Hourglass Review | TheXboxHub

The mysticism of Historical Egypt is one thing that can at all times have us questioning; how these Nice Pyramids had been made, what precisely are the curses that the traditional pharaohs positioned on their tombs, and what number of of these secrets and techniques they may maintain. In video games, builders have additionally embraced this superb place in time from the early Tomb Raider video games to the newer Murderer’s Creed Origins. Hourglass is one other that locations us on this planet of sand, solar, and the supernatural. It’s a sport that mixes the exploration of narrative adventures and the puzzling mind scratching of video games like Portal. It’s a pleasant journey and listed below are the explanation why. 

On this first-person puzzle journey, you play the a part of Aywa who’s the daughter of Arthur, a formidable archaeologist who on his final dig went and bought misplaced in his adventures. All rescue groups have given up hope of ever discovering him, however not you, not his daughter – who units out to Egypt to retrace his footsteps and attempt to work out what he has found. Aywa finds one thing early on her journey known as the Nice Gate and she or he is aware of her father was there. However the gate wants three seals to open. You recognize what to do subsequent. 

The narrative and story of Hourglass are rather more visible than text-heavy. There may be some story advised via textual content however in the principle it’s largely delivered via the sense of place and the gameplay. It’s a really efficient means of storytelling which I loved tremendously. Nevertheless it’s the gameplay the place the center of the sport lies. 

Those that have performed video games like Portal or The Turing Take a look at will know what to anticipate from a sport like this, though from the skin it might appear like an open-worlder, it’s very a lot a level-by-level sport. There are a few areas the place you may select which puzzle to unravel first, however primarily it’s fairly clear about what journey to take. The puzzles themselves focus totally on doorways or pathways that you just’ll must open by triggering switches; some you may stand on, however the second you progress away the door will shut. It’s right here the place you will want to utilise a dice to placed on it, as a way to progress. It’s all commonplace fare for anybody conversant in puzzle video games of this sort. However there’s one utterly unique gameplay approach included. 

Portal-type machines are scattered across the place and these do one thing distinctive whenever you undergo them – a carbon copy model of your self goes out into the world and might bounce, use switches, and do all of the issues that Aywa can do. This model is just allowed to be on this planet for a restricted period of time, so you want to use it properly. For instance, the only instance of utilizing this gaming mechanic is to place the carbon copy of your self onto a set off which makes the doorway open. The true you’ll then rush via the open doorway earlier than the time runs out. Easy sure? Effectively to start out with, it’s, however as the sport progresses the answer to those puzzles will get tougher and tougher. Mastering this single mechanic is an actual should in Hourglass and you want to assume out of the field on many events to get via this sport. 

I’ll admit, Hourglass is difficult however the pull of the sport mechanics, world-building, and environment make you wish to try to attempt once more. That stated, when you aren’t a fan of puzzles and video games the place you’re going to have put the outdated mind into hyperdrive, then you definitely could be in bother right here. 

By way of the way it all comes throughout and visually Hourglass doesn’t do something that you just haven’t seen earlier than; it’s not current-gen superb on the eyes. However what it does do, it does very nicely; a phenomenal blue sky world stuffed with wonders and mysticism. I feel it’s a beautiful design that matches with the sport and I loved my time in it. The sound as nicely is similar, with some nice results for all of the puzzle mechanics. On occasion a phenomenal piece of enjoyable music is available in and also you keep in mind the place you might be. It’s excellent. 

I like a superb puzzler and Hourglass is superb for the 5 or 6 hours that it’s going to final. The value is a bit heavy, however on the entire this can be a high quality pondering particular person’s sport and one that you just gained’t wish to miss. 

Hourglass is on the market from the Xbox Retailer