Written by Skye
Life is full of challenges and obstacles. Sometimes, I just want to play something relaxing, and I found the game—A Short Hike. It’s a casual exploration indie game created in 3D but rendered in a pixelated art style. By just assuming the gameplay by its name, I would think of a walking simulator, but the experience the game offers is more than that.
Unlike games that start with a strong wish like Cyberpunk 2077, where the protagonist finds themselves in a do-or-die situation, or Undertale, where the player is eager to find a way to leave the underground, A Short Hike starts with the loose goal of a bird called Claire going on a peaceful journey to the top of a mountain in search of the signal for the phone by simple controls like hiking, climbing, and soaring through the mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. Being a bird doesn’t mean there are no constraints, and the player can directly fly up to the summit of Hawk Peak and finish the game. The only means to travel worldwide is by foot and gliding, which will be affected by gravity.
The size of the game is relatively small, with a length of about 1-4 hours, but it is an open-world game. In the game, there is no defined route up the hill or specific order in which you’ll encounter Non-player Characters(NPCs). Every player can go through the game at their own pace and route. Also, there are no risks in the game, which means when the player misses a jump or falls off a cliff, no damage will be taken. Therefore, when playing the game, I got very little frustration and would do things without worrying about adverse outcomes. Plus, without the time to urge me, I can spend time in special activities like Fishing, Beachstickball, and Parkour Race with the NPCs. Gradually, when I did reach the top of the mountain, I felt like I’d been through a real trip. Then the game doesn’t end there, and I can dive into the air and soar to see the beautiful surroundings and keep exploring the world.
Apart from the gameplay, I also enjoy how the music shifts according to the weather and the changing of the player’s actions, like gliding. It increases the engagement of travelling in the mountains.
The gameplay is exactly like the name: it’s short, and it’s about a hike. Usually, in a game, goals are what drive me, but this game made me embrace the process, not just the destination.
A Short Hike: Enjoy the Journey of ‘Now’
Written by Skye
Life is full of challenges and obstacles. Sometimes, I just want to play something relaxing, and I found the game—A Short Hike. It’s a casual exploration indie game created in 3D but rendered in a pixelated art style. By just assuming the gameplay by its name, I would think of a walking simulator, but the experience the game offers is more than that.
Unlike games that start with a strong wish like Cyberpunk 2077, where the protagonist finds themselves in a do-or-die situation, or Undertale, where the player is eager to find a way to leave the underground, A Short Hike starts with the loose goal of a bird called Claire going on a peaceful journey to the top of a mountain in search of the signal for the phone by simple controls like hiking, climbing, and soaring through the mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. Being a bird doesn’t mean there are no constraints, and the player can directly fly up to the summit of Hawk Peak and finish the game. The only means to travel worldwide is by foot and gliding, which will be affected by gravity.
The size of the game is relatively small, with a length of about 1-4 hours, but it is an open-world game. In the game, there is no defined route up the hill or specific order in which you’ll encounter Non-player Characters(NPCs). Every player can go through the game at their own pace and route. Also, there are no risks in the game, which means when the player misses a jump or falls off a cliff, no damage will be taken. Therefore, when playing the game, I got very little frustration and would do things without worrying about adverse outcomes. Plus, without the time to urge me, I can spend time in special activities like Fishing, Beachstickball, and Parkour Race with the NPCs. Gradually, when I did reach the top of the mountain, I felt like I’d been through a real trip. Then the game doesn’t end there, and I can dive into the air and soar to see the beautiful surroundings and keep exploring the world.
Apart from the gameplay, I also enjoy how the music shifts according to the weather and the changing of the player’s actions, like gliding. It increases the engagement of travelling in the mountains.
The gameplay is exactly like the name: it’s short, and it’s about a hike. Usually, in a game, goals are what drive me, but this game made me embrace the process, not just the destination.