Hyper Light Drifter

I was not sure what I was getting into with Hyper Light Drifter, but it ended up being a game that I enjoyed and ultimately a game that left me wanting more. This has a very old-school kind of vibe to it all and it features some fantastic pixel art that made me get invested in the game even more. It is the kind of game that when you see a video of it, you think is very simple and easy to play, but there is some real depth here!

Hunting For Story

The storytelling in Hyper Light Drifter is kept to a minimum and that is probably the most frustrating thing about the game. It is set clearly in the future in a world that has seen its fair share of hardships as there are destroyed “technologies” all around. We play as a character that has an illness and he is desperately searching for a cure.

The premise is great, but it has no actual text! As you play the story is told via these storyboards. There is more story here, but it is hidden away in monoliths that are hidden in the game and these are not easy to find. I get that sometimes leaving a story up to someone’s imagination can be cool, but it never really worked here and just left me wanting more.

The Details Is In The Pixels

The presentation of Hyper Light Drifter is what initially drew me towards the game. It is done all with pixel art and it looks fantastic. The various enemies in the game all have a lot of style to them and the larger bosses are really well done. There is this big frog-looking thing that has all this moss on him. It is the kind of game that at first glance may not look like much, but the more you stare at it, the little details you will notice. The way the game tells its story via these comic book-style scenes is really cool, I just wish there was some text or dialogue explaining what the hell was going on. The soundtrack here is pretty solid too and fits in with the bright and neon-style pixel art that makes up this very interesting world.

Slicing, Dicing, And Shooting

It may have been the visuals that drew me to Hyper Light Drifter, but it was the gameplay that made me stay. This is just such a fun, fun game to play and it is very easy to get addicted to. You are looking at around eight hours max to beat it and I played through it in just a few sittings, that was how much fun I was having. You can dash, melee, and shoot in the game, but it is the mixing of the three together that feels so rewarding.

There is also a great upgrade system at play here that you can get deep into or you can just try and beat the game with your basic moves! I liked the one that let me deflect enemy shots with my sword as well as the ability to dash infinitely as long as I timed it just right.

Pros:

• This game has some great looking pixel art
• I think it has a very interesting premise
• The gameplay feels great
• It is challenging, but it feels like a very fair challenge

Cons:

• The story needs to be fleshed out as it is frustrating not knowing what is happening
• I get that this type of game is certainly not for everyone