Hiiro
- July 12, 2016
- Marc Cuva
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Hiiro" is a single-player platformer game offering around 3 hours of playtime. The game includes a Collector's Edition with a soundtrack by Jon Tiburzi and Bevibel Harvey, as well as a PDF detailing the development history of Hiiro. Players can expect a unique and engaging gaming experience with these additional features.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Hiiro is a beautifully crafted exploration game with a calming atmosphere and relaxing soundtrack, making it a pleasant experience.
- The game offers a vast world to explore with numerous collectibles and puzzles, providing a satisfying sense of discovery.
- It successfully conveys its story without words, allowing players to interpret the narrative through visuals and environmental cues.
- Many players experienced technical issues, such as the game not opening or displaying a black screen, preventing them from playing.
- The controls can be clunky, particularly when interacting with ladders, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
- Some players found the game to be repetitive and lacking in challenge, leading to a sense of boredom over time.
- music37 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall exploration experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is relaxing and meditative, effectively setting a tranquil mood that complements the gameplay. While some mention a lack of variety, many appreciate the seamless transitions between different area themes, contributing to a satisfying and immersive environment.
“The music helps set the mood as relaxed and tranquil, and the game provides some hints to tracking down remaining collectibles, so finding everything is an achievable task, even without outside resources.”
“The music is beautiful ambience to the point of almost being ASMR (I instantly went back and bought the 99-cent 'collector's edition content' DLC just to get the soundtrack). The pixel landscapes and settings are gorgeous, too.”
“The music blends seamlessly from one area to the next, matching the theme of that area well, and there are lots of secrets to be found (hint: look closely for differences in walls and floors) absolutely recommended!”
“You hear the same basic generic lame song the whole game and you're supposed to feel like you're immersed.”
“The art-style isn't special, there are no settings (my game was in a tiny window), the intro isn't skippable, the sound effects/music mediocre at best and the controls feel a bit clunky.”
“Some things are not clear in this game, like the big cubes, and the music is tiring.”
- story27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is conveyed entirely through visuals and symbols, with no written text, allowing players to interpret the narrative themselves. Central to the plot is a dying tree in a floating village, with a golden cube below that holds the potential for salvation. While some players appreciate the minimalist approach and the opportunity for personal interpretation, others find the lack of a clear storyline detracts from the experience, viewing it more as a backdrop for exploration and gameplay.
“The game is a story told without words, so much so that the title and credits are the only points at which any text appears at all.”
“Though there isn’t any writing, the story is conveyed well through visuals and symbols; the tree in the middle of the protagonist’s floating village is dying and all the other villagers are fading away with it, but a golden cube in the world below can somehow save everything.”
“The start: what I liked about this game is that they used the story + walkthrough to show you what you can do with the player before you start the game. That's an interesting element, and I also loved the story which doesn't require any single words. The 'show & don't tell' way made everything crystal clear, and the game showed you what kind of things you collect to save that tree.”
“I'm not sure what the story is about.”
“The story, as much as there is one, is mostly background so you can zone out collecting things for a while without feeling the need to focus.”
“There is a minimalist story here, sort of, but not really.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic that pays homage to retro pixel art, which some players find charming despite its simplicity and lack of detail. While the visuals effectively convey the story through symbols and consistent style, opinions vary on their quality, with some praising their cuteness and others noting issues with visibility and camera angles. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting for the game's exploration and puzzle-solving focus, though they may not appeal to everyone.
“The graphics are adorable and I love the attention to detail.”
“The graphic design is very simple and yet, not done poorly, but with a very clean and cute touch.”
“This is a nice little exploration platformer with quaint visuals, a relaxing soundtrack, and a simple goal: exploring and puzzle solving.”
“They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“The art style is basic, but retains its own charm.”
“The art style isn't special; there are no settings (my game was in a tiny window), the intro isn't skippable, the sound effects/music are mediocre at best, and the controls feel a bit clunky.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Hiiro is characterized by its simplicity and focus on exploration, with players collecting golden cubes and solving puzzles in a relaxing, ambient environment. While some find the mechanics clunky and the gameplay repetitive, others appreciate the meditative experience and the game's atmospheric design. Overall, it offers a mix of platforming and puzzle-solving that appeals to those seeking a chill gaming experience, though it may not satisfy players looking for more technical challenges.
“8.5/10 - praised for the relaxing gameplay and ambient music, and I agree; zen-inducing!”
“A beautifully crafted game, with an amazing soundtrack, challenging puzzles, and fun gameplay to boot. I recommend this game if you like puzzle games and have some time to kill.”
“A quick, but satisfying game, definitely worth the price - a great deal of care has gone into the mechanics and environment design, and despite being short, its meditative and relaxing gameplay doesn't overstay its welcome.”
“The gameplay is just a very simple platforming, and never really relies on platforming skills.”
“Gameplay feels clunky.”
“Simple gameplay, mechanics, storytelling, and design can often create a game that quickly becomes dull.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its serene and charming environment, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack that complements the exploration and mild puzzle elements. Players find it to be a relaxing experience, with a strong emphasis on atmospheric immersion that enriches the overall gameplay.
“A quite relaxing and strangely atmospheric platformer with slight hints of puzzles.”
“Heavy on atmosphere and exploration, with some mild puzzle elements.”
“The simple puzzles with the relaxing soundtrack set a good atmosphere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for being both short and original, making it an enjoyable experience that players recommend trying out.
“It is short and funny; give it a try and enjoy it.”
“Funny and original.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players note that the game involves significant grinding, particularly in the context of achieving certain goals, which may not appeal to those who dislike repetitive tasks. If grinding against walls is not enjoyable for you, this game might not be the right fit.
“If you don't like grinding up against walls for fun, this game is not for you.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious.”
“Achievements require excessive grinding, which makes the game feel more like a chore.”
