Hitogata Happa

About

"Hitogata Happa" is a challenging vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up game, considered one of the hardest in its genre. Play as one of twelve characters, each with unique abilities, blasting through six intense stages filled with bullet insanity. Unlock special modes, secret features, and achieve 13 Steam achievements, while competing on online leaderboards. The game boasts old-school retro anime-style art and a new arranged sound.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Hitogata Happa offers a unique and challenging gameplay experience with its innovative bomb mechanic that requires players to sacrifice their dolls for powerful attacks.
The game features a variety of characters, each with different abilities, adding depth and strategy to gameplay as players must choose the right dolls for different situations.
The soundtrack is highly praised, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere of the game, making it enjoyable despite its difficulty.

The game's steep learning curve and punishing difficulty can be frustrating, especially for newcomers, with many players struggling to progress past the first boss.
Lack of clear instructions on essential mechanics, such as how to effectively use bombs, can lead to confusion and a negative initial experience.
The controls can feel clunky, and the requirement to ram into enemies to deal damage often leads to unfair deaths, making the gameplay feel more punishing than rewarding.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The gameplay of Hitogata Happa is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the bomb system, which can be rewarding but also frustrating due to its steep learning curve and lack of clear tutorials. While the game offers engaging and skill-requiring challenges, many players find it excessively punishing, especially with its "instakill-on-timeout" mechanic and poorly explained features. Overall, it appeals to dedicated bullet hell fans but may alienate those less familiar with the genre.
- “Hitogata happa actually seems like a really good bullet hell/shoot 'em up once you get a grasp on the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay doesn't have to break the mold but it has to offer this 'x factor' that makes even dying fun and a natural part of the game.”
- “In between the whimsical dolls named after tea leaves and the massive German flying machines, there's a mechanically tight game with plenty of heart that just begs to be replayed again and again.”
- “Some stupid design decisions and unreasonably difficult mechanics make the game just about unplayable for anyone who doesn't live, breathe, and eat bullet hells.”
- “Uninteresting attack patterns, extremely repetitive (and short) level design, stupid control issues (really? there's no 'slow movement' button here? in a bullet hell shmup? when there was one in the other two?), cheap boss attacks (the first boss: if you don't know that he's going to do the arm swipe as his first attack, and if you don't already know just where to be when he does it, you will die 1 second into the fight. gets worse from there.) and one of the worst game mechanics I've ever heard of in this type of game.”
- “Blindingly hard game made all the harder by lack of tutorial coupled with new mechanics.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
28%
17%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and high-octane quality that complements the bullet hell gameplay. The inclusion of the soundtrack with the game is seen as a generous bonus, and while some prefer the original tracks over the arranged versions, both are noted for their ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music is genuinely great and you can see that Hitogata Happa is a game with a lot of potential.”
- “This is a high-octane, adrenaline-laden bullet hell shooter, with all the mandatory trappings of the genre, from the cutesy graphics to the energetic soundtrack.”
- “The bullet patterns are absolutely insane and the fantastic musical score will get you pumped as you wade through endless walls of impassable bullets.”
- “Btw, my suggestion is that you should use the original soundtrack, as the new arrangements may be more nuanced, but they have lost a lot of the high-octane, flowing explosiveness the original has.”
- “The game feels a lot more clunky than other danmaku games, the OST sucks, the character design is stupid and they're annoying.”
- “An amazingly challenging but fun danmaku game; nothing absolutely groundbreaking graphics are similar to most other games of the genre (although the soundtrack is on par with something like Project Touhou), but that's still pretty good.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics are generally considered above-average but not groundbreaking, often resembling other titles in the bullet hell genre. While some players appreciate the solid visuals and energetic soundtrack, others find the overall presentation to be somewhat lackluster and generic.
- “This is a high-octane, adrenaline-laden bullet hell shooter, with all the mandatory trappings of the genre, from the cutesy graphics to the energetic soundtrack.”
- “It's got great music, solid graphics that are not-too-cute, and the controls are good.”
- “An amazingly challenging but fun danmaku game; nothing absolutely groundbreaking, graphics are similar to most other games of the genre, but that's still pretty good.”
- “It's really easy to overlook this title with its non-descript visuals, obtuse lack of instructions, and seeming resemblance to any other doujin shooter.”
- “Nothing absolutely groundbreaking; the graphics are similar to most other games of the genre.”
- “The overall presentation is pretty ho-hum.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The story is criticized for its confusing and nonsensical narrative, likened to the surrealism of "Donnie Darko" but lacking coherence. It features a mix of historical elements, such as Prussia, alongside fantastical themes like magic and futuristic warfare, creating a disjointed experience for players. The plot involves sending dolls on perilous missions amidst chaotic combat, further complicating the overall narrative clarity.
- “The plot has something to do with Prussia (once a real empire in Europe), magic (mentioned in the intro), and space-age warships (not mentioned but that's what I saw as the enemies).”
- “The story makes about as much sense as Donnie Darko dubbed in Korean.”
- “The plot involves Prussia (once a real empire in Europe), magic (mentioned in the intro), and space-age warships (not mentioned but that's what I saw as the enemies).”
- “You shall send your dolls out on a suicide mission involving many Japanese-riddled bullets that take up most of the screen.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being poor, with users reporting issues such as bugs and an overall unfinished feel, which detracts from the gaming experience.
- “Like the other games from this company, it's all loud and blurry, unfinished, and buggy.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users highlight that the game offers a significant amount of replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without losing interest.
- “There is a lot of replayability in this game, with multiple paths and choices that keep it fresh.”
- “The game offers a significant amount of replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
- “With its diverse character builds and branching storylines, the replayability factor is incredibly high.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
Character development in the game is criticized for being clunky and unappealing, with users expressing dissatisfaction with the character design and overall presentation, leading to a negative perception of the characters themselves.
- “The game feels a lot more clunky than other danmaku games.”
- “The character design is stupid and they're annoying.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a great soundtrack that complements the overall experience, contributing significantly to the immersive environment.
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every corner of the environment feels alive, creating a rich and engaging atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie ambiance, enhancing the overall experience and making every moment feel significant.”