Quick impression.
Not exactly the biggest fan of 3D platforms, this game really grabbed my attention though and hasn't stopped pouring liters entertainment goodness into my gullet.
Very much like Mario 64 stages are replayed with multiple objectives. This is also combined with unlocking items Metroidvania style. Most though, are completely optional with very few stages padlocked behind an item requirement.
Locked stages themselfs force the player to progress in a none linear fashion, with items spread throughout thematically and mechanically different worlds. The upside is that these is variation, never veering into repetitiveness. Unfortunately the relationship between worlds is so disconnected that they lack the unity of something like Mario. It can be jarring and not necessarily welcomed to go from a platforming toy-box to directed stealth platforming.
While many modern titles are prolific with with equipment unlocks, hidden behind a grind, A Hat In Time is lean and mean, never overwhelming the player or feeling padded, taking unapologetic Nintendo inspiration with tight pacing going hand in hand with tight mechanic introduction. The key difference - while Nintendo in contemporary times have leaned towards explicitly demonstrating abilities, A Hat In Time briefly explains, leaving much of the discovery to the players digression.
For a game child like in nature, encapsulating the joy of climbing, or pretending to play kid detective, it frequently shows a respect for the players intelligence many other, supposedly mature titles (i.e. Assassins Creed) lack.
The cute aesthetic are generally nothing new, Wind Waker, Psychonauts e.t.c.. We've seen it all before, though perhaps not much on the pc side as consoles. It still remains very charming, intoxicating even to run around such highly stylized worlds hell bent on winning you over with explosive personality. There's a competence and conviction to it all, it's clearly been crafted with love.
Levels themselfs vary from tight and linear to huge toy-boxes expanding alongside the player. In some cases these are more focused on a specific objective, but never give the sense of the designers hand funneling the player beyond an arguably trite, but still somewhat still entertaining stealth level.
I've still to finish A Hat In Time but over the weekend i've poured in a good 11 hours with 25% complete. At a price of £23 (less than half the price of a AAA game), if you have even a remote interest in platformers I doubt you'll be feeling cheated here. At it's core, what we have is an exceptionally fun - charming game, created from people passionate about a largely dead genre outside of a Nintendo label.
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Gud.
