Hollow Floor
- August 26, 2024
- Ahmed Khalifa (Amidos2006)
Hollow Floor is an exploration-based single-sitting Metroidvania inspired by VVVVVV and REDDER. Hollow Floor power-ups are based on adding movesets that will expand the player's ability to explore all three different dangerous biomes. Hollow Floor world is full of secrets and hard challenges that can be tackled at any moment in the game or completely ignored. All you need to finish is to collect a…
Reviews
- Hollow Floor offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience with its unconventional mechanics and well-designed levels, making it a delightful challenge for players.
- The game features a charming art style and atmospheric music that enhance the overall experience, creating an immersive environment for exploration.
- It's a bite-sized Metroidvania that is both fun and rewarding, with frequent checkpoints that help mitigate frustration while still providing a satisfying challenge.
- The difficulty can be extreme, with some players finding the challenge rooms tedious and punishing due to long stretches of precise platforming without checkpoints.
- Certain mechanics, such as the inability to stop falling after jumping, can detract from the enjoyment and lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The graphics and UI elements can be inconsistent, with some players noting issues like blurry fonts and a lack of visual landmarks in the map design.
- gameplay36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the absence of a traditional jump, which requires players to adapt their approach to puzzles and platforming. While the game offers a challenging experience with minimal guidance, many players appreciate the opportunity to discover mechanics on their own, although some find the difficulty spikes and certain mechanics, like the negative edge jump, frustrating. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and innovative, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre, despite some clarity issues with power-ups and map design.
“There is no hand holding at all and it can be tough, especially until you get the hang of the nuanced gameplay.”
“I liked how it taught the mechanics, and because they were so simple, it was able to lock you in without telling you what the controls are until you figure it out yourself.”
“Overall, I think in terms of gameplay, this game is excellent for such a short experience, and I hope that the developer continues to make more games; I'd be particularly interested to see how they would handle a larger Metroid experience with more freedom for the player to sequence break and potentially use some emergent gameplay from how the upgrades interact to have a more open experience!”
“There is no hand holding at all and it can be tough, especially so until you get the hang of the nuanced gameplay.”
“Checkpoints and difficulty started out generous, but then I encountered one place where I went through about 7 screens, died, and oddly they were easy screens but the gameplay wasn't satisfying me in such a way that I had any desire to redo them.”
“It also does not feel like they use the introduced mechanics as much as just raw precision platforming.”
- music20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its lushness and ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively complementing the gameplay's puzzle and exploration elements. While some players found the harmonies simple and certain sound effects harsh, the overall consensus is that the music successfully immerses players in the game world, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience. However, a few users expressed irritation with the music, indicating a mixed reception among players.
“The art style, combined with the atmospheric music, really completes the experience and pulls you into a world that feels both relaxing and fun!”
“Graphics are simple, appealing and get the job done, and the music succeeds at setting the mood for each of the zones.”
“To the composer, I enjoyed the music and while I think the harmonies are simple, they were generally fairly appropriate for this game and besides the blue area I think the music was quite good at getting me immersed in this game.”
“I found the music irritating.”
“At this point, I felt that the music in the game was maybe a bit simple but worked quite well for both the puzzle and exploration elements of gameplay that were prominent for me.”
“The music succeeds at setting the mood for each of the zones, but it feels a bit repetitive.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally appealing and effectively communicate gameplay elements, though some users noted inconsistencies, particularly with blurry fonts. The art style, reminiscent of VVVVVV, contributes to a relaxing atmosphere, while the music enhances the overall experience. Despite minor issues, the visuals are considered simple yet effective, fitting well within the game's design.
“The art style, combined with the atmospheric music, really completes the experience and pulls you into a world that feels both relaxing and fun!”
“Graphics are simple, appealing, and get the job done, and the music succeeds at setting the mood for each of the zones.”
“I've been obsessed with tiny metroidvanias (both in scale and graphics) and this was a wonderful addition.”
“The graphics were a bit inconsistent, unfortunately. Generally, they were fine (I like the VVVVVV inspired look), but the fonts look a bit blurry, especially the coin display.”
“Besides this, the graphics were fine, and in terms of the gameplay, they communicated everything they needed to clearly, which is the most important thing.”
“The music was interesting; I liked that the music wasn't necessarily 8-bit to match the visuals, but I wish some of the sound effects were less harsh, especially when first booting the game and interacting with the menus.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional impact of games in the Metroidvania genre varies significantly, with some titles evoking deep feelings of nostalgia, loss, and triumph. Many reviewers appreciate how these games can create a strong connection to their characters and narratives, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Overall, the emotional resonance is a key factor that elevates certain games within the genre.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and punishing, particularly due to long stretches of precise platforming without checkpoints, which can lead to frustration.
“Just having long stretches of precise platforming with no checkpoints just feels tedious and punishing.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of many indie precision platformers is often perceived as simplistic, with titles like vvvvvv and Super Meat Boy standing out for their engaging narratives. However, many players feel that other games in the genre lack depth, leading to a frustrating experience that overshadows the gameplay.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its art style and atmospheric music, creating an immersive experience that feels both relaxing and enjoyable for players.
“The art style, combined with the atmospheric music, really completes the experience and pulls you into a world that feels both relaxing and fun!”