From the Souls games to something like Journey, if you were to go about describing everything that you do in ambiguous or obtuse titles, it would completely sap the entire experience from what makes it inherently special. There are certain games that make for a near-impossible review challenge, largely because the entire package is designed to be one of discovery and secret-finding. Still, you don’t have to be battling heart disease, depression, anxiety or any other tangible hardship to feel an emotional draw to 2016’s best indie darling to date. This inspiring story translates into the genuine passion and love you can feel during every moment of Hyper Light Drifter.
Preston’s lifetime battle against heart disease was not only the thematic basis for Hyper Light Drifter, but it also was the clear inspiration for the name of his studio, the aforementioned Heart Machine. Personal analogies aside, the main inspiration of this gorgeous 16-bit action title is the struggle of its creator, Alex Preston. From its perilous difficulty to the sense of powering through being completely lost, all the way to the ethereal soundtrack and ambiguous symbolic language, Hyper Light Drifter allows you to embrace the feeling of overcoming impossible odds. Of course, it also helps that it includes some of the best combat of the year, as well as a downright gorgeous world that even sprite-art haters can enjoy. Hyper Light Drifter, the debut title from Heart Machine, is not directly a game about anxiety or depression, but its narrative and themes are left open for interpretation just enough to allow any player to use the main character as a conduit for their own struggles. So why bring this up in a video game review? Make no mistake, it’s perilously difficult and extremely uncomfortable at times, but there’s a sense of pride and clarity that has emerged as a result. In recent weeks, I’ve decided to actually face those negative feelings head on. Though I’ve attempted to fight my demons in the past, it’s always been a halfhearted journey down the least painful path possible (of course, anyone in the same situation knows that the tougher path is the correct one). As someone who suffers from a combination of crippling panic attacks and bouts of depression, despite a penchant for goofiness and a generally jovial demeanor, the idea of overcoming a major challenge really hits home. Hyper Light Drifter came into my life at the most perfect time imaginable and there are going to be quite a few of you that feel exactly the same way.
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