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Switch, Windows
// 2024-03-08, 2 min read, #gaming #review
This was really short, just as it says on the tin, but it was a magical experience the whole way through.
I had been meaning to play it ever since it was announced for Switch, but it turns out I had it in my itch.io library from a bundle for a couple years how. And since we have a small but capable computer hooked up to our TV now specifically to play games like this, it was a no brainer to finally play it.
Itch.io link: A Short Hike by adamgryu
The push actually came from my ex girlfriend the last time she was here. She recommended it because it's so chill and relaxed and my lately fatigue has been making it difficult to engage with more active games (as such, I've mostly been playing turn-based RPGs lately).
A Short Hike immediately sucked me in. You play as a young bird named Claire who's spending some time away on a small island. There's a lot of unique people on the island to talk to and lots to explore and see, and Claire is actually pretty keen to do so. I really appreciated that about her. There are places she'd rather be, but she's not letting that get in the way of enjoying where she's at. I could, learn from that.
You and Claire do have the eventual goal of hiking to the top of the mountain, and you can pick up small tasks from various folk, but none of it is ever urgent. The game through it's design emphasizes playing it at your own pace and going where you want to go. Of course, being the Gamer that I am, I breezed through it and did a ton of tasks including the full hike (with several unlockable items to make it easier) in only a couple hours. I even showed my ex some stuff she hadn't discovered yet. I recall her being a bit surprised at my expert Gaming skills :)
A Short Hike is, duh, a short game. It's not meant to take more than a couple hours. You can of course take as long as you want, but don't feel like you rushed through it. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
Besides, you (I) can always come back to it whenever to just hang out. And there are still some people I haven't fully helped in the game, so I do intend to spend more time on the island.
To close out, I really want to point out the gliding mechanic, specifically diving and speed. It's exhilarating. It takes a bit to understand how to use it and maintain both speed and altitude. But even accidentally nose diving is fun though, because you simply cannot get hurt. In fact there are no penalties at all for messing up. It is so much fun to just jump off a cliff and fly around the island or jump off and nose dive into the ground fifty feet below. I discovered a lot of neat secrets this way and I think it really encapsulates A Short Hike's experience. Try things, go places, talk to people, you can't screw it up.
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