Here's a game that had a lot of promise. Based on the series it comes from, I had very high hopes of entertaining insanity to play with when this was announced. But when it did come out, I have to admit, I was concerned that it was only one part rather then a whole story. And while it does look like we will get the full story, I was right to be worried about this game. It feels more like an intro then a complete package.
Story: It's a normal day for Joey and her brother Jude playing outside as kids do... at least it was until the monsters came out nowhere separating the duo. Now Joey is trapped in the house where the biggest one chased her while Jude is stuck in the tree-house. With a set of walkie-talkies, you will play as both siblings as Jude does his best to help his sister make it to the safest place in the house: the attic.
But the attic has it's own secrets among the many trophies their father has brought back over the years, including a strange device decorated with dragons that somehow calls to Joey. Of course this opening is little more then an introduction as the device turns out to be a portal that pulls her to a strange world (and no this is not a spoiler since the real adventure begins as she leaves home through it) where her only contact is an alien boy who she is able to talk to via an alien tablet she found in the room with her when she landed.
Sadly there is little else to the story as this is only part one and pretty much ends as the pair meet up to be continued in Act 2 (of 4 planned). This act does exist, but nothing later does yet... so this story is right now incomplete in any form, much less this title.
5/10
Graphics: Hiveswap is a hand-drawn affair, feeling almost more like a cartoon then a video game. If it moves, the animation is sharp, fluid and truly stands out as something special, all the while carrying the art-style of the web-comic it spun off of on it's sleeve. Yes, if you know Homestuck, you know exactly the kind of visuals to expect. For those who do not, the game almost takes two distinct styles and meshes them into one: the backgrounds are very well drawn with fairly high detail while the animated characters take a more stylized approach, opting for simpler shapes and simple colors. But somehow, it all meshes together in a way where you really don't notice how different it is until you stop to think about it.
And this is exceptionally true when you see it in motion. As I said in the first sentence, this game is fluid to the point that cutscenes might as well be an animated cartoon. And to be honest, that same care is in every frame of animation in the game too! It's just not cut scene-wise to carry that same feeling so much as the point and click game it actually is. Overall though the game looks absolutely fantastic!
9/10
Sound: This is one of those games where the audio stands almost completely on the soundtrack, which can immediately be described as "offbeat." You will be greeted in the opening screen by soothing orchestrated tone tones which will reflect the opening scenes, only to have a high energy chiptune music kick in as the monsters attack during the opening cinematic creating an instant parallel in style which works for this game, reflecting the duality both this and the webcomic it spins off from very well. It also works well enough there are going to be some tracks you likely would enjoy on their own to boot!
Just don't expect any voice work to back it up... there is none in this game at all. And the sounds are also not going to do any heavy lifting either, since they are not needed or used that often while playing. What is used sounds as it should, but most of the time it's going to just you and this odd but very nice musical score.
8/10
Gameplay: Hiveswap is a point and click adventure title, and as such you will play by guiding your characters at any given time by clicking about the world to move them around and explore the worlds involved. If you find something of interest, your cursor will change into an eye, a hand, or steps, signifying the type of interactions available if you click there. In addition, you have a top bar on the screen with an inventory that is always available to you, a panel to use the communication device in the area (if you have it), your "weapons", and your character. All of these are fairly obvious in what they do, but do not be afraid to make mistakes while learning. This is also one of those games where you really can't die if you mess up and the more unique scinarios in the game solidify this: you will have RPG-like battles.
These instances will not have health bars, but set themselves up with you and the creature you are dealing with in battle positions. From there, it's up to you to figure out the puzzle of how you disable your opponent and move on. These are actually shockingly intelligent as the look of the cliche fight hides a character interaction puzzle and you will need to read and figure out the other one to win while having it's own flair.
Still, for all this does right, it really doesn't do enough unfortunately. You just get a taste before it's over and you are looking for the next part. It would have served the game well to have gone that much further.
7/10
Bugs: While the game didn't last long, it ran perfectly.while it did.
Overall: Hiveswap holds a lot of promise of what is to come, but unfortunately that is about all it has. It stops before thing really start up. If you can get it cheap, it's definitely worth a look. If you are already a Homestuck fan, its probably worth it either way, but I would honestly like to see the game completed and released as one package before I recommend it more seriously.
Score:
7/10
System Requirements:
- Dual Core CPU running at 2.2Ghz or faster
- 4 GB RAM
- Anything with 1 GB ovf VRAM
- 6 GB hard drive space
- Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10
- Ryzen 7 (2700) 3.2 Ghz
- 16 GB RAM
- Nvidia Geforce 1660 (6GB VRAM)
- Windows 10 (64 Bit)
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