While waiting for Destiny 2 and Super Mario Odyssey to launch I was browsing the Steam store in order to find something to keep me busy, this is when I discovered the self-proclaimed cute-as-heck 3D platformer, "A Hat in Time", and this hidden gem deserves some attention.
The initial idea for A Hat in Time was started by developer Jonas Kaerlev, who launched the project as an answer to his feeling of an ongoing shortage of 3D platformers, specifically developed by Nintendo.
He started out as the sole developer but over time it grew into Gears for Breakfast, a team spanning four countries and entirely volunteer-based. The game was founded by a kickstarter that was an unexpected success to the developers, through the Kickstarter campaign the game surpassed the initial goal of $30,000 with a final total of $296,360.
Several guest composers contributed tracks to the game, including Grant Kirkhope, best known for his work on the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong series
The game starts out with you as the adorable character we get to know as "Hat Kid", a little girl in her spaceship on her way to her home world.
She passes over a mysterious planet where a member of the planet's Mafia comes to collect 'flying boat tax' for the Mafia Government. After being denied entrance the Mafia man breaks the glass door on her spaceship, resulting in Hat Kid and all her magic hourglasses that fuels the ship, called "Time Pieces", to fall to the planet below.
Now its up to Hat Kid to collect all her lost Time Pieces dropped across this mysterious planet!
The gameplay is reminiscent of Nintendo 64 platformers titles like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. Hat Kid travels between four different worlds that can be explored openly without time limits. She collect various items, solve puzzles, and use an umbrella to combat enemies. The main objective is to collect Time Pieces in each world, when you collect one you will unlock a new mission on the respective world.
The enemies drop "Pons" when defeated, currency that can be used to unlock additional challenges and purchase badges that increase Hat Kid's abilities.
The levels have Yarn Balls for you to collect that can be stitched into new hats, giving Hat Kid new abilities like sprint and brewing explosive potions.
Other collectables include Relics to unlock bonus stages, and Rift Tokens that unlock music and cosmetics.
Initial actions taken earlier in the game have an effect on later levels, as the main character revisits each area several times before the game is finished.
Personally I love this cute indie title. It has superb level design, greatly written characters and amazing music. I was enjoying the game from the minute I started to the minute I stopped, and then I was sad that it was over. If you're looking for a platformer to take you back to the good ol' days of Nintendo platforming, you do not wanna miss out on this title.
The length is a little short compared to the likes of say Super Mario Sunshine or Donkey Kong 64 but for an indie title I can't really complain, I guess I just want more but I am still happy with what I got. Kinda like eating a delicious dessert, you're left with a great taste but long for more. And it's just so darn adorable.
I'll include this trailer for you to take a look, hopefully you'll like what you see and support Gears for Breakfast by buying their game
The game was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in October 2017 , and will be released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sometime later in 2017
Hope you enjoyed this little review and have a nice day!
-Superpill