Hob Reviews
There’s an awful lot of depth to Runic Games’ action adventure indie game, Hob. Exploration of the huge steampunk-inspired world is exceptionally rewarding: secret rooms can be discovered, shortcuts can be accessed and mysterious green orbs hide in machines and tiny crevices which allow you to level up.
Occasionally the art direction of a game is so striking, so inspired, and so beautiful one cannot help but be awed while playing. Hob, the newest adventure from Runic Games, embraces this notion and around every corner is a new canvas for the player to marvel. But does the rest of the game live up to the stunning art? Let’s dive in.
Hob is a solid adventure game. If you can live with brief moments of frustration when you're lost and nothing is going on, you'll often be rewarded with a large chunk of the game where the pacing is just right and the balance between combat and puzzle elements is fair. Despite a few issues with stuttering, the presentation is exquisite, and the game comes in at a satisfying length. Adventure fans would do well to give Hob a look.
It's a shame that less than tight platforming controls and major framerate issues hinder Hob overall. There is a fantastic game here that will just have to settle for being a really good one.
Hob is a genuinely beautiful game, as you'd expect from the very talented people at Runic Games, the developer of Torchlight, but I do feel that there could've been, at times in the game, a bit more detail about the world the game's set within, what has happened and why, as wel as more information on Hob himself!
Hob is a rare gem. It has mass appeal, regardless of preferred genre or style.
Hob is a beautiful puzzle action adventure game with an enjoyable sense of discovery. Bringing the world back to life by solving the dungeons was a pleasure, and the painterly quality of the visuals are a treat. The game emphasis exploration over the combat, so the mechanics may feel lacking when compared to other games in the genre. There are plenty of hidden secret for you to find once you complete the main narrative.
Runic Games take you on a wondrous mysterious journey through fantastic environments making HOB well worth your time.
With great level design and a satisfying mixture of puzzles and combat, Hob is one of the most beautiful adventures in a while. From humble beginnings, its scope will often take your breath away.
Runic fans waiting on Torchlight III may be feeling sore, but the developer's decision to take a gamble on something new has certainly paid off. Hob demonstrates just how well this team can create a world and stitch it together with intuitive level design. Although some parts are clearly stronger than others, as a whole Hob is easily one of the best indie games of 2017.
Hob delivers meaningful, wondrous exploration in an alluring and enigmatic world, but the combat and technical issues hold it back
Hob is a charming action adventure that shows that the way is more important than the goal.
Review in German | Read full review
A pretty good action-adventure, with a fantastic world design. The combat system is a little bit too simple, but the experience is really positive. Recommended.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you're a fan of the old-school The Legend of Zelda release, or the newer The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on the Nintendo 3DS, then you're going to love Hob on PlayStation 4. It's charming art style, fun gameplay mechanics and clever puzzle dungeons will keep you entertained until the end. Other than some mild framerate dips here and there during areas with more flora and fauna, or during areas like the desert in which lightning bolts come crashing down onto the ground, but this never got in the way of the adventure.
Hob is definitely a game that is larger than the sum of its parts, which come together almost perfectly to create a truly singular adventure. Hob not have the AAA budget and polish of the franchises it draws inspiration from, but it has lots of heart and something to say, which is impressive for a game without a single spoken word.
Hob is a prime example for how indie games should be made. It's a true gem for fans of artistic, yet mysterious titles with engaging gameplay, although there are some annoying technical problems.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Overall Hob is a fantastic game and just be on a play list for anyone who enjoys puzzle platformers and wouldn't mind some light RPG elements thrown in. The story is told organically and beautifully through gameplay and has some of the best sound design I've seen in a game.
Hob is a game that really works on immersing you in its world, and the end result is an experience that feels memorable and moving. It’s not as big on gameplay, but in terms of world-building, Hob is one of the classics.
From start to finish Hob kept me surprised. Each new area was full of new challenges to undertake and protected treasures. Combat was my least favorite and thankfully, for most of the game, it's arbitrary.
HOB is a game which I was missing for a long time and I didn't even notice it until I laid my eyes on it. The game has a flawless gameplay with so much to unravel and show you. What's not to delve into the ever-changing world of HOB?