The Spectral Web: Hitodama
- November 10, 2023
- Aevin Abstract
- 40h median play time
Get on Steam"The Spectral Web: Hitodama" is a top-down adventure game featuring pixel art and modern effects. When Hito gets lost in the woods, he's spirited away to the Labyrinth, where he must battle monsters and confront his captors to find his way home. With crisp, responsive controls, players can maneuver precisely, dodge enemies, and wield powerful spells. Search for hidden coins to power up and discover elemental shields.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Hitodama offers a rich blend of combat and exploration, reminiscent of classic Zelda and Metroidvania games, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- The game is packed with content, featuring multiple world maps, various gameplay modes, and a high replay value, making it a great value for its price.
- The combat mechanics are diverse and well-balanced, with a variety of spells and enemy types that encourage strategic gameplay and exploration.
- The fast travel system can be difficult to recognize, and the basic attack doesn't level up significantly until later in the game.
- Some players may find the gameplay repetitive over time, as the core mechanics remain largely the same throughout multiple playthroughs.
- The game's visuals can be inconsistent, with some lighting effects appearing amateurish and potentially detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of old-school metroidvania and Zelda-like mechanics, offering a large, interconnected map filled with diverse mechanics and engaging combat. Players can expect around 40 hours of content, with a balance of exploration and fighting, alongside various unlocks and alternate modes that enhance replayability. While the core gameplay may feel somewhat repetitive, the integration of story and mechanics keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable.
“The gameplay is fun and engaging, with mostly switching between fighting and exploring.”
“Hitodama has a large, interconnected metroidvania style map, intense bosses, fun items to fit a variety of gameplay/combat styles, passive character progression upgrades, and a story that'll keep you guessing.”
“You'll find yourself shooting every wall for hidden goodies but usually not getting frustrated because the game's mechanics and level layouts are balanced well to avoid the usual pitfalls of this kind of design.”
“It's very reminiscent of the original Zelda 1 (for NES), for various reasons, which does mean it's somewhat repetitive at times with the gameplay.”
“It actually has a decent amount of replayability, as you'll find later on with unlocks, but the core gameplay remains mostly the same, so it's really just about picking your favorite flavor.”
“These mechanics increase in complexity at a fairly smooth pace, sometimes challenging or even a bit frustrating but never incomprehensible.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game boasts impressive replayability, with a wealth of extra content, unlocks, and alternative storylines that significantly extend playtime. Players can also enjoy various gameplay modes and difficulty settings, making it a versatile experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is considered infinitely replayable and well worth the investment.
“The real shining achievement of this game, however, is in its replay value.”
“It actually has a decent amount of replayability, as you'll find later on with unlocks, but the core gameplay remains mostly the same, so it's really just about picking your favorite flavor.”
“There is a lot of extra content that at least doubles the time to see most things, plus alternative stories on top of that adding a lot of replayability.”
“It also has numerous alternate gameplay modes and difficulty/accessibility settings, giving it huge replay value.”
- story12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story in Hitodama is engaging and well-integrated with gameplay, featuring unexpected twists and a compelling narrative that keeps players guessing. While the main story can be completed in about 4-5 hours, it is complemented by multiple routes and a rich, interconnected world that enhances the overall experience. Although some find the story relatively sparse, it is effective and not merely an afterthought.
“Hitodama has a large, interconnected metroidvania style map, intense bosses, fun items to fit a variety of gameplay/combat styles, passive character progression upgrades, and a story that'll keep you guessing.”
“It's got fun music and an intriguing story that takes some unexpected turns.”
“I don't think it's my place to get into details here, but it has some compelling instances of gameplay/story integration and is definitely not an afterthought.”
“The game's story is relatively sparse, but effective when it comes up.”
“I've just finished the main story - but there are at least three other routes still to go.”
“Being already familiar with the game, I needed about 3.5 hours to complete the main story, so I estimate about 4-5 hours for newcomers.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its originality and quality, with reviewers noting the impressive effort put in by the solo developer, Aevin. The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, complementing the intriguing story and adding to the game's appeal.
“I'd also like to give a special mention to the music.”
“Composing a fully original soundtrack for a game is no small undertaking for a solo developer, and you can really feel that Aevin gave it his all.”
“It's got fun music and an intriguing story that takes some unexpected turns.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the game's optimization, as the reviewer focuses on their personal enjoyment rather than performance issues or technical aspects.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, indicating that it can become monotonous over time.
“This got a bit tedious, honestly.”
