GIVE ME A HEADSET OR GIVE ME DEATH Hyper Light Drifter's managed one thing almost no other game has, in that it made me want to buy the soundtrack separately. That's something which goes above and beyond a lot of the games occupying the genre. A bit like the holotapes you can find in various Fallout games, each of these computers provides a tantalizing snippet of data on the cataclysms which befell this world.Īlthough it's not technically necessary to figure out all the details, Hyper Light Drifter's curiosity factor has generated a community which still debates over the game's meanings and interpretations. However, it's actually an actual language, and you can even try your cryptography skills out on it. Every now and again, you'll run into an ancient computer which flashes up what looks like gibberish at first glance. Now, it's not entirely true that there's no text in this story. No, that's not "just some rocks that look like a giant died here". The fact that none of this is told to you, other than through observation (and the occasional slideshow discussion with a non-player character), heightens these impressions. Everything you see has a reason for existing and some sort of history behind it. Every animation, every object, every bit of scenery is tailored to evoke a sense of wonder and mystery. One thing which sets Hyper Light Drifter apart from many other "retro-pixel" games is that it takes the art of the craft seriously.
Or perhaps I just don't care what the definition of insanity is. Maybe it's because of my personal obstinance (or because I'm notoriously cheap), but I'm still determined to nail a 100% completion playthrough without breaking down and spending five bucks at Goodwill for a used USB controller. Learning your enemies' patterns, adapting your strategies, and improving control of the action through practice can allow one to prevail.
Nonetheless, the cardinal gamer's rule of "git gud" applies, if you (like I) insist on doing it keyboard style. In some circles, Hyper Light Drifter has become notorious for requiring what's known as "pixel-perfect" skills to get through certain challenges. When the pace ramps up, you'll find yourself having to move the mouse, then act, which takes a few crucial seconds longer (and is less precise) than doing the same thing with dual thumbsticks. While it's entirely playable with keyboard and mouse, the latter sets the direction for all attacks and actions while the former controls movement. well, you'll have to find that out for yourself, won't you?Ī game controller is highly recommended for Hyper Light Drifter, mainly due to an intensely-focused style of combat bordering on "bullet hell" once you start fighting large groups or bosses. Each time you manage to clear a zone, a pillar will be raised, thrumming with power from the planet's depths.