This is definitely the type of game for anyone who remembers playing platformers.
Gameplay
Most of the controls were easy enough to not have a necessary tutorial to accompany them. That is definitely what makes a platformer game succeed. What I did think was especially helpful was the fact that I can always strategize my moves. I could always bypass some platforms, while the time-slowing hat was especially helpful during boss fights.
Definitely, it was an interesting choice to using yarn to stitch together hats and badges as unique power-ups. We do not take into account the art of handcraft when it comes to power-ups in video games. There is definitely a lot that can be said about this feature. I can even say this about the outfit colors. One of my pet peeves in video games is when a character has the option to change outfit colors, not for any unique power-ups. However, in this case, I was willing to make an exception, since so many outfit colors have their own personalities.
Graphics
For an indie game, the graphics look very solid and easy to navigate, with the profound exception being the dark parts of the levels, which are hard to see. It would have helped if there was a Glow-In-The-Dark hat–perhaps in a sequel if it ever comes out.
I definitely liked the sky level, since it is clearly a spiritual descendant of the Click Clock Wood level from Banjo-Kazooie. There was a lot of personality within a single stage and what\’s more is that instead of setting you on a strict path towards attaining one of the Time Pieces, the game allows you to roam around the stage, summoning lines that connect each sky-island with a massive horn and ascending heights betwixt outer-space and sky.
Characters
For an indie 3D-Platformer, I was not expecting a lot of voice-acting throughout the game\’s dialogue. Of course, only the protagonist does not talk, which is always a staple–practically a stereotype–of 3D-Platformers. Speaking of which, all of the characters who talk do so in an accent. For example, Moustache Girl talks in an Australian accent, the Mafia henchmen talk in an Italian accent, Conductor in a Scottish accent, and so on. Of course, it does serve the purpose of having a cute aesthetic to the game.
As for the rivalry between Hat Girl and Moustache Girl, I was hoping that it would develop into a deep introspection into how they are more common than opposite. Of course, at the same time, I do not expect such complicated characterization in a game like this, so I will leave it be.
Plot
The plot is very simple, and adequate enough for a platformer game. You play as Hat Girl, who controls a spaceship. You need all of the Time Pieces in order to hyperspeed back home. However, you are met with hostility from another girl, Moustache Girl. She wants the Time Pieces for herself in order to destroy villains, even if it means destroying worlds.
I did feel underwhelmed. I was hoping for more worlds to explore and more characters to interact with. Of course, Gears For Breakfast is a small, indie developing company. So, I should not expect a lot from them, since A Hat In Time was their first project. Still, I would love for them to continue being in the game industry business. The AAA gaming corporations have become too bloated and insist on giving buying customers chickenfeed instead of the whole experience.
The choices that Hat Girl is given felt unnecessary. The game does not strike me as one that would attempt to create alternative story arcs. In this case, the gameplay would definitely outweigh any perceived complexities to the plot.
Recommend This To…
- Without a doubt, I would recommend this to any gamers who are around my age who probably remember growing up with the famous 3D Platformers, such as Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. If you like plucky protagonists exploring worlds with distinctive personalities and quirky characters, then I would suggest gathering some Time Pieces and traveling back to the past.
- Since this is a game with cute aesthetics, I would normally suggest this to kids, however it really should depend on what age of development they are, since there are some parts of the game, such as the boss battles, which can be overwhelming. That said, I would recommend this game to children around the ages of 10-11.
- However, since there is a lot of color in this game, then it should be expected that there will be some trippy parts of the game. So, I would not recommend this to any player who has epilepsy.
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\”A Hat In Time.\” Gears For Breakfast. 2017.
Image Attribution: Micky Milkyway