A Hat in Time Reviews
This is a game that, despite its derivative nature, manages to delight in the details enough to make me remember why I loved the games that inspired it to begin with.
I really enjoyed my time with it and any platforming fan will too.
A Hat in Time revives the 3D Platformer and even kicks some well-needed dirt in its crusty old eyes. Come for the cute visuals and compelling characters and stay for the tight controls and addicting gameplay loops.
Dodgy controls nearly ruin this lovably hyperactive ball of imagination.
When a game can bring about those kind of emotions but also stay fun and enjoyable, that’s how you know it’s really good in my book. You never want to give up and only want to keep trying til you beat it.
Cute-as-heck callback to the platformers of old. If you don't like it, get lost.
Playing through A Hat in Time was time spent with a broad smile and a belly full of chuckles. It was one of the most wholesome gaming experiences I’ve had in years, recapturing that childhood wonder and pure enjoyment of playing games.
While no single component is particularly revolutionary or unfamiliar to the genre, this is an extremely memorable platforming experience that, unlike its main collect-a-thon rival this year, never feels laboured. This is down to a nicely streamlined but still deep hub and world structure, in conjunction with so many neat touches and playful twists on the collect-a-thon formula. From start to finish, it's charming and funny, with excellent art design and gorgeous visuals. The music from Pascal Michael Stiefel is brilliant (although it's a shame that only two tracks were contributed by Grant Kirkhope in the end) while the use of real dialogue definitely makes things livelier and more engrossing. Through all this, its sheer charm and its gratifying gameplay mechanics, A Hat in Time affords itself the ability to do what it wants, and ensures that it really goes the distance. It never overindulges in nostalgia or tribute, and it makes sure to poke fun at itself, as well as the rest, along the way. It's a collect-a-thon gem, if ever there was one.
What flaws it has do little to change the fact that the gameplay is satisfying and the characters will make you smile. The title is a little on the short side, at around ten hours, but it’s ten very enjoyable hours that don’t overstay their welcome.
Most of A Hat in Time feels like a modge podge of creative ideas only amateurly stitched together. The game teeters between delightful charm (like the time I encountered a Mafiosa who wanted to play patty-cake then deceptively punched me across Mafia Town) and blatant lack of polish (like a cutscene where certain characters' limbs seemed paralyzed in a T position.) If a lighthearted, collect-a-thon platformer is your jam, A Hat in Time will constantly please you with its fun platforming and nuanced, cartoony world, but don't go in expecting the finish and cohesion of the classic platformers it takes its inspiration from.
A Hat in Time was presented to me by the developers as a "GameCube love-letter, cute-as-heck 3D platformer". Well, it is indeed a very nice 3D platform with a nice level design and some good platforming phases inspired by Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, mostly. I enjoyed very much playing it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Charming, playful, and scrappy as a sweep's stovepipe, A Hat in Time has its ups and downs, but if it can win your heart, it's well worth the ride. A modern platformer that can truly hold its own.
A Hat in Time shows how to make a spiritual successor right and besides some reduced length and the shortcomings from that fact, this game doesn't need to hide behind the big players in the genre. If you're looking for a Super Mario substitute on PC you'll have a great time.
Review in German | Read full review
Astoundingly charming, A Hat In Time manages to make almost every moment of gameplay a blast. Despite the occasional frustrating difficulty spike, the delightful whimsical personality of the game manages to win over even the most hardened of hearts. 3D platformer fans should definitely snap this one up.
A Hat in Time is a fantastic experience. It's got stuff that anyone of any age can enjoy. I know it reminded me of some of the classic 3D platformers of the mid-to-late 90's, both in general feel and tone. Throw in a goofy-yet-fun story and a wacky cast (with great voice acting to boot), and you'll be able to get anyone interested. While the game is only available on PC at the time of this review, it will be coming to consoles at a later point.
A Hat in Time doesn't reinvent the 3D platforming wheel, but it walks it with such confidence and panache that it would be criminal to overlook this game.
A Hat in Time is a short but great spiritual successor to Super Mario 64 and the best 3D platformer released on PC this year.
In all I'd recommend A Hat in Time as a quick pick up game when there's a lull in the market (which 2017 definitely hasn't had), but not at it's current price.