HIKIBYOU2
- October 16, 2016
- Blaze Epic
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"HIKIBYOU2" is a single-player Anime Platformer game with open-ended levels and story-focused progression. It features various platforming challenges, puzzles, and stealth elements, with pixel-art graphics and an electronic soundtrack. Developed and composed by a solo developer, the game offers unlimited continues and frequent checkpoints, taking around 4 hours to beat.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features tight controls and enjoyable parkour mechanics, making traversal fun and engaging.
- The music is relaxing and complements the gameplay, helping to alleviate frustrations during challenging sections.
- There are some interesting story beats and a surprising twist at the end that adds depth to the narrative.
- The story is thin and repetitive, with a lack of engaging character development and a generic plot.
- Excessive backtracking is required, as players often need to traverse levels multiple times to complete objectives.
- Boss fights are simplistic and lack variety, often feeling like a chore rather than a challenge.
- story38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story of this game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it generic and lacking depth, often criticizing the simplistic plot and annoying characters. However, there are moments of enjoyment, particularly a surprising plot twist that some felt enhanced their overall impression. While it diverges from the first game's narrative, the story's atmosphere and unique elements may appeal to those willing to engage with its quirks.
“The story, atmosphere, and weirdness are where this game shines over the first one.”
“A surprisingly relaxing challenge platformer game with a very simple story but with a twist at the end I honestly didn't expect.”
“The plot twist was really enjoyable and it improved my overall impression of the story.”
“The story is kind of generic as the baddies are literally called 'the organisation', which is dumb.”
“The big buts are; it is just pixel graphics nothing additional to add to the game's look, the story is water thin (the game keeps referencing itself on how much little effort is put into this part of the game), the main character is annoying and did nothing to make me care.”
“The story has a high school drama feel to it which sounds awful.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this sequel has been criticized for being a simplified and less satisfying version of its predecessor, with janky controls and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. While it offers 3 to 5 hours of fast-paced fun at a low price, many players feel it falls short of expectations, particularly for experienced gamers seeking refined mechanics.
“- responsive controls and fast-paced gameplay”
“+ 3 to 5 hours of gameplay for a cheap price.”
“For the price, it is worth it just for a bit of fun but awarding gameplay.”
“As a 'sequel', this game is strange because gameplay-wise it's mostly just version 1.5 of the previous game, with the platforming parkour section being a mostly streamlined version with some changes/additions and the brawling being ultra-simplified... all while the plot is completely different.”
“It's janky and unsatisfying to play, and any experienced gamer will tell you that the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
“Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as very chill, effectively helping players cope with the frustrations of challenging platforming sections. While some reviewers noted a lack of improvement from the previous installment, the overall sound design, including enjoyable sound effects and pixel art, remains satisfactory.
“Enjoy the nice music!”
“+ enjoyable sound effects, music, and pixel art.”
“[b] Musics and sounds [/b]: while I didn't hear much improvement since the first game, the music is still okay.”
“[b] Musics and sounds [/b]: while I didn't hear much improvement since the first game, the music is still okay.”
“The music in the game is very chill, and honestly, I think it helps deal with the annoyances of some challenging platformers, since the music helps vent the steam of redoing a section.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a retro pixel art style reminiscent of classics like Cave Story, which some players appreciate. However, many criticize the lack of modern graphical options, such as resolution adjustments and additional visual enhancements, leading to a perception of the graphics as outdated and simplistic. Overall, while the art style has its fans, it may not appeal to those seeking contemporary visuals.
“I really enjoyed the art style in this, as it slightly reminded me of Cave Story's pixel art style, which is honestly what made me purchase it in the first place.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“The graphics are just pixel art with nothing additional to enhance the game's look; the story is thin, and the game keeps referencing how little effort was put into this part.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its laid-back quality, enhancing the overall experience and setting it apart from its predecessor. The combination of story, atmosphere, and unique weirdness contributes significantly to its appeal, even for players who typically dislike platformers with frequent instadeaths.
“The story, atmosphere, and weirdness are where this game shines over the first one.”
“I am usually not a fan of platformers with lots of instadeaths, but I liked the laid-back atmosphere in this one.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.
