HIVESWAP: ACT 2
- November 25, 2020
- What Pumpkin Games, Inc.
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"HIVESWAP: ACT 2" is the thrilling sequel to the popular point-and-click adventure game. Join Jude and his friends as they continue to uncover the secrets of Alternia and navigate its unique challenges. With new characters, puzzles, and humor, players will be immersed in this richly detailed universe. Be prepared for unexpected twists and turns in this exciting continuation of the HIVESWAP saga.
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Reviews
- The game features beautiful art and music, maintaining the high standards set by Act 1.
- The character interactions are engaging and humorous, with a diverse cast that adds depth to the story.
- The game provides a deeper exploration of Alternian culture and social dynamics, making it interesting for both fans and newcomers.
- The trial segment is overly long and convoluted, detracting from the overall pacing and enjoyment of the game.
- There are numerous bugs and technical issues that hinder the gameplay experience, making it feel unpolished.
- The gameplay shifts from a point-and-click adventure to a more linear visual novel style, which may disappoint fans of the original format.
- story202 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "Hiveswap: Act 2" is generally praised for its engaging characters and humor, with many players appreciating the deeper exploration of troll culture and the emotional arcs of the protagonists, Joey and Xefros. However, some critiques highlight issues with pacing, repetitive fetch quests, and a lack of significant plot progression, which can detract from the overall experience. While the narrative is compelling for fans of the Homestuck universe, newcomers may find it less accessible due to its reliance on established lore and character connections.
“Enjoyable characters, fantastic story, and an amazing soundtrack.”
“The story builds real intrigue about what's in store for our protagonists and whether they can truly trust the people around them.”
“The game tells a compelling story that largely stands on its own with great build-up and pacing.”
“This game does not succeed in investing me in its story, and I played this when I was still into Homestuck.”
“The majority of the game is spent moving back and forth along the exact same set of assets, completing fetch quests and talking to the exact same characters again and again.”
“The story is also pretty focused around class disparity, so it might come off as a little preachy, but it's not obnoxious and it's done competently.”
- music121 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and composition, particularly noting the contributions of Toby Fox and James Roach. The soundtrack is described as catchy and immersive, enhancing the overall experience, although some players mentioned a lack of variety due to recurring leitmotifs. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the game's charming art and engaging story.
“Enjoyable characters, fantastic story, and an amazing soundtrack.”
“The music is wonderful as is to be expected, and I love the art, although there are some issues with the art.”
“The music is great as always.”
“The music is well composed and very catchy, although lacking in variety due to an overarching leitmotif for most of the game.”
“There is a noticeable decline in quality in comparison to act 1, with the exception of backgrounds, music, and characters.”
“Also, the choice in music track for one particular section had a classic 8-bit sound that got kind of annoying to hear on loop given how long I spent in that particular area.”
- gameplay101 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Hiveswap: Act 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it closely resembles the first act but with some improvements and added complexity, such as character-switching mechanics. However, criticisms highlight a lack of engaging puzzles, tedious fetch quests, and a trial sequence that feels overly long and detracts from the overall experience. While the art and writing are praised, the gameplay often feels repetitive and unpolished, leading to frustration among players.
“The gameplay is slightly less linear than the first act, since there are alternative outcomes based on your choices.”
“It's an incredible experience with lovable characters, a fun story, and great mechanics.”
“Unlike the first act, which felt like it was emulating classic point and clicks to a tee, act 2 builds off of those games and their mechanics and improves on them, providing a wholly original experience.”
“The gameplay is pitiful and the puzzles/setpieces are just boring.”
“A lot of the 'gameplay' is just wandering around and reading useless flavor text, and this is coming from someone who loves point-and-click adventure games!”
“The gameplay itself was alright, but one part of it dragged on a bit for me, and I would've liked it more if instead of spending so long on it, I could've just had more character development and point-and-click/exploration based gameplay.”
- humor57 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of witty dialogue, cute character interactions, and self-aware jokes, often leading to laugh-out-loud moments. While many players appreciate the funny and emotional character dynamics, some feel that the humor is less consistent compared to earlier acts, with fewer memorable lines and item interactions. Overall, the game is praised for its quirky, dark, and whimsical humor, appealing particularly to fans of the source material.
“It has lots of funny moments, cute interactions, and the ending had me wanting more. I can tell Act 3 is gonna be fire.”
“This game is filled with catchy music, clever puzzles, diverse characters, and hilarious gameplay scenarios.”
“The maturity rating actually helps this game shine even more, when it refuses to back down from the brutality of Alternia, and the jokes they pull off literally had me laughing out loud and doing spit-takes at several points through the whole story.”
- graphics48 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and charming art style, which many players find engaging and expressive. While some users note minor graphical glitches and a perceived drop in quality compared to previous installments, the overall aesthetic and character design are considered top-notch, enhancing the game's atmosphere. The combination of beautiful artwork and an iconic soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a visually captivating experience.
“The artwork is top-notch, the soundtrack is iconic, and the little hints to what may or may not be going on just beneath the surface are downright delicious.”
“Truly stunning visuals with an amazing soundtrack.”
“The graphics are gorgeous and the music is amazing.”
“And what makes it even worse is the change in art style.”
“You are supposed to recognize several characters you just met and through UI art style that doesn't even match the in-game style, making it way harder than it needs to be.”
“Even some of the visuals were a step down, no strife intros, and plenty of areas that could have had more animation or better timing.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its tedious fetch quests, repetitive back-and-forth navigation, and trial segments that feel unnecessarily lengthy and frustrating. While some players appreciate the story and character interactions, many find the gameplay lacks intuitive problem-solving and can become boring over time, particularly during sections that require excessive trial-and-error. Overall, the experience is marred by a sense of monotony, making it less enjoyable for those who dislike grinding mechanics.
“If you're not a fan, the quite tedious fetch quests and the amount of guesswork will likely not vibe with you.”
“The puzzles were tedious; they usually made you just walk up and down talking to different people and not a lot of problem solving nor the inventory or abilities used much (save a few exceptions).”
“Running around to constantly talk to the same trolls over and over again is so tedious.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings ranging from humor to heartbreak. Many describe it as an "emotional tour de force," highlighting the depth of character interactions and impactful storytelling that resonate deeply, often leading to tears. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and emotional weight, making it a memorable experience for players.
“Oh man, I think this is like the most emotionally impactful the game has been for me.”
“In my view, Hiveswap Act 2 is nothing short of an emotional tour de force, and I only wish I could experience it for the first time more than once.”
“It’s easy to become invested in these guys and it’s easy to get emotional over their struggle.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players experienced a smooth gameplay without issues, the consensus leans towards the game feeling rushed and unfinished, leading to frustration among fans who anticipated a polished sequel after a long wait. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern, impacting enjoyment for a substantial number of players.
“As much as I love the Homestuck writing style, it's not enough to carry me through such a buggy, sluggish experience.”
“Fans have had to wait for this game for three years, and to be frank, it is rather buggy at times and feels as if it's been cobbled together and rushed at many points.”
“I'm trying to be as vague as possible to avoid spoilers, but basically it's so awful we had to wait so long for this game and we were so excited to see it come out, only for us to end up with a buggy half-finished product?”
- character development10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its depth, particularly for the characters Joey and Xefros, with engaging interactions and backstories revealed through exploration. However, some players feel that certain segments detract from the pacing and would prefer more focused character development over lengthy gameplay segments. The character designs and animations are generally well-received, though some animations are noted as feeling rushed.
“The art, music, and writing are just as great as in the first game, and we get some real character development for Joey and Xefros.”
“The music is as great as ever, the background and character designs are a joy to behold, and I just adore nearly all the interactions Joey and Xefros have.”
“As someone who is pretty uninterested in Alternia, this game managed to engage me with beautiful visuals and intriguing character design.”
“There's even a bit of character development.”
“I would have rather had that segment either very short or not there at all, and I would've liked it more if instead of spending so long on it, I could've just had more character development and point-and-click/exploration-based gameplay.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its strong reflection of real-world issues, engaging music, and well-designed characters, contributing to an immersive experience. While some players noted a lack of consistency in atmospheric depth compared to other titles, the overall aesthetic and pacing effectively build a captivating environment. Many reviewers appreciated the game's ability to evoke emotions and maintain interest through its atmospheric elements.
“Amazing grasp of atmosphere/aesthetics and characters, just like the first one.”
“An incredible experience with fantastic characters and a surprising amount of atmosphere.”
“I found myself shuddering whenever the underlying issues of the troll caste society strongly reflected the current and real-world political atmosphere.”
“Better atmosphere, equal if not better writing, but less engaging gameplay.”
“Art-wise, while there isn't quite the sense of atmosphere as offered by the Harley Manor for much of the game, this is made up for by an incredibly strongly designed cast - including dense collages of background trolls in the lowblood carriages.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while many players appreciate the ability to explore different paths and experience varied endings, some feel that certain sections detract from the overall replay value. Improvements in length and characterizations enhance replay potential, but a lack of engaging content in parts may limit interest for those seeking more dynamic interactions. Multiple puzzle solutions offer some replay incentive, but the overall experience may not appeal to everyone.
“Fun, easily replayable, great story.”
“It really makes me feel like my actions had consequences and gives the game lots of replay value, making me want to explore different paths to see how I can get an ending that satisfies me.”
“Definitely an improvement over act 1 in terms of length and replayability.”
“The whole scene wasn't even very relevant to the main story, and the whole part just felt like it took years and really kills the replay value of the game.”
“Characterizations were the strongest part; overall replay value is sort of low if you don't care for characterizations and wanted more snarky dialogue from flavor text.”
“At least there are multiple ways to complete some puzzles, so there's at least some replayability.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with a solid overall score of 83/100, but significant criticism for bugs and performance issues that detract from the experience, particularly towards the end. While the story and presentation are praised, the presence of stuttering and other technical problems has been deemed unacceptable for a title that has been in development for years.
“Tailing points based on several attributes (story: 10/10, gameplay: 8/10, controls: 7/10, content: 7/10, presentation: 9/10, music: 9/10, performance: 8/10), this game scores an 83/100.”
“The first game did not have the outline problem, and the first game barely had this much stuttering.”
“There are a ton of bugs and performance issues that, for a relatively short game that they have been working on for years, are actually unacceptable.”
