Product Info

Platform

Switch, PC

Publisher

Whippoorwill

Developer

Adam Robinson-Yu

Genre

Adventure, Platform

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

311 MB

Release Date (NA)

Aug 18, 2020

Release Date (JP)

Sep 24, 2020

Purchase From

eShop

Steam

Epic Games

Official Store

A Short Hike is an open-world adventure/exploration indie game developed by Adam Robinson-Yu in between other projects. The title is the result of a personal art project where he created natural landscapes which reminded him of his summer hiking trips as a youth. Released initially to Humble Monthly Subscribers in April 2019 and subsequently to Steam and Itch.io in July 2019 and the Nintendo Switch in August 2020, the game features a mountainous island in which the main character is faced with the task of summiting a mountain to get a cell phone signal. There are many locations to explore, treasures to find, and side quests to complete along the way, allowing players to go at their own pace.

A Call to Hike

The storyline is simplistic and focuses on an anthropomorphic bird named Claire who travels to a mountainous island called Hawk Peak Provincial Park where her Aunt May resides as the local ranger. Upon arrival to the island, Claire discovers that she does not have a cell phone signal, so she must climb to the summit of Hawk Peak to be able to receive an important phone call. This is not an easy task, as there are warnings regarding the strenuous climb and thus requires certain preparations before attempting it. That said, it is a short one; most players will be able to finish the story in a couple hours.

Still, the journey upward consists of multiple trails to explore, along with treasure chests and coins to uncover, tools to gather, and various side quests to complete. The park is also inhabited by several anthropomorphic animal characters. Each one offers snarky commentary when interacting with Claire which, while unique, can feel slightly verbose in nature. Throughout it all, Claire herself must gain a mastery of flight if she is to make it to the top.

Taking Flight

A staple of this game is the freedom to explore the mountainous island through means of flight, be it simple jump fluttering or gliding effortlessly across its skies. In order to make progress climbing the terrain or jump fluttering, Claire is faced with the task of gathering golden feathers. These can be obtained through purchase, exploration, and side quests such as gathering 15 shells and turning them in to a particular character.

Golden feathers are temporarily consumed during each flutter jump or during a climb. For example, four feathers would allow Claire to jump four times before gliding or falling back down to the ground. Upon reaching the ground, the four golden feathers automatically regenerate. During the climb up Hawk Peak, the freezing temperature prevents golden feathers from regenerating automatically unless Claire is near a warm source such as a hot springs or a bonfire.

Tools to Explore

In addition to flying, the right tools are needed to summit the mountain. Not everything is vital, though. While tools like a wood stick or ice pick do not play a particularly important role in the main storyline, they can help with side quests or allow for more efficient means to explore the island. For example, the water bucket allows the player to instantly cause a flower to bloom which then acts as a trampoline to launch the player into the sky to reach the next ledge or to glide over obstacles.

Certain items, such as running shoes which allow the character to sprint along the ground, greatly help during races across the map. Other items available during gameplay allow for slight cosmetic changes to the main character, such as a sunhat or ball cap.

Side Trails to Hike

While the main storyline seems straight to the point, there are numerous side quests to explore along with treasures and coins to be discovered. Many of these side quests are fairly easy to complete, such as collecting all the pieces of trash from a small island near the park or the aforementioned collecting of 15 shells. There are certainly some interesting minigames or activities in which to participate, such as boating or fishing and collecting each unique fish to sell to a collector.

Additionally, there is a sport with a wood stick called beachstickball that involves using a wood stick to play a volleyball-like game with a beach ball. Other interesting minigames include a foot race from one particular location to another. Initially, the foot races seem fairly straightforward. However, they become more challenging if you agree to a rematch, since your opponent will begin taking unique and speedier routes to the finish line. After completing the game, several optional quests await the player’s discovery.

Pixelated but Peaceful

Graphic-wise, the game is simplistic and pixelated, looking like something straight out of the Nintendo 3DS handheld, but it meshes well with the relaxing gameplay. The various, themed nature zones, from sandy beaches along the coast and snow-covered peaks to dense forests, are distinctly colored, making it easy for players to know where they are. The game is shown from a 3D isometric perspective, and the camera does a great job following Claire around the island environment for the most part. Thankfully, any snags encountered are easily worked around. For example, when fishing, it can be tricky to see the bobber at particular angles, so the quick fix is to simply move or cast in a different spot. That said, climbing up the sides of cliffs can sometimes result in the camera shifting and directional controls changing, which can result in Claire going sideways instead of vertical. The rest of the time, it provides a great view of the hike.

The necessary and expected sound effects such as whistling wind and splashing waves are present, but the most impressive aspect is the music soundtrack provided by Mark Sparling. It is peaceful, thanks to its relaxing instrumental melodies, and it adapts to the player’s current activities, the weather conditions, and each location. The dynamic soundtrack utilizes various combinations and cadences of acoustic guitar, piano, synthesizers, violins, accordion, acoustic drums, and xylophone. Several tracks of the game feature different, beautifully constructed renditions of the main melody which are enjoyable and relaxing enough to listen to outside the game.

A Short But Enjoyable Hike

No pun intended, A Short Hike’s main hike up to the summit of Hawk Peak is brief, taking only around 1-2 hours to complete. Despite a short storyline, there are plenty of side quests and activities to explore off the beaten path. Moreover, the game provides a tranquil and low-stress experience with the aid of flight and a beautiful soundtrack. In short, A Short Hike is worth exploring as a way to get away and unwind from a busy world and its cell phone signals.

A Nintendo Switch code provided for this review.