me and was slightly confusing to get the hang of. I didn't understand why we were in the POV of the main character and not seeing the supporting character. I also think I just have an issue with mixing 3D and 2D mediums in animation and games. Just feels weird but it's a personal gripe! It was well done nonetheless, but it just felt out of place and was a bit weird to get used to.
//
All in all, I really really enjoyed the game. I haven't really played anything like this before and got me really excited to check out other work by the same developers. I love the art style, themes, and story as well as the meta / rouge-like incorporation. The developers deserve the hype but I love how this is still indie and a secret. Hope it absolutely blows up, it deserves so much love and hype! Well done!
Edit: After replaying for a third time with a family member, I have one more thing! I really wish the parent monster was more easily triggered. I found whenever I showed a friend the game, getting the parent ending was more an afterthought on a completionist list rather than an accidental ending. I'd love it if the monster came up quicker! It's usually the only ending I've seen my friends not get!
+ OST
+ Gameplay / Puzzles
+ Characters
+ Art Style / Dreamcore / Liminal concept
+ Restart Mechanic / Meta Gameplay
+ Ending
: ̗̀➛ Negatives
- Length
- Game-Breaking Bug
- 3D
Noticeable themes:
✦ Capitalism / Workplace Hierarchy
✦ Liminality
✦ Loss of Self
✦ Childhood Trauma / Religious Trauma (Minimal)
• Introduction:
I first want to start this review by saying wow. The effort that went into this game is so impressive. It's very well-rounded, thought out, and executed for a game jam event. And for a free itch.io game as well, I found it to be phenomenal. I don't have many negative things to say about the game, honestly.
+ Positives:
Firstly, I want to discuss the beautiful OST. Though simple, they did so much with what they had. My favourite variation of the track was on the 8th floor with the doppelgangers. It just felt so eerie. I find sometimes in games a loop of a single song or track can be noticeable and repetitive. Once I notice them, they can get on my nerves. Though with this I didn't find anything too repetitive or annoying. It was absolutely perfect for the game and fit so well with the atmosphere on every floor. Perfect lofi / liminal / cafe esc songs.
With puzzle games, I can get stumped and find myself looking for a walk-through. I try to hold off, but most games end up in me looking for a tutorial, which usually indicates a poor-quality game. Elevator Hitch's difficulty level was satisfying to get through without being frustrating. The game didn't hold my hand but allowed me time to immerse myself and understand all of the hidden clues. Great dialogue cues!
The art style and characters were such a lovely treat. Both characters are loveable in their own ways and drawn so satisfyingly. I found their humor to be so perfect and honestly a bit Undertaley with the wit. I can't stop looking for fan art. The only gripe I have is that I wish the supporting character was used a tad bit more within puzzle interactions. The ending characters were perfect as well. The corporate boss felt very "Vivarium" esc and the faceless man was actually terrifying. Beautiful character designs, very dreamcore.
I felt the way the developers captured liminality without feeling overdone and cliche to be very impressive. I love liminal space and dreamcore but find it to be getting too popular and basic... which totally... defeats their entire intent. This captured the vibe so well without using too many cliches!
Love the restart mechanic. As a completionist who also enjoys meta gameplay, it was SO perfect.
As for the final true end, it was simply well-rounded and felt satisfying, silly, and terrifying. Oh, how I wish it was longer! But at the same time, it feels not too complicated or overbeat.
- Negatives
I think this is just a personal thing of loving the lore, characters, and setting but I wish it was longer, selfishly!
I had an issue on Mac (I believe it's known) where the game doesn't save if the application isn't installed correctly. So every time I died, the game wasn't remembering where I left off and I was missing out on dialogue and was unable to get the item from the doppelgangers on floor 8. I had a better experience when I correctly installed it and was able to finish and replay the game properly a second time. (Looking up and down was also broken on Mac but wasn't quintessential to finish the game).
And lastly, I think the 3D transition didn't make a ton of sense to me and was slightly confusing to get the hang of. I didn't understand why we were in the POV of the main character and not seeing the supporting character. I also think I just have an issue with mixing 3D and 2D mediums in animation and games. Just feels weird but it's a personal gripe! It was well done nonetheless, but it just felt out of place and was a bit weird to get used to.
//
All in all, I really really enjoyed the game. I haven't really played anything like this before and got me really excited to check out other work by the same developers. I love the art style, themes, and story as well as the meta / rouge-like incorporation. The developers deserve the hype but I love how this is still indie and a secret. Hope it absolutely blows up, it deserves so much love and hype! Well done!
Edit: After replaying for a third time with a family member, I have one more thing! I really wish the parent monster was more easily triggered. I found whenever I showed a friend the game, getting the parent ending was more an afterthought on a completionist list rather than an accidental ending. I'd love it if the monster came up quicker! It's usually the only ending I've seen my friends not get!