Mr Hopp's Playhouse 3
- October 19, 2022
- MOONBIT
In "Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3," Ruby and Esther, two human girls, navigate The Underworld after being pursued by toy-turned-monsters Mr. Hopp, Mr. Stripes, and Miss Bo. To defeat The Entity and end its reign, they must solve puzzles, avoid traps, and find the Six Medalions. The game features light combat, boss battles, and a graphic style reminiscent of early 3D gaming on the PS1 and N64.
Reviews
- The transition to 3D graphics has been well-received, enhancing the horror experience and adding depth to the gameplay.
- The game features engaging puzzles and a compelling story that ties together elements from the previous installments, making it a satisfying conclusion to the series.
- Players appreciate the variety of enemies and intense boss fights, which contribute to the overall excitement and challenge of the game.
- Many players found the camera controls frustrating, often leading to disorientation and difficulty in navigating the environment.
- Some puzzles were considered overly complex or unclear, causing players to get stuck and requiring external guides to progress.
- The game has been criticized for its abrupt ending and the lack of screen time for the titular character, Mr. Hopp, which left some fans disappointed.
- story12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of "Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3" is praised for its engaging dynamics between the playable characters Ruby and Esther, as well as its effective blend of horror and backstory elements that connect to the previous games. Players appreciate the strong voice acting and atmospheric presentation, which enhance the narrative experience, making it a fitting conclusion to the overarching storyline. While some found the story straightforward, many highlighted its depth and the intriguing lore revealed through collectibles.
“Voice acting is fantastic, the story is great and it's pretty scary as well!”
“With the inclusion of both Ruby and young Esther in this game, Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3 has a story that contains plenty of references to both of the first two games, despite taking place in two separate time periods.”
“The game is the perfect ending to Esther/Ruby's story and brings the two together for the end; the OST, atmosphere, and voice acting for the game are awesome.”
“The story is somehow better than Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 2; this time both Ruby and Esther are playable and have some really great dynamics.”
“There was never a moment in the game where I felt the story was going too far or too deep.”
“In a way, despite taking place after the first game, the story of Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3 is a continuation of both stories of the first two games, which might sound like a bad thing, but it's actually handled very well.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their transition from 16-bit visuals to a vibrant 3D art style, effectively utilized by the developer, Moonbit. Players appreciate the unique and engaging visuals, which enhance the overall experience, while some express a preference for retro aesthetics over hyper-realism. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's fun and challenging nature.
“The brand new graphic style is the perfect shift away from the 16-bit visuals.”
“There is now so much more that can be done in the 3D art style which Moonbit utilized very well.”
“Unique graphics, simple gameplay, fascinating story, and terrifyingly outstanding visuals, it's a fun indie horror game experience all around.”
“For reference, my computer runs Raft at 15 fps and Resident Evil 7 at 20 fps, both on the lowest graphical settings available.”
“Never cared for graphics over gameplay.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging combat mechanics, impressive 3D animations, and a mix of challenging puzzles that incorporate both new and familiar elements. Players enjoy the dual-character dynamic of Ruby and Esther, as well as the intriguing backstory revealed through collectible statues. While some found certain puzzles overly difficult and felt the game strayed from its original mechanics, overall, it is considered a fun and well-executed experience.
“There is even a small combat mechanic that was implemented superbly.”
“The fact it's 3D, the animations for the cutscenes were cool, the puzzles and new mechanics—both old and new—were amazing. New entities to face were awesome, and that we got to play as both Ruby and Esther.”
“Really loved the 3D perspective and gameplay; the puzzles were challenging, except for the ones that were really hard.”
“Unlike the first two Mr. Hopp's Playhouse games, Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3's gameplay consists of completing floors in the underworld.”
“It's just gameplay.”
“Never cared for graphics over gameplay.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game significantly enhances the horror experience, with a killer soundtrack that complements the terrifying and menacing nature of the enemies. Each boss encounter is elevated by stellar music, making these moments even more impactful and memorable.
“Each enemy is terrifying as well as menacing in their own way, and coupled with the killer soundtrack, it just adds to the horror.”
“Each boss has some stellar music to back it up, which makes it so much more awesome.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the soundtrack to be forgettable and not fitting for the game's atmosphere.”
“The audio design feels unpolished, with the music often clashing with the gameplay.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including random glitches and erratic character movement, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, some players have encountered problems with puzzle mechanics, such as pushing blocks through walls.
“It glitches and spins around at random and feels very clunky.”
“I've run into some glitches, like pushing blocks through walls that I need for puzzles.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the replayability of the game enhanced by the inclusion of two playable characters, Ruby and Esther, whose dynamic interactions contribute to a more engaging experience compared to its predecessor, Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 2.
“The story is somehow better than Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 2; this time both Ruby and Esther are playable and have some really great dynamics.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With various character paths and hidden secrets, I find myself coming back to discover something new every time.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3 continues the trend of Moonbit's games being highly optimized, with users noting its smooth performance and efficient resource management.
“All of Moonbit's games have a history of being very well-optimized, and Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 3 is no exception.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the exceptional original soundtrack, voice acting, and the emotional culmination of Esther and Ruby's story, creating a compelling and immersive experience.
“The game is the perfect ending to Esther/Ruby's story and brings the two together for the end. The OST, atmosphere, and voice acting for the game are awesome.”