I have one of my favorites from the beginning of the year and it will be available in Game Pass!

Game news I have one of my favorites from the beginning of the year and it will be available in Game Pass!

Bold, elegant and dynamic

When we test demos, there are games that we quickly understand the principle of. Sometimes a few minutes are enough to understand the potential of this or that game and there is no need to go further (especially when you have about thirty demos in your list). With Honti, I quickly realized I had a gem on my hands. About twenty minutes would be enough for me to give a first impression. And yet, it’s impossible to let go of the controller. My time was limited, I had too many demos to find and I couldn’t bring myself to experience all that this demo had to offer. And without wanting to spoil it, I wasn’t disappointed. One scene almost brought me to a little tear, and that without a word, just with images. And what pictures…

The first thing that jumps out at Haunty is its art direction. After all these years, some artists still surprise us with little or never-before-seen styles. And this is the case with games from Moonloop Games LLC and Firestock. With its two-tone palette and animated line art, this handmade pencil effect is a real feast for the eyes.

We often say that a game is beautiful, its art direction is meticulous, but trust me, most of them don’t come close to being hotty. Especially since the game never ceases to amaze us by playing with the camera to reveal more and more detailed and lifelike scenes. Visually, it is flawless for Honti.

And that’s not all! Everything is accompanied by a dynamic, catchy soundtrack that greatly promotes immersion in this little ghost world – thank you Light return. And hey, this little ghost has a cute side. Lost like a player in this new world, he will go from despair to despair, searching as best he can for answers to his questions and be able to reach this higher reality where his light has gone. It is very moving at the end and beautifully told. But that doesn’t mean Honty lacks humor. With its colorful characters, the title has an aspect that is funny and comforting, a real little treat. “Yes we know these games are beautiful and well told but without gameplay, there is very little for me!” hold my beerI’m far from finished with Hauntii.

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Gameplay that haunts you

And yes, Hotti is not just physical. The object is as successful as the form! On Steam, we can read that it is “A unique twin-stick that combines classic shooting mechanics with a slower, more reflective pace” And that is very true. Honti is not a fast paced action game. Despite its mechanics it gives you time Twin stick shooter In terms of combat. And it looks good! This allows players to quietly, at their own pace, explore every corner of Haunty’s world without a constant sense of urgency. Twin wands. The title smells of perfection, while offering little combat, and that’s exactly what I needed.

But the most interesting thing about Hauntii’s gameplay is that its mechanics are tied to our little ghost’s ability to haunt anything and everything.

And when we say anything and everything, it is not an exaggeration. It ranges from weapons to moving stones, including lights and trees. Because yes, the things or people you haunt are temporarily under your control. It allows you to do many things, including helping in combat, solving puzzles, or accessing hidden locations. Over and over, I told myself “Come on, I’ll try, you never know” Trying to torture this or that element, and yes, the developers thought about it. I had the impression of being surprised during this demo and that’s great!

It’s as clever as it is elegant, the Honty is an innovative nugget that I’ll remember from this Steam Neo fest. I’m already looking forward to seeing more and I hope this title gets the exposure it deserves. In any case, a recent announcement by the developers suggests that it will have a good firing window. The title will actually be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. A chance for many players to discover this title that truly deserves your full attention. If you feel like it, while waiting for a more specific release date, you can find some behind-the-scenes development on the studio website. Moonloop Games.

For now, Hauntii is revealed for the other half. Form your own opinion on the title using the demo available as part of Steam Neo Fest until February 12 at 7:00pm.

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