Hylics
- August 4, 2015
- Mason Lindroth
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Hylics" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game with light JRPG elements, featuring advanced graphics, RPG battles, and random text generation. With ~2 hours of content, players can expect a wholesome story filled with humor and atmosphere, accompanied by splendid music. Controls are simple, using Space/Return and Arrows, with Esc to access the menu. The game is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8 and can be found on masonlindroth.tumblr.com.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- graphics1,114 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Hylics" are widely praised for their unique claymation aesthetic, which creates a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the game's striking visuals as its standout feature, often describing them as mesmerizing and reminiscent of a psychedelic experience. While the gameplay may be basic, the combination of innovative art style and evocative soundtrack elevates the overall experience, making it a memorable piece of interactive art.
“Developed by Cody Daugherty, the game stands out for its unusual artistic presentation, which combines a clay-collage-inspired aesthetic with an enigmatic and evocative atmosphere.”
“The visuals, in combination with a soundtrack that manages to be deceptively emotive and hypnotic even with an unorthodox and simple song structure, create a blissfully dreamlike audiovisual experience.”
“The art style is absolutely incredible and one of the most fresh, individual things I've seen in gaming, the characters are likeable, even when most of their dialogue is auto-generated.”
“Some visuals might make you nauseated (which is another reason why I suggest looking at a review before you buy. I'm non-neurotypical and more sensitive to these issues).”
“There are no graphics settings in the game.”
“Get rid of the visuals (which look like digitalized clay artwork) and you have a hollow game with nothing to offer.”
- music970 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Hylics" is widely praised for its unique and surreal qualities, effectively complementing the game's bizarre claymation visuals. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's blend of psychedelic rock, ambient sounds, and experimental elements, creating a calming yet disconcerting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some find the music to be an acquired taste, many agree that it is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive quality.
“The soundtrack features ethereal and often unsettling melodies that perfectly complement the game’s surreal tone.”
“The music is amazing and just is perfect for this type of game; I really enjoy the clay work and animation as well as including the character designs.”
“The visuals, in combination with a soundtrack that manages to be deceptively emotive and hypnotic even with an unorthodox and simple song structure, create a blissfully dreamlike audiovisual experience.”
“The music is sickening but the gameplay is okay, but the visual art direction is like no other.”
“The music and sound effects are equally cheap, strange, crappy, and unique.”
“The music is unfailingly disconcerting, embellishing the quirky world with a thick, slightly sinister atmosphere.”
- gameplay630 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Hylics* is characterized by its blend of traditional RPG mechanics with unique, surreal twists, making it both accessible and engaging for a wide range of players. While the combat and exploration are relatively simple and reminiscent of classic JRPGs, the game stands out through its experimental mechanics, such as a death system that encourages players to embrace failure as a means of progression. Overall, the gameplay serves as a backdrop to the game's striking visuals and cryptic narrative, creating a memorable experience that prioritizes artistic expression over complexity.
“Hylics is a unique experience that defies conventional RPG norms with its surreal visual style and experimental approach to both narrative and gameplay.”
“The game mechanics are accessible enough to attract a broad range of players, but their true beauty lies in how they intertwine with the artistic style and narrative of the game.”
“The combat and gameplay loop is very solid too.”
“This game felt like more of a visual experience than a gameplay-centered one.”
“The gameplay is wonky and rudimentary and the difficulty curve makes no sense, but I suppose that's fitting for a game like this.”
“Look past the cool and psychedelic graphics on display and you get an extremely shallow 'game' with an extremely weak narrative and boring gameplay due to the mediocre combat.”
- story544 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of *Hylics* is characterized by its surreal and abstract nature, often described as confusing and nonsensical, with much of the dialogue being randomly generated. Players embark on a quest to defeat Gibby, the king of the moon, but the narrative is intentionally vague and open to interpretation, focusing more on the experience and atmosphere than a coherent plot. While some appreciate the artistic and whimsical elements, many find the lack of a clear storyline a drawback, making it a unique but polarizing experience.
“The story of Hylics is deliberately opaque and enigmatic, encouraging active exploration and personal interpretation of events.”
“The plot revolves around a series of events and characters that seem connected through a web of symbols and cryptic messages.”
“The true brilliance of Hylics lies in its enigmatic and abstract storytelling.”
“The story is nearly non-existent and the text is mostly randomized.”
“The story, if there even is one, makes no sense and is impossible to follow.”
“The plot and way characters talk is very cryptic and mysterious leading you to not really know what's going on and piece it together yourself.”
- humor214 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Hylics" is characterized by its surreal and absurdist nature, featuring quirky dialogue, bizarre character animations, and nonsensical scenarios that often elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the game's unique blend of humor and art, with many noting the effectiveness of randomly generated text and the intentional esoteric writing that enhances the overall whimsical experience. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, the majority agree that it contributes significantly to the game's charm and entertainment value.
“Unironically super funny and genuinely a work of art.”
“Hylics is host to many different hidden easter eggs and items, unique enemies and characters, and genuinely hilarious dialogue.”
“The surreal nature of this game makes for some really funny scenarios.”
“Not funny, didn't laugh.”
“Not funny, didn't laugh.”
- atmosphere116 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal, dreamlike quality, enhanced by a unique claymation art style and an evocative soundtrack that immerses players in its bizarre world. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create an otherworldly experience, where the visuals and sound design take precedence over traditional narrative elements, making it a captivating exploration of atmosphere. Overall, the game's distinctive aesthetic and immersive ambiance are considered its strongest features, appealing to fans of surrealism and artistic expression in gaming.
“The handcrafted characters, environments, and animations create an otherworldly atmosphere that is simultaneously eerie and beautiful.”
“The game's dreamlike aesthetic, combined with a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, draws you into its bizarre and captivating universe.”
“Wonderful game, amazing one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and a great soundtrack that immerses you in the whimsical world it takes place in.”
“The music is unfailingly disconcerting, embellishing the quirky world with a thick, slightly sinister atmosphere.”
“Even the fact that there's not much of a plot here is really adding to the weird and surreal atmosphere.”
“It seems to be randomly-generated gibberish, and although it lends to the game's atmosphere, it doesn't serve any other purpose.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's grinding aspect is mixed; while some players find it tedious and repetitive, others appreciate that grinding is not heavily emphasized and can be avoided through exploration and strategic gameplay. Although a bit of grinding is necessary to prepare for the final boss, many reviewers noted that the game rewards critical thinking and offers unique mechanics that make the experience enjoyable. Overall, the game is seen as relatively forgiving with limited grinding, allowing players to focus on exploration and other activities.
“Battles aren't tedious if you search around for everything at your disposal and even death rewards you. There will be times you find yourself over your head, trust me. If you love RPGs, buy and play this at your earliest convenience; you won't regret it.”
“The gameplay isn't intense and requires no grinding, so I strongly recommend taking your time exploring everything this world has to offer!”
“There is no grinding because the quantity of possible battles is static.”
“Although, it does require some grinding towards the end or you won’t stand a chance against the final boss, who’s way stronger than regular enemies.”
“It is a light RPG with very tedious and repetitive gameplay aspects.”
“The gameplay was so straightforward and repetitive that those were the only thoughts in my head as I had to tediously traverse the landscape back-and-forth RPG-style and grind through countless pointless enemies.”
- character development44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Character development in Hylics is minimal, with no deep lore or character interactions, leading to a lack of traditional growth or narrative depth. However, the game's unique and quirky character designs, combined with its claymation aesthetic and randomly generated dialogue, create memorable and endearing figures that invite player interpretation. Overall, while character development may not be a priority, the visual and auditory elements contribute to a distinctive and charming experience.
“Hylics is delightfully strange and an absolute blast to explore; the visuals, music, and character design are all stunningly creative and will last with you for a long, long time.”
“The character designs are all vague and open to interpretation, strangely making these characters very endearing and memorable, all from headcanons and interpretation, rather than the game spelling everything out for you.”
“Hylics 1 is a very wacky experience in comparison to other games, yet it somehow charmed me to the moon (literally) in its writing, character designs, and art style.”
“The characters never actually converse with each other and there is no character development in the game.”
“There's no deep lore, no real character development, but it's all still such a great experience that I'm glad I was able to get it for less than 2 dollars.”
“Depending on one's particular tastes in different aspects of RPGs, it won't necessarily be for everyone (elaborate storyline and character development, for instance, aren't its priorities, as it focuses more on the exploration, atmosphere, and battles).”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a wide range of intense emotions while engaging with the game, from sadness and confusion to contentment, often highlighting specific moments that evoke strong feelings, such as the emotional impact of the fight with a character named Gibby. The game is described as an emotionally immersive experience, prioritizing sensory engagement over traditional gameplay mechanics, leading to moments of deep emotional resonance, including tears and feelings of dissociation. Overall, it is characterized as both fun and emotionally challenging, leaving a lasting impression on players.
“This game made me feel so many emotions from sadness to confusion to contentment.”
“The fight with Gibby made me cry hard and a lot.”
“Not to say it isn't technically proficient, I'd say it is, but the focus here is on giving you a unique emotional/sensory experience rather than to present a 'gamer's' game.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users criticizing it as merely "flashy performance art" that lacks substance, while others appreciate the potential for creating optimized or challenge playthroughs. Overall, the performance is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both style and the possibility for strategic gameplay.
“It means nothing, it does nothing, it's just flashy performance art.”
“Combine all this together, and you can make optimized or challenge playthroughs!”
- replayability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers a short experience that is still considered replayable due to its unique visuals and engaging music, as well as its innovative take on the RPG formula. However, the limited number of side quests detracts from its overall replay value.
“Short but replayable, with unique visuals and cool music.”
“Short but replayable, with unique visuals and cool music.”
“The game also toys with the RPG formula in ways that allow for some replayability.”
“The game also toys with the RPG formula in ways that allow for some replayability.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game offers a stable experience with minimal glitches during a playtime of around 5 hours, making it a cost-effective choice for players.
