Hiveswap Friendsim
- April 13, 2018
- What Pumpkin Games, Inc.
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Hiveswap Friendsim" is a visual novel game where players interact with characters from the Homestuck universe. It features a series of episodic storylines with multiple endings based on player choices. The game is a spin-off of the popular webcomic Homestuck, and allows players to explore and develop relationships with its diverse cast of characters.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
PlayStation
Tablet
Reviews
- humor218 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Hiveswap Friendsim" is widely praised for its clever writing, dark undertones, and absurdity, resonating particularly well with fans of the original "Homestuck" series. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance comedic elements with deeper themes, featuring a cast of quirky characters that deliver both laugh-out-loud moments and poignant insights. While some note that the humor may lean towards a more niche audience, the overall consensus is that the game is a hilarious and engaging experience, making it a worthwhile play for both fans and newcomers alike.
“Amazing game! The humor in the writing always brings a smile to me; exquisite dark humor as well.”
“Hiveswap Friendsim is an absolutely brilliant visual novel experience that builds from a fun episodic romp into a deeply poignant and powerful story that manages to never lose its charm or its unbeatable sense of humor along the way.”
“The humor is on point and yet subtle; it doesn't sacrifice sadness for the sake of a joke, but it never fails to leave a smile on my face!”
- story201 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of Hiveswap Friendsim is a complex blend of humor and dark themes, exploring the lives of trolls in a society filled with despair. While the narrative starts off simple and silly, it evolves into a more intricate and interconnected tale as players progress through the volumes, offering engaging character backstories and a unique take on friendship. However, some players feel that the later volumes suffer from rushed writing and a lack of meaningful choices, which can detract from the overall experience.
“It mixes humor with a really impactful story about a society that hates those who live in it and leaves them without hope.”
“Hiveswap Friendsim is an absolutely brilliant visual novel experience that builds from a fun episodic romp into a deeply poignant and powerful story that manages to never lose its charm or its unbeatable sense of humor along the way.”
“The storytelling starts silly and fairly nonsensical, but as the volumes add up and the story goes on, the story and characters become more elaborate and interconnected.”
“The story itself doesn't even let you see in the end if you'll even remember these characters; the choices and story are laid for you that you will never be attached to any of the friends you've made along the way, and considering the fanbase is dying to even fill that void, it all goes down the drain as the second installment, Pesterquest, confirms that none of the friends here will own up to much, because they are all long gone.”
“The dark humor and twisted world only makes it worse, since they make the story and choices illogical in most cases.”
“Story is completely off-putting and the characters are wholly unlikable.”
- music143 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many praising its quality, variety, and ability to enhance the overall experience. James Roach's soundtrack is frequently highlighted as exceptional, fitting the themes and moods of the characters effectively. However, some users noted issues with music loading and repetition, suggesting that while the soundtrack is strong, there are areas for improvement in its implementation.
“I will forever stand by this being the only piece of Homestuck media that is consistently good - characters are interesting, the plot is better than it needs to be, and James Roach's soundtrack is incredible.”
“The music is absolutely amazing.”
“The writing, music, and art are all amazing.”
“The art and music feel rushed, the pacing is bad, and all of the endings are, in fact, bad endings.”
“Volume one is definitely the worst of the 4 volumes so far, with unpolished art, old music that doesn't fit especially well, and lackluster dialogue, but the following DLCs improve upon it.”
“Short, unpolished, and outright lazy music.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the cute art style and character designs, while others criticize the inconsistent quality and amateurish feel of the artwork. Early visuals are described as budget and lacking polish, but later characters showcase significant improvement and flair. Overall, while the art may not appeal to everyone, it is often seen as charming and fitting for the game's narrative style.
“As always with Homestuck games, the music and artwork go above and beyond.”
“Absolutely stellar artwork, and certainly worth it for the price.”
“I love the feel of the game and how cute the artwork is!”
“At first glance, I could already see mistakes and laziness in the artwork itself.”
“Unfortunately, the unpolished sprites with weird, inconsistent artwork just didn't charm me.”
“The graphics look like they were drawn by a four-year-old with the talent of Pablo Picasso in his prime.”
- emotional49 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing deep attachment to the characters and their stories, often leading to tears and heartfelt moments. Reviewers highlight the balance between humor and serious themes, noting the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from laughter to sadness. The character development and emotional depth are emphasized, making it a compelling experience for those invested in the narrative and its quirky, endearing characters.
“I cried when I reached the ending because I didn't want to leave this world and these trolls that I've come to love and care for so much as if they were actually my friends.”
“I laughed, I cried, I allowed the inescapable void of the epilogue to consume me.”
“I've lost count over how many times I cried actual tears while playing this.”
“A boring story with worse characters than the source material.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as extremely simple and minimal, typical of a visual novel, focusing more on character interactions and emotional storytelling rather than complex mechanics. Players can expect short chapters and limited gameplay time, with DLC adding only brief additional content. While it may not satisfy those seeking extensive gameplay, it offers enjoyable writing and character depth for fans of the genre.
“Whether it's a route about a silly boy that likes hot dogs too much or a deep cosmological message about the nature of time and the impact we make, the core gameplay loop reveals deep characters, funny jokes, and bouts of some of the best emotional intimacy a game in this genre has communicated.”
“That left me with around five hours of gameplay with all the DLC so far, which isn't a whole lot, but they never portrayed it as anything beyond a small 'friendsim', so I'm not unhappy about that.”
“Gameplay is simple enough, assuring everyone will have access to the full story of both Ardata and Diemen.”
“I get it's a visual novel and it's not supposed to have a huge amount of gameplay, but at the same time there's so little you get to do.”
“The only downside for me is that each chapter is pretty short, so in raw gameplay time the value for money isn't great unless you get it on sale.”
“Each DLC adds 2 characters and each character only adds about 10-15 minutes of gameplay.”
- character development10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development, with each character offering unique backstories that enhance the overall narrative experience. Players appreciate the engaging storytelling and the personalized themes associated with each character, which contribute to a deeper emotional connection. Overall, the combination of character design, music, and storytelling creates a nostalgic and immersive experience reminiscent of beloved works like Homestuck.
“So I've got to say, I like how becoming friends with each of the characters provides some form of backstory or character development.”
“It is very nice to see some character development for the characters introduced in Troll Call.”
“Character designs are tons of fun, and each character (of the two I've befriended so far) seemed to have their own background music or theme.”
“I have to say, I like how becoming friends with each of the characters provides some form of backstory or character development.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with users feeling that it lacks sufficient content to justify its price. Many believe it resembles a short, free advertisement rather than a fully developed game, leading to disappointment among fans expecting more substantial fan service.
“Instead, we don’t get Hiveswap Act 2 and we get a lazy cash grab that just continues to be a symptom of Homestuck hitting mainstream and going big.”
“If it was a cash grab, it would have cost more, but if it was truly fan service, it should have had a bit more content to boot.”
“I won't lie to you - this 'game' is incredibly short, and might as well have been a free advertisement flash game.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the grinding in the game is manageable, with typical routes taking about half an hour, making it feel less tedious compared to other visual novels. This streamlined approach to grinding is seen as a refreshing change.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with players reporting frequent lag and visual glitches within just 30 minutes of gameplay. Overall, the performance is described as poor, detracting from the overall experience.
“The game runs very poorly; within 30 minutes of playing, I have encountered significant lag and visual glitches.”
“There are numerous bugs and glitches that severely impact gameplay.”
“The game suffers from frequent performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the game offers some replayability through multiple character failure states and true befriending options, many players feel that overall, it lacks significant incentives for repeated playthroughs.
“I ran through it a few times, but there isn't much replayability.”
“Each character has a number of failure states and a true befriending, so there's a bit of replayability here.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by Hussie's unique blend of bizarre humor and the chilling violence of the Alternian setting, creating a distinctive and engaging experience for players.
“I loved the unique blend of bizarre humor and the chilling atmosphere created by the cold-blooded Alternian violence.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of Hiveswap's first episode has been criticized for underperforming financially, especially given its significant popularity and merchandise sales potential. Despite its initial hype, the game's performance did not meet expectations.
“For a property that brought Newgrounds to its knees and supposedly generated millions of dollars in merchandise sales, Hiveswap's first episode was quite the financial underperformance.”
