The promotional artwork for Extremely Hat Dimension drew me to enjoying the sport, and I wasn’t disillusioned by its type. This puzzler looks like a retro dungeon or castle-based recreation that I’d have performed as a toddler. Whereas I’ve been considerably bored of retrofitted indie titles on the Nintendo Swap, Extremely Hat Dimension’s puzzles and colourful ranges made it simple to forgive the 16-bit alternative. This recreation doesn’t simply really feel like some clone of an outdated arcade title, and its retro design works for the kind of recreation it’s.
The introductory cutscene shows an animation type that’s simplistic however eye-catching. This type is definitely considered one of my favorites. Nonetheless, as enjoyable because it was to look at, the whole premise of the sport suffered from some continuity points that made a narrative appear pointless for launching you into the gameplay in any respect. Your character is invited to a hat-themed get together at a Spluff citadel. However whereas there, all of the little “otherworlder” Spluffs are possessed by Bea, the earlier winner of the hat design competitors. There isn’t any dialog all through this sequence. It’s presumed when your character enters the citadel, Bea is jealous of the eye you’re getting. Consequently, they use a magic hat towards their fellow Spluffs who then trigger a riot in the midst of this grand get together.
I don’t suppose a narrative is all that needed for all these video games, and the one right here considerably contradicts itself later. This world has “otherworlders” and people. The otherworlders love hats, and your character loves designing hats for them. Nonetheless, the opening sequence by no means exhibits the principle character with any hat. As the sport loaded between ranges, you got extra backstory that didn’t provide something worthwhile to the premise of the sport. This would possibly look like I’m nitpicking, however I’ve seen fairly a number of indie titles that attempt to pressure a narrative on an in any other case easy recreation, and it solely makes it murkier. Generally, the naked bones of a narrative are sufficient!
With all of that mentioned, this can be a easy and really enjoyable puzzler. The Spluffs all have their very own hats, and for those who don the identical hat as them, they gained’t punch you within the face. These punches don’t price you any lives or turns, however they do transfer you, and different Spluffs, in several instructions throughout the puzzle. It’s simple to nook your self for those who’re in a room of combative creatures, however this additionally makes it extra strategic and difficult as you progress via the sport.
The sport saves your progress as you go, so you’ll be able to bounce again to the title menu and choose a brand new degree to replay, for those who’re . It additionally lets you scale the degrees to 6x the usual measurement, for those who’re actually trying to get up-close and private with the degrees. When you have the Swap undocked or have sight impairments, this can be a welcomed function.
Extremely Hat Dimension ramps you as much as more difficult puzzles as you progress, which is what I’d hope any good puzzler would do. However it could actually additionally deceive you fairly simply. Some ranges may have hordes of Spluffs and hats to put on, however the precise puzzle solely takes a handful of strikes to resolve. Some are very simple to resolve, however you overthink it since you simply obtained via a tough puzzle and overestimate what the following one will maintain. (I obtained caught on 3-2 longer than any sane individual ought to.) No two Spluffs reply to one another the identical method. In case you push one into the opposite, it would purchase you a while whereas they duke it out.
The music all through Extremely Hat Dimension doesn’t overdo it with some repeating midi observe. The music feels fuller, extra adventurous, and such as you’re in a citadel or dungeon the entire time. Between that and the straightforward to discover ranges and enemy Spluffs, Extremely Hat Dimension looks like a recreation created by individuals who beloved outdated dungeon-based puzzlers. The sport requires technique, however it’s entertainingly deceitful. It’s a steadiness of frustration and cutesy environment that I actually recognize. Considerably unusual premise apart, Extremely Hat Dimension is a enjoyable recreation woven with care.
