HOA

Some games we play to be challenged, or compelled by rich characters. Others are played for their complex puzzles or pulse-pounding action. Then there are games like Hoa. This  game is meant for its sheer relaxing escapism. Dressed up in Ghibli-style cel-shading, beautiful vistas will literally bloom into life with every step you take. Adorable animal friends will guide you and grant new wisdom along the way. All backed by a Pixar-worthy soundtrack, Hoa is an enchanting place to dip your feet and forget about the world for a while, even if the waters are only ankle deep.

Hoa casts its players as a nameless fairy recently washed ashore. It’s unclear where you came from, but talking beetles and slugs are all quite certain you’re here to save everyone.The forest is in danger of being overrun by machines. This setup is unoriginal at best and nothing about this supposed threat feels imminent, though that doesn’t actually detract from the experience. Hoa is a call to adventure, but it’s more concerned about enveloping you in its whimsy and wonder.

It does not take long for Hoa to sweep players off their feet. Anyone who grew up watching Hayao Miyazaki films will immediately be enthralled as the game wears its artistic influences on its sleeve. This game looks and feels like playing an animated film. Other games like Ni-No-Kuni come to mind here, but unlike that series, Hoa does not separate cutscenes from in-game graphics. What you see is what you play, and the gameplay experience is all the better for it.

Hoa is a side-stroll-er (you did not misread that.) At no point in the game will its pace rise above a leisurely walk. Our nameless fairy protagonist does gain some other basics along the way: a double jump, floating, the strength to push rocks…you know, the basics. Spend two minutes sauntering and lightly bouncing over flowers and players will have experienced about 80 percent of Hoa’s gameplay. But this development team is not here to remake the side-scrolling platformer. It’s here to help you decompress from your day. 

This is a calm and cozy game, an affable fairytale brought to life. Witnessing it is half of the experience. Hoa doesn’t need to do anything super innovative to make it worth your time, because the basics work here. First-time developer Skrollcat Studio is well aware of how little is needed to play this game. They even nod to it during their in-game tutorials. When our nameless protagonist gains the ability to double jump, a geometric display of a triangle jumping over square gaps pops up. That’s really all Hoa is: a Miyazaki-inspired triangle jumping over Miyazaki-inspired gaps.

Further complementing Hoa’s simple platforming and light puzzle-solving is its soundtrack. With overtones of Kingdom Hearts and Pixar’s Up, composer Johannes Johansson has lovingly crafted a piano-laden soundscape fit for this light-hearted adventure. Every keystroke is uplifting and heartfelt without being overly saccharine. Expertly mixed with the lush sounds of Hoa’s environment, and the sound design really takes off. From the moment you wash up onshore, the strings swell as the grass springs to life beneath your feet. Hoa’s sound team helps fully realize this fantasy world.

Since Hoa doesn’t progress very much in terms of gameplay and challenge, it’s nice that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Coming in at barely over two hours, Hoa is short and sweet. It does, unfortunately, finish on a slightly sour note. The very end is a thrilling chase sequence, in which our nameless protagonist sprints for survival as the environment collapses around them. Hoa earns this change of pace, making it the culmination of our character’s journey in their battle to save the environment. It is therefore immensely disappointing that you are unable to control your character, as the entire ending is on-rails. Players will only be able to choose when their character jumps. They will have no input on their speed or direction. Look, this game is easy to play, which is fine, but there were already so few dimensions to the actual gameplay. Why pare it down even further? Rather than combine all of its platforming elements, Hoa subtracts them, and it feels as if its ending plays out without you.

Though its climax may disappoint, Hoa’s storybook spectacle is what makes it a delight to play, no matter how simple it may be. Skrollcat Studio has doubled down on atmosphere and setting to joyous results. Its sound design and art direction are spellbinding, while its basic platforming and light puzzle-solving do just enough to keep you focused on its lush world. Regardless of your gaming experience, there is an inherent nostalgia and innocence here that is inescapable. Breathe, and take it all in.

VERDICT: Worth Playing Once