A Thinker in Space

Preamble

If you would like to skip to the review, scroll down! If you’d like to hear a little about the background to writing this article, continue forward.

I mentioned in my review of Walkabout Golf that I wanted to start doing some reviews of games that don’t get a ton of attention (though I’ll definitely do mainstream reviews as well). This is the fourth (or fifth if you count my 3 Sleeper Hits for the Switch article) in that series, and the first one where I’m going to lay out some ground rules. Well, really only one. I have been trying to decide whether or not to include spoilers in these reviews (if you have been following my Favorite Movies list, you likely know I am averse to sharing spoilers if it is not necessary to communicate what I want to communicate). Games like Walkabout Golf and Baba is You have nothing to spoil in terms of story – spoilers would come in the form of revealing surprises and secrets, something I don’t feel the need to do (unless it is truly something worth pointing out).

However, with games like A Short Hike, there ARE things that would spoil the game but would also factor into a review. So I’m going to split the review into two parts – the spoiler-free section, where I will talk about gameplay, give you my take on the game’s quality, and write a general review, and the spoilery section where I will go into more detail about the game! I will almost always recommend to go play the game before reading the spoiler section. With that preamble complete, let’s dive into the actual article.

Spoiler-Free Review

It had been a crazy week, and unfortunately my stash of written articles had run dry. I was seriously thinking of skipping this article because I just didn’t have the time to write one. Then, when wrapping up grades, I searched up relaxing game soundtracks and saw a recommendation for A Short Hike’s soundtrack. This game had been on my radar for a while, but I have so many games on my list that it did not take high priority. After listening to the soundtrack, I decided to try the game itself, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I don’t think it’s too much of an exaggeration to say that I was blown away.

These types of short games leave me feeling various ways. Some overstay their welcome for the concept they are executing (I’ll be reviewing one of these pretty soon) and some end up feeling bit vapid. This one is perfect. As a matter of fact, I was left wishing it was just a tad bit longer. I started the game on Friday, and finished it Saturday morning, pretty much 100%ing the game (I’m nearly positive I finished the entire thing – if there’s anything left, it is minor). Even then, I do feel like this is a game I will revisit, which is a rarity for this type of game.

There’s a lot to talk about here, so I’ll slow down and go back to the beginning. You are a bird, who has come to a mountain park to explore and climb the tallest peak. Along the way, you meet a host of characters with snappy and humorous dialogue, and some unexpected heartfelt moments. The scenery is gorgeous (I played with the smaller pixel setting) and there is a lot more to do than I expected. Originally, I thought this was just going to be about, well, going on a short hike. But this game has all sorts of stuff to do besides just walking, and that was some of the most fun I had in the game. You are well-rewarded for whatever goal you seek to accomplish, and the end result is a beautiful island to explore easily and revisit again and again.

Traversal

This is where this game truly shines. The entire map is open for you to explore with no loading screens, as well as the surrounding areas. The map is much, much bigger than I expected, and everywhere is explorable. You are only limited by how many “golden feathers” you have. The gliding, jumping, swimming, etc. is all on point, making getting from one side of the island to the other easy and fun. It is actually shocking how well this game nailed traversal when many AAA studios struggle with creating satisfying traversal methods.

Fishing

I am a sucker for fishing in video games, and I really enjoyed fishing in this one. I caught every fish (though not in every variation) available in the game. The system is easy, and you get to know the mountain very well as you play, so finding fishing spots becomes easier and easier.

Dialogue

Snappy is the best way to describe the dialogue in this game. Every interaction is enjoyable, and this makes the game even better. Sometimes, talking to NPCs is a struggle, but in this game, it was nothing short of a joy. I was excited every time there was someone new to talk to, and almost everyone you talk to is connected to some sort of reward, be it a feather, money, or something else. Most characters have multiple lines of dialogue, and returning to them will often reward you with new clever lines.

Summary

A Short Hike stood out to me in unexpected ways – it was innovative and fun, relaxing and satisfying. It would be difficult for me to find an actual criticism of this game besides, perhaps, that it was shorter than I wanted it to be. I highly recommend taking the dive and trying this game out. It is inexpensive and memorable, short but replayable. It is most certainly worth the time it takes to dive in and enjoy a short hike up Hawk Peak!

Spoiler-Filled Review

One of the things that struck me about this game was its heart. You are a bird named Claire, and you are kindhearted. You are rewarded for helping others (paying a kid’s tuition, cleaning up litter, helping characters find missing objects, and inspiring a painter to love their work despite the flaws they see). There are so many conversations that are meaningful in little ways, and they make the game shine even brighter. Talking to and helping characters is a delight, and is part of why this game resonated with me so strongly. Claire is not simply a self-insert character either – she has her own personality and has plenty of clever lines herself.

There are 20 golden feathers to collect throughout the game, and getting more of these makes traversal feel better and better. There are 2 silver feathers that improve the quality of traversal in a significant way. After I had finished most of the things in the game, I went online to see if there was anything I had missed, and found that I had naturally discovered all 22 feathers. The collectibles are satisfying to find but are not so obtuse that it requires research, something I value in games.

Your journey to the top of Hawk Peak is one of the biggest challenges in the game, and is a core part of the experience. At the beginning, you learn that Claire wants to climb Hawk Peak so that she can get cellphone reception. At the beginning of the game, I assumed this was a classic “waaaah I’m bored” scenario, so I was surprised and touched when I got to the top and your phone rang. It turns out that Claire’s mother needed surgery, and that Claire had been awaiting a call to know that everything is okay. The conversation with her mom is normal and real, and fits with the kindhearted and meaningful writing elsewhere in the story.

The biggest surprise for me was that after coming down from the peak and talking to the woman who bright you, you go in to sleep and the door slams and “the end” pops up on the screen, leaving me stunned and worried that the game was over permanently. I was relieved when I was able to load my game back in right where I left off, and keep exploring. The game lets you play indefinitely, which is mechanic I have learned I value greatly. Ending games that I have invested time into can make me want to stop playing, because I don’t want to lose everything I’ve worked for. Ending a game with an indefinite gameplay loop makes me much, much more interested in it as a whole.

This is a game I will return to, both in my current save and from the beginning, and one that I highly recommend. If you want a quick and fun gaming experience, A Short Hike should definitely be on your list. It has everything a short indie should have and then some, and I cannot wait to go back.

(Underrated Games #5)

Recommended for Younger Players

A Short Hike would be a lot of fun for a player of any age. The game play is simplistic, and a younger player might spend hours exploring the island and still find new things. None of the content is objectionable, and there is plenty of charm to experience.

Verdict: Yes!

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