Hive Jump
- January 18, 2017
- Graphite Lab
Interesting run and gun action saves a somewhat middling roguelike.
Hive Jump is a fast-paced, action-platformer where you play as a brave space marine tasked with eradicating alien hives. Use a variety of weapons and equipment to navigate through procedurally generated levels, and work together with your team in local or online co-op. Fight challenging bosses, collect resources, and upgrade your gear to save humanity from the alien threat.
Reviews
- The game features fun run-and-gun gameplay with a variety of weapons and upgrades, making it enjoyable for players who love action-packed experiences.
- The pixel art and soundtrack are well-executed, providing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games like Metroid and Contra.
- Playing with friends in local co-op enhances the experience, making it a great choice for those looking for a fun multiplayer game.
- The gameplay becomes repetitive quickly due to a lack of enemy and level variety, leading to a grindy experience.
- The online multiplayer is plagued with desynchronization issues and lag, making it frustrating to play with friends.
- The game suffers from technical bugs and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall enjoyment and polish of the experience.
- gameplay51 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a fun and fast-paced core loop, reminiscent of classic run-and-gun titles, but suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of enemy and level variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time. While some mechanics, like the backpack health system and varied weapon options, add depth, many players find the overall execution mediocre and plagued by bugs. Despite its charming graphics and engaging soundtrack, the gameplay ultimately leaves players wanting more in terms of content and balance.
“Amazing gameplay and constant action with a very cool concept & art style.”
“On the bright side, the game's playing mechanics are pretty cool, the customization is also pretty cool (but could be expanded on), and the gameplay is just a delight, murdering a crowd of alien insects never felt so good.”
“It's repetitive, sure - but that core gameplay loop itself is very entertaining, the guns are fun and varied, and the randomization provides enough spice to keep you going back for just one more jump.”
“Unfortunately, it hasn't changed much since then - they've added tons of content but the core gameplay remains just as buggy as ever.”
“Gameplay gets old real fast, partly due to the lack of enemy diversity but more importantly the level design.”
“However, after enough hours (necessary to complete the campaign mode) the gameplay can become quite repetitive.”
- music28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its catchy and energizing chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted that the repetitive nature of the single track can lead to monotony over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, complementing the game's vibrant pixel art and engaging gameplay.
“Everything, from the crisp pixel art, the energized background music, sound effects, and style is top notch.”
“At the core, Hive Jump is visually appealing, fun to play, and has great music.”
“Great retro graphics, great music, great gameplay, all around awesome.”
“Same enemies, same bosses, same short music loop.”
“Music is always the same track, which of course gets repetitive as well.”
“Replay value is very low and even the soundtrack gets boring really quick.”
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a basic and somewhat lacking narrative that primarily serves as a backdrop for combat-focused gameplay, with missions often feeling repetitive and lacking variation. While there is a fun storyline and some rewarding exploration, many players feel that the story could benefit from more depth and detail. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element to the action, with a few players appreciating the classic space-marine themes despite its shortcomings.
“A fun, challenging, four-player-coop rogue-lite run-and-gun game, with a surprising amount of backstory that reminds one of the best parts of classic space-marines-vs-bugs stories.”
“(which is quite short, but already expected. pretty fun storyline though)”
“If you put in the time, there is a storyline that you can play with friends.”
“Oh yeah, and if people look at this and think, 'oh hey that looks like Metroid', you need to understand that this is like Metroid if all of the game puts most of its emphasis on the combat and basically nothing else (not to be rude, and I know the developers tried, but the story is trash and is continuously being shoved your way), but it should be noted that exploring does reward you... sometimes.”
“There isn't much variation between each mission; it's basically 'hey we need you to go here and kill these enemies and explore their hive and get to the bottom of it and kill whatever boss is down there.'”
“The story is just lacking detail as well.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming art style, vibrant colors, and smooth visuals, often compared to classic titles like Metroid and Contra. Players appreciate the pixel art and detailed design, which enhance the overall experience alongside a fitting chiptune soundtrack. While some noted minor issues with gameplay mechanics, the visual presentation remains a standout feature that resonates well with fans.
“Amazing gameplay and constant action with a very cool concept and art style.”
“Charming graphics, a pulsing soundtrack, and smooth gameplay makes this a favorite of mine.”
“The graphics are nice and colorful, and the music fits great.”
“I would give this a thumbs up for the graphics and music if it weren't for the gameplay that makes me never want to pick this up again.”
“So yeah, in short, the online capabilities, enemy variety, and boss variety are kinda meh, but could be fixed with an update, but the combat, progression, and pixel graphics of this game are pretty nifty.”
“It has an excellent chiptune soundtrack and pixelated graphics, tons of weapons, grenades and items, procedural levels and support for online co-op, which was initially glitchy and prone to desyncs, but the netcode has been patched several times since it entered early access and as of release, it functions significantly better.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant issue, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs that affect gameplay, particularly in online co-op mode, which struggles to maintain a stable frame rate. Despite the addition of new content, the core gameplay remains plagued by glitches and repetitive mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game's stability is a major drawback that detracts from its enjoyment.
“Unfortunately, it hasn't changed much since then - they've added tons of content but the core gameplay remains just as buggy as ever.”
“The online co-op mode is very buggy and demands that you play at 30 fps.”
“The main problem is the game ending glitches.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the synergy of a well-planned loadout, while others criticize it for poor performance, limited frame rates (capped at 30 fps), and a lack of significant upgrades. Overall, the repetitive gameplay and subpar presentation contribute to a generally disappointing experience.
“It's a great feeling when a good plan and an optimized loadout come together in a particular run.”
“Very poorly optimized; 30 fps is the max you can get.”
“Upgrades do not feel significant, gameplay really only hits a few notes, and there are some performance issues.”
“Repetitive gameplay, disappointing performance, and ho-hum presentation make this a game that’s 'ok' at best.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with players noting a lack of novelty in the rooms and a quickly tiresome soundtrack, which diminishes the incentive to revisit the game.
“The game offers a great variety of rooms, which significantly enhances the novelty and replayability.”
“The replay value is impressive, keeping the experience fresh and engaging each time you play.”
“Each playthrough feels unique, making you want to dive back in for more adventures.”
“Would have increased the novelty of the rooms and replayability.”
“Replay value is very low and even the soundtrack gets boring really quick.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized as a divisive element, with some players appreciating its wit and comedic touches, while others may not resonate with it as strongly. Overall, it adds a unique flavor to the experience, complementing the enjoyable gameplay and visuals.
“The game's wit and humor will probably be a love-hate thing for most people.”
“The humor adds a unique charm to the gameplay experience.”
“The clever jokes and funny dialogue kept me entertained throughout the game.”
Critic Reviews
Hive Jump (Switch) Review
Interesting run and gun action saves a somewhat middling roguelike.
65%Hive Jump (Wii U eShop)
While I actually like Hive Jump and its ideas, as a beta tester of multiple different homebrew games this still has the feel of an incomplete beta.
60%Hive Jump (Nintendo Switch)
In the end, the overall difficulty of the game makes Hive Jump a hard game to recommend. Players looking for a one player run-and-gun game should look to other titles. If you like difficult multiplayer games, this might be the game you are looking for.
60%