Hyper Light Breaker has promising bones: Early Access review

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Despite initial negative feedback, I’d like to emphasize that Hyper Light Breaker, which recently debuted on Early Access on Steam, has something commendable about it. Contrary to how the rest of this critique might suggest otherwise, this is indeed the case. In 2024, I had the opportunity to play around two hours of previews, and I was eager to revisit the game. The Steam reviews have since seen a shift, with 63% positive ratings at the moment.

After spending numerous hours immersed in the game, I’ve started to identify its imperfections, yet I must confess that I found myself enjoying it immensely throughout the process. Initially, I dove into the experience with a mix of caution and enthusiasm, searching diligently for the glaring weakness that would eventually reveal itself. For the majority of the review phase, I played solo, but managed to persuade one friend to join me for a brief spell.

Hyper Light Breaker

Description: Hyper Light Breaker, a creation by Heart Machine (known for games like Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash), is an open-world, multiplayer rogue-lite that’s published by Arc Games (developers of Gigantic: Rampage Edition and Remnant 2). This game is set as a prequel to the indie sensation, Hyper Light Drifter, in the same universe. In this title, players assume the role of Breakers, embarking on perilous journeys into the treacherous Overgrowth to gather valuable resources, battle the Crowns, and unravel the mysteries that shroud the world’s history. Hyper Light Breaker marks Heart Machine’s foray into multiplayer game development and their debut release using Steam’s Early Access platform.

Launching in Early Access

Early Access refers to a unique phase in game development where titles aren’t fully completed yet. Each game approaches it differently, but the one consistent feature is that they remain works-in-progress. Some games effectively utilize Early Access, like Baldur’s Gate 3, which spent nearly three years in this stage before becoming a critical and commercial success, even winning Game of the Year at various video game award shows. However, there are also instances where Early Access doesn’t fare so well, such as The Day Before, which I have not forgotten about.

In essence, Early Access serves as a platform for developers to kickstart sales of their game, allowing them to finance further development and gather valuable player insights. However, it can also be misused as a means for developers to justify an incomplete or flawed game, encouraging players to purchase a product that may not yet be fully functional. Fortunately, Hyper Light Breaker leans more towards the favorable end of this spectrum.

After several hours of gameplay, it’s clear that Hyper Light Breaker might have been improved by dedicating additional time before its Early Access release. The content may be abundant, but it tends to become monotonous rapidly. The Breakers are impressive additions, with one being a tanuki character. However, you can only control the initial Breaker until defeating a boss to unlock the others. Currently, just two Crowns are available for combat. To finish a run, you’ll need to conquer three Crowns, which means battling one of them twice. Lastly, there is a horde of ordinary enemies without names that add diversity during exploration.

The Good and the Bad

As a fanatic of adventure, let me tell you about my experience with Hyper Light Breaker. This game has expanded my traversal possibilities exponentially! With the hoverboard, glider, and jump pads, I can dash up walls, double-jump, and fly through the air. These tools have made nearly every nook and cranny of this world reachable.

However, after a while, some locations may seem a bit repetitive. Yet, nothing quite compares to my first encounter with a Laboratory – a labyrinth filled with formidable foes that had me meeting an untimely demise upon entering! In many aspects, the game’s lack of guidance and explanations makes the exploration and discovery all the more rewarding.

Hyper Light Breaker can, at times, exacerbate its challenges, making it a game that isn’t always fair. During the initial stages of my playthrough, I found myself predominantly dying to hordes of ordinary adversaries. The wolf/dog enemies were especially vexing. Their attacks are swift and lack clear indicators, causing me to forsake attempts at parrying in the first few hours and instead dodge in and out of danger. To be honest, I haven’t been able to successfully parry an enemy attack during this review period.

In Hyper Light Breaker, it was previously challenging for players to find healing items as they didn’t become readily available until after an update. This appears to be a recurring issue in the game. At the start of play, players are only given a blade, with no guns, healing items, or clear instructions on how to acquire them. I personally couldn’t craft a medkit until five hours into my gaming session. Fortunately, a recent patch now lets new players begin the game with one medkit instead of none.

It seems that the core issues with Hyper Light Breaker stem from these areas: The initial stages are extremely challenging and provide minimal guidance, leaving numerous players perplexed about their next steps. Those who persevere may ultimately triumph, but they might also become weary of the monotony once they’ve achieved a level of consistency.

PROS:

  1. unique rogue-lite gameplay loop
  2. Hoverboards and gliders make traversal fun;
  3. feeling of progression.

CONS:

  1. overly difficult and frustrating combat, especially early on;
  2. somewhat light on content;
  3. can get repetitive after getting the hang of things.

The Promising Bones

Beneath its challenges, Hyper Light Breaker boasts an enticing gameplay mechanic. Every fresh attempt unfolds a new 3D environment, known as the Overgrowth. Gather at your base to choose from a selection of weapons and enhancements before embarking on your journey. If you meet defeat in the same Overgrowth four times without claiming victory over the Crowns, the world regenerates, presenting you with a brand-new landscape to explore anew.

As a dedicated player, I must first vanquish a specific number of elite foes to seize their prisms, which grants me the opportunity to challenge the Crowns. Once these regal symbols of power have been defeated (as I must face one Crown twice since only two are currently in the game), my victory is secured.

In addition to this, resources scavenged from various sources can be transported back to our base camp, where they’re used to open new commercial establishments, enhance my character’s attributes, acquire weapons, and unearth memories of the world’s forgotten past.

However, future updates may introduce a battle against the Abyss King; for now, that feature remains unavailable.

In the Overgrowth, it’s crucial not to linger. Enemies will regularly spawn close by, and later on, you might encounter meteor showers that endanger specific map zones. Eventually, an assassin will emerge, pursuing you across the entire map. Therefore, your best strategy is to quickly enter, grab as much loot as possible, and then leave swiftly.

After experiencing several defeats initially, I chose to proceed cautiously. I recognized that I wasn’t yet equipped to tackle the formidable adversaries. Instead, I prioritized collecting resources to enhance my base and equipment. There’s a certain sense of accomplishment in overcoming obstacles, especially when you return stronger and wiser the next time around.

However, I also acknowledge that this kind of gradual progress might not appeal to everyone. Different players may have varying preferences regarding gameplay pace and challenge levels.

What’s Next

I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing where “Hyper Light Breaker” is headed after its launch. In just two weeks, Heart Machine has released an update to tackle some issues raised by the gaming community. The changes include players initially being equipped with a craftable medkit and enemies becoming more alert at closer distances, which should help reduce annoying swarms of enemies.

Hyper Light Breaker showcases Heart Machine’s ambition as they venture into creating their first multiplayer game. Their innovative take on the rogue-lite genre is noteworthy, but it might have benefited from a bit more time and content to polish out its early access rough edges. Although I enjoyed playing it, persuading others to spend $30 on this game right now would be challenging for me. However, if you’re an ardent fan of Hyper Light Drifter, have the perseverance to tackle its demanding combat system, and can rally a few friends who might be interested, it could prove to be worthwhile.

At present, it seems I’ll be diving back into the Overgrowth once more, especially if fresh content becomes available. Heart Machine hasn’t shared a detailed schedule for future updates, but they aim to add more Crowns and Breakers, and enhance the gameplay based on player suggestions.

I appreciate the opportunity extended by Heart Machine and Arc Games to test out the game, Hyper Light Breaker. At present, players can access it through Early Access on PC via Steam.

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2025-02-06 15:02