Hazel Sky

Developed by Coffee Addict Studio, Hazel Sky is an adventure game released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Centered on repair and construction, it’s not the first game released by the small developer studio. Challenging puzzles, exploring and learning all the mechanics involved in the world of Hazel Sky. But there’s a lot more than what you’d expect in this adventure, so, what is it all about? Well let’s talk about that.

About the story

Hazel Sky is a one of a kind experience that has the player take the role of Shane. He’s a young engineer that’s about to come face to face with his destiny, and all the trials and tribulations he’ll have to face to get what he wishes for.

Sent to a distant island away from his home in the flying city of Gideon, the time has come for Shane to traverse the tests and puzzles so he can finally come back as an engineer. If he’s to fail in his mission, he would have to face exile forevermore. But he’s not completely alone, connected by radio, Shane is accompanied by Erin, his training companion. They will develop an unexpected friendship while on Shane’s trial. But it is this friendship that will change Shane’s perception of the world and will leave a mark in his life.

Shane’s having to face the definitive test every engineer has to go through before receiving the honor the title carries. Sure, for Shane tests were his destiny. But he’s about to find out the harsh truths of the world. The divisions between the honored engineers and the battered artists, and learning how wishes and destiny more often than not differ.

An impossible love story, tests to face, puzzles to solve, the very structure of society, and the coming of realization of what it means to live in a society, There’s a lot to uncover in the world of Hazel Sky.

The Game

The game itself is a very interesting mix, it has a lot of elements you usually see in adventure games. And some elements you’d see in puzzle-solving titles, and they are nicely implemented into each other. You’ll have to build and repair different machines throughout the trials to keep on advancing.

As you explore you’ll uncover all the incredible things hidden in the island, as well as the secrets behind the trials. But in there you will also run into those who have failed these tests before you. Jump, climb, swing and explore the island, but also pilot the flying machines you repair as you complete the challenges.

Hazel Sky is an interesting combination of game types and gaming mechanics, all put together into one beautiful story. This works great, however there are some things that don’t completely work well, and break the illusion a little. The animations and controls are a bit stiff and tacky, they don’t look or feel good. Luckily the nice art and visuals help to cover a little bit for this.

The puzzles, exploration, and adventure style of the game is very similar to what you find in games like Oceanhorn 2, and that’s always a great thing. Not quite like The Legend of Zelda, but but it’s still nice to see more games like this.

Pros:

• Beautiful art
• Incredible scenarios
• Tons of puzzles
• Interesting puzzles

Cons:

• Tacky controllers
• Bad animations
• Can get a little repetitive.